Bray, Berkshire: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Bray_Church, Berkshire.JPG|thumb|right|250px|St |
[[Image:Bray_Church, Berkshire.JPG|thumb|right|250px|St Michael's church, Bray]] |
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'''Bray''' (sometimes '''Bray-on-Thames''') is a [[village]] in [[Berkshire]] |
'''Bray''' (sometimes '''Bray-on-Thames''') is a [[village]] and [[civil parish]] in the [[England|English]] county of [[Berkshire]]. It stands on the banks of the [[River Thames]], just south-west of [[Maidenhead]]. It is famous as the village mentioned in the song ''[[The Vicar of Bray (song)|The Vicar of Bray]]''. |
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==Geography== |
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The parish church of St Michael was built in [[1293]] to replace a Saxon church at [[Water Oakley]]. It has a [[Sheela-Na-Gig]] possibly from the earlier church. |
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Bray has alsways been a very large parish, although it has shrunk considerably since Maidenhead became independant in [[1894]]. As well as the main village, the parish contains a large number of villages and [[hamlet]]s, often greens, which were originally scattered amongst the dense woodland of [[Windsor, Berkshire|Windsor]] Forest that once covered the area. These include: [[Bray Wick]], [[Holyport]], [[Water Oakley]], [[Oakley Green]], [[Moneyrow Green]], [[Stud Green]], [[Foxley Green]], [[Touchen End]], [[Braywoodside]], [[Hawthorn Hill, Berkshire|Hawthorn Hill]] and [[Fifield, Berkshire|Fifield]]. |
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==Village character== |
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Despite being located on the very edge of Maidenhead, Bray is still very much a idyllic English village. It won best 'Small Village' in the [[2005]] [[Britain in Bloom]] awards, while its [[cricket club]] is the oldest in the county, having been first established in [[1798]]. Bray is a very affluent residential area, as well as being a place popular with tourists exploring the Thames. There are many delightful walks and a number of well-known eating establishments. Two of its restaurants have three [[Michelin Guide|Michelin stars]]: [[The Fat Duck]], which was adjudged the best restaurant in the world by ''[[Restaurant (magazine)|Restaurant]]'' magazine in 2005, and the [[Waterside Inn]], which ranked 19 in ''Restaurant'''s list. There are also many television and film studios in the Bray area. |
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| ⚫ | There are several very expensive houses on the river upstream of [[Bray Lock]] and they have been referred to as 'Millionaires row' in the national press. The flooding risk of these houses has recently been decreased by the [[Jubilee River]] a large drainage ditch between Maidenhead and [[Eton, Berkshire|Eton]]. |
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==Notable buildings and structures== |
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Bray is home to two restaurants with three [[Michelin Guide|Michelin stars]]: [[The Fat Duck]], which was adjudged the best restaurant in the world by ''[[Restaurant (magazine)|Restaurant]]'' magazine in 2005, and the [[Waterside Inn]], which ranked 19 in ''Restaurant'''s list. |
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===Parish church=== |
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The [[Church of England parish church]] of St Michael was built in [[1293]], supposedly to replace a [[Anglo-Saxons|Saxon]] church at [[Water Oakley]]. It has a number of sculptures which may have come from th earlier church, including a damaged [[Sheela-Na-Gig]]. It is best known to [[brass rubbing|brass rubbers]] for housing the superb [[Monumental brass|memorial brass]] of [[1378]] to Sir John Foxley, the Constable of [[Southampton Castle]], and his two wives. |
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===Almshouse=== |
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| ⚫ | There are several very expensive houses on the river upstream of [[Bray Lock]] and they have been referred to as 'Millionaires row' in the national press. The flooding risk of these houses has recently been decreased by the [[Jubilee River]] a large drainage ditch between Maidenhead and [[Eton, Berkshire|Eton]] |
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===Monkey Island Lodge=== |
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Bray won the Small Village award in the [[2005]] [[Britain in Bloom]] awards. |
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:''Main article: [[Monkey Island, Bray]]''. |
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* [[Gerry Anderson]] - TV Producer |
* [[Gerry Anderson]] - TV Producer |
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* [[Rolf Harris]] - Artist, Musician, TV Presenter |
* [[Rolf Harris]] - Artist, Musician, TV Presenter |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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* [http://www.windsor.gov.uk/maps/bray.htm Official Windsor |
* [http://www.windsor.gov.uk/maps/bray.htm The Official Windsor Site: Bray] |
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* [http://www.berkshirehistory.com/villages/bray.html Berkshire |
* [http://www.berkshirehistory.com/villages/bray.html Royal Berkshire History: Bray] |
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{{Berkshire-geo-stub}} |
{{Berkshire-geo-stub}} |
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[[Category:Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead]] |
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[[Category:Villages in Berkshire]] |
[[Category:Villages in Berkshire]] |
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Revision as of 12:41, 3 December 2006
Bray (sometimes Bray-on-Thames) is a village and civil parish in the English county of Berkshire. It stands on the banks of the River Thames, just south-west of Maidenhead. It is famous as the village mentioned in the song The Vicar of Bray.
Geography
Bray has alsways been a very large parish, although it has shrunk considerably since Maidenhead became independant in 1894. As well as the main village, the parish contains a large number of villages and hamlets, often greens, which were originally scattered amongst the dense woodland of Windsor Forest that once covered the area. These include: Bray Wick, Holyport, Water Oakley, Oakley Green, Moneyrow Green, Stud Green, Foxley Green, Touchen End, Braywoodside, Hawthorn Hill and Fifield.
Village character
Despite being located on the very edge of Maidenhead, Bray is still very much a idyllic English village. It won best 'Small Village' in the 2005 Britain in Bloom awards, while its cricket club is the oldest in the county, having been first established in 1798. Bray is a very affluent residential area, as well as being a place popular with tourists exploring the Thames. There are many delightful walks and a number of well-known eating establishments. Two of its restaurants have three Michelin stars: The Fat Duck, which was adjudged the best restaurant in the world by Restaurant magazine in 2005, and the Waterside Inn, which ranked 19 in Restaurant's list. There are also many television and film studios in the Bray area.
There are several very expensive houses on the river upstream of Bray Lock and they have been referred to as 'Millionaires row' in the national press. The flooding risk of these houses has recently been decreased by the Jubilee River a large drainage ditch between Maidenhead and Eton.
Notable buildings and structures
Parish church
The Church of England parish church of St Michael was built in 1293, supposedly to replace a Saxon church at Water Oakley. It has a number of sculptures which may have come from th earlier church, including a damaged Sheela-Na-Gig. It is best known to brass rubbers for housing the superb memorial brass of 1378 to Sir John Foxley, the Constable of Southampton Castle, and his two wives.
Almshouse
The Jesus Hospital is a red-brick group of almhouses, founded in 1609 by William Goddard, whose full-size effigy stands over the entrance, to house thirty-four of the aged poor of Bray and six of the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers to which he belonged.
Monkey Island Lodge
- Main article: Monkey Island, Bray.
Monkey Island, in the Thames, is associated with the 3rd Duke of Marlborough, and still houses two amusing structures that he built and furnished with paintings of monkeys.
Notable residents
- Gerry Anderson - TV Producer
- Rolf Harris - Artist, Musician, TV Presenter
- Michael Parkinson - TV Presenter
See also
External links
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