Sandhurst
From Free net encyclopedia
- For other uses, see Sandhurst (disambiguation).
Sandhurst is a small town of around 7,500 homes and 22,000 inhabitants, located in the south east of the Royal County of Berkshire. It is on the river Blackwater, close to the boundaries of Hampshire and Surrey. Sandhurst is 7 miles south of the new town of Bracknell and the closest major town is Camberley (Surrey). Sandhurst is within easy reach of the M3 (3.4 miles) and M4 (10.3 miles) motorways, as well as the A329(M) to Reading. Sandhurst railway station is served by First Great Western, on the line between Gatwick, Guildford and Reading.
Sandhurst has its own Town Council and is divided into four wards: Central Sandhurst, Little Sandhurst, College Town and Owlsmoor. It is part of Bracknell Forest Borough. Sandhurst is home to a large out-of-town development, despite its close proximity to Camberley. The site is named 'The Meadows' and has a Tesco Extra hypermarket and a Marks and Spencer. It is known nationwide as the location of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (often referred to simply as "Sandhurst," "The Academy," or "The RMA"). Current attendees include Prince Harry and Prince William, sons of Prince of Wales, Prince Charles.
The name originates from the sandy soils and hurst (a wood eminence) of the area.
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History
Early History
1300-1526
One of the earliest records of Sandhurst is in the Sonning Hundreds of 1316 when it belonged to the Bishop of Salisbury. In 1354 there is a record of a manor but no great house existed-only the small sub manor houses, one in the grounds of what is now the Royal Military Academy and the other on the site of Sandhurst Lodge. Nothing remains of either building.
1526 - 1800
Part of the area between College Town and Central Sandhurst was owned by Sir William Sandy, Lord Chancellor to Henry VIII from 1526 to 1540. Sandhurst was a small farming community. As part of Windsor Forest and subject to forest laws, local people therefore had right to cut turf, heather, bracken and wood that has been cultivated to feed the forest deer. There are records of disputes that were caused by locals taking wood other than that which was allowed.
Farming continued to be a major part of village life (and still is to this day). Some of the farms are still remembered in the names of housing estates, roads and a restaurant - Sandhurst Farm, Snaprails, Caves Farm, Ambarrow Farm, College Farm, Rectory Farm, Beech farm and Rackstraws Farm.
Modern History
Early to mid 1800s
Very little changed until the 1800's when large sections of land were sold for the building of the Royal Military College in 1812. The railway arrived in 1849, in 1856 Wellington College was built and Broadmoor Asylum in 1863. Large houses were built- Sandhurst Lodge in about 1858 by Robert Gibson, and leased to John Walter, founder of the Times Newspaper and also Sir William Farrer, solicitor to Queen Victoria and the Duke of Wellington. Other large houses included Harts Leap; Forest End; St Helens Upland; The Warren; Longdown Lodge; Ryefield; Snaprails and Ambarrow Court. Perry Hill and The Ceders came later. Only a few remain today. The others have been demolished and land developed.
Late 1800s
The local population expanded with the arrival of the railways, College, Institutions and large houses. More houses were necessary for the workers, more schools for the children and more churches built. A Parish church existed on the site of St Michael's Parish Church from the 13th century and the present church was rebuilt in 1853. The Baptist Church was built in 1884 and the Weslyan Methodist followed in 1906. The Catholic Church was completed in 1960 and St George's Owlsmoor in 1993.
Sandhurst now has nine public houses the oldest being the Rose and Crown in the High Street, at one time a Simmonds house. The Simmonds family had land in the village and owned a brewery which supplied beer and ale to the RMA -- indeed to much of the British Army in all parts of the world.
In 1862 St Michael's Church of England school was opened. Other schools followed, Old Scotland Hill in 1871, The Methodist in 1906 and College Town in 1907. Uplands and Owlsmoor primaries were added in 1962 and 1974. Secondary pupils were sent to Camberley and Bracknell until 1969 when Sandhurst Comprehensive was built. Situated in Owlsmoor Road it is now Sandhurst School.
Recent History
Through the late fifties into the eighties large housing estates were built resulting in the Sandhurst we know today. The town has numerous clubs, groups and societies, a recently refurbished library, a very popular day centre and a fine area of playing fields on the Memorial Park. Our Council offices and community centre are also situated on the Memorial Park.
Recreation and Sport
- Sandhurst's football team, Sandhurst Town FC, has its home ground at Bottom Meadow. It currently plays in the combined county league - Division premier.
- Sandhurst Joggers Club has more than 160 members. Founded in 1987, it welcomes new members of all abilities, whether they are interested in running to keep fit or taking part in marathons.
- Sandhurst Recreation Park contains tennis and basketball courts, cricket and football pitches and a small skatepark. The Coffee Spot is located in the vicinity. The park has a large lake where a firework show is held once a year, usually on the closest Saturday to Guy Fawkes Night, and the Sandhurst Donkey Derby is also an annual event.
- The Sandhurst tug of war team are currently the world champions.
- Sandhurst Sports Centre is located in the Owlsmoor area. It has various facilities for sporting and recreational activities.
- Sandhurst hosts a carnival annually which is attended by thousands. The carnival was threatened with cancellation by the council in 1999 but local artist Sam Carpenter and other supporters campaigned to have it continue.
Public Houses
(In Alphabetical Order)
- The Bird in Hand
- The Dukes Head
- The Fox and Hound
- The Jolly Farmer
- The Rose and Crown
- The Village Inn
- The White Swan
- Wellington Arms
Famous residents
- HRH Prince Harry currently resides at the RMA
- HRH Prince William currently resides at the RMA
- Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, HRH Duke of Edinburgh and other members of the royal family have been known to visit the RMA regulary.
- Pete Staples (The Troggs Bassist)
- Sam Carpenter (local artist)
- Actress Lucy Benjamin (Best known as Lisa in Eastenders)
- Jimmy Saville
Trivia
- The town falls under the siren test area of Broadmoor Hospital (secure mental hospital) with a siren test every Monday at 10am that sounds similar to an air raid siren.
- The council maintains 36 public recycling sites located throughout the Borough. The total amount recycled in the Borough last year was 11042 tonnes. Materials recycled by residents include paper, books, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles, shoes and clothes.