Brookwood, Surrey
Encyclopedia
Brookwood is a village in Surrey
, located about 5 km west of Woking
, in a semi-rural location. It lies on the western border of the Woking
Borough (with a small part of the village in Guildford
Borough).
Across the railway to the south is the village of Pirbright
and Princess Royal Barracks, Deepcut
is a short distance away to the west. Knaphill
, and its Brookwood Manor, lie on the other side of the main A322 road. Nearby is the vast Brookwood Cemetery
and Sheet's Heath, a heathland which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest
(SSSI). There is also Smart's Heath and Brookwood Heath. Other close villages include Deepcut
, Bisley
, Worplesdon
and West End. The site of the former Brookwood Hospital
nearby has recently been redeveloped as housing.
The village borders the Basingstoke Canal
which has a flight of locks here. Brookwood railway station
is on the South Western Main Line
(currently averaging 4 trains an hour each way). The junction with the Alton Line
is about 2 km further west.
The main road is Connaught Road, a long road containing mixed Victorian terraces, Victorian/1930s/50s/70s semis and larger detached houses. Branching off are smaller cul-de-sacs with more modern houses, some which back onto the canal itself. There is a regular bus service to Guildford
, Woking
and Frimley
. Brookwood is on the approach pattern for small Farnborough
airport.
Along Connaught Road there is a primary school which is 100 years old.
during the Victorian era due to the over-population of the city at that time. The logistics were accomplished using funeral trains running from London Waterloo railway station to Brookwood and subsequently down a small branch line into the cemetery grounds. This branch-line is now disused. The main station and nearby public house are at least 100 years old.
It is possible that the village was founded in the Anglo-Saxon period, as the word Brook is derived from 'Brock'. 'Brock' being Old English for Badger, so in a literal sense the village of Brookwood translates to 'badger wood'. The badger can be seen on the village crest and on the school uniform.
Brookwood Scout Group meets in the Memorial hall every week during term time and offers both boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 14 with the opportunity to take part in a wide range of activities and adventure. The group is a member of the Scout Association and covers the youngest 3 age bands that the Association caters for (Beavers, Cubs and Scouts).
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, located about 5 km west of Woking
Woking
Woking is a large town and civil parish that shares its name with the surrounding local government district, located in the west of Surrey, UK. It is part of the Greater London Urban Area and the London commuter belt, with frequent trains and a journey time of 24 minutes to Waterloo station....
, in a semi-rural location. It lies on the western border of the Woking
Woking
Woking is a large town and civil parish that shares its name with the surrounding local government district, located in the west of Surrey, UK. It is part of the Greater London Urban Area and the London commuter belt, with frequent trains and a journey time of 24 minutes to Waterloo station....
Borough (with a small part of the village in Guildford
Guildford
Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...
Borough).
Across the railway to the south is the village of Pirbright
Pirbright
Pirbright is a village in Surrey, England. Neighbouring villages include Worplesdon, Deepcut, Brookwood and Normandy. Pirbright parish has an area of some falling into two distinct communities with the military area to the north of the railway and the village to the south...
and Princess Royal Barracks, Deepcut
Princess Royal Barracks, Deepcut
The Princess Royal Barracks, Deepcut, commonly referred to as Deepcut Barracks, is the headquarters of the Royal Logistic Corps of the British Army and the Defence School of Logistics. Located near Camberley, Surrey, England, it was the headquarters of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps until the...
is a short distance away to the west. Knaphill
Knaphill
Knaphill is an urban village in Surrey, UK. To the east is Woking, to the west, eventually, is Aldershot, while to the south and north on the A322 – which forms its effective western border – are Brookwood, and Bisley, respectively. Some of the village is set on a hill, hence the...
, and its Brookwood Manor, lie on the other side of the main A322 road. Nearby is the vast Brookwood Cemetery
Brookwood Cemetery
Brookwood Cemetery is a burial ground in Brookwood, Surrey, England. It is the largest cemetery in the United Kingdom and one of the largest in western Europe.-History:...
and Sheet's Heath, a heathland which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest
Site of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon...
(SSSI). There is also Smart's Heath and Brookwood Heath. Other close villages include Deepcut
Deepcut
Deepcut is a village in Surrey, situated close to Camberley. It is home to the Princess Royal Barracks, Deepcut.Malacologist Major Matthew Connolly lived at the Lock House at Deepcut where he brought up his son the writer and critic Cyril Connolly....
, Bisley
Bisley
-Places:* Two villages in the United Kingdom:**Bisley, Surrey**Bisley, Gloucestershire*Bisley Ranges is near the Surrey village and is the headquarters of the National Rifle Association, UK -Others:...
, Worplesdon
Worplesdon
Worplesdon is a village in Surrey, England, located three miles north of Guildford. Worplesdon is also the name of the parish that also includes the settlements of Fairlands, Jacobs Well, Perry Hill, and Wood Street Village. Nearby villages include Pirbright and Deepcut, with significant military...
and West End. The site of the former Brookwood Hospital
Brookwood Hospital
Brookwood Hospital at Woking in Surrey, was established in 1867 by Surrey Quarter Sessions as the second County Asylum, the first being Springfield Asylum in Tooting...
nearby has recently been redeveloped as housing.
The village borders the Basingstoke Canal
Basingstoke Canal
The Basingstoke Canal is a British Canal, completed in 1794, built to connect Basingstoke with the River Thames at Weybridge via the Wey Navigation....
which has a flight of locks here. Brookwood railway station
Brookwood railway station
Brookwood is a National Rail railway station in Brookwood in the English county of Surrey. It was constructed to serve the adjacent Brookwood Cemetery and was at one stage served by its own station in London for the funeral trains...
is on the South Western Main Line
South Western Main Line
The South Western Main Line is a railway line between London Waterloo and Weymouth on the Dorset coast, in the south of England. It is a major railway which serves many important commuter areas, as well as the major settlements of Southampton and Bournemouth...
(currently averaging 4 trains an hour each way). The junction with the Alton Line
Alton Line
The Alton Line is a railway line operated by South West Trains. Today Alton station is the terminus of a main line branch, although it was at one time the junction for three lines. The branch leaves the South Western Main Line at Pirbright Junction near Brookwood...
is about 2 km further west.
The main road is Connaught Road, a long road containing mixed Victorian terraces, Victorian/1930s/50s/70s semis and larger detached houses. Branching off are smaller cul-de-sacs with more modern houses, some which back onto the canal itself. There is a regular bus service to Guildford
Guildford
Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...
, Woking
Woking
Woking is a large town and civil parish that shares its name with the surrounding local government district, located in the west of Surrey, UK. It is part of the Greater London Urban Area and the London commuter belt, with frequent trains and a journey time of 24 minutes to Waterloo station....
and Frimley
Frimley
Frimley is a small English town situated 2 miles south of Camberley, in the extreme west of Surrey, adjacent to the border with Hampshire. It is about 31 miles west south-west of Central London. It is part of the Borough of Surrey Heath...
. Brookwood is on the approach pattern for small Farnborough
Farnborough Airfield
Farnborough Airport or TAG London Farnborough Airport is an airport situated in Farnborough, Rushmoor, Hampshire, England...
airport.
Along Connaught Road there is a primary school which is 100 years old.
History
The village has grown over the 150 or so years since the cemetery and station first set roots in this area. Many of London's dead were buried in Brookwood CemeteryBrookwood Cemetery
Brookwood Cemetery is a burial ground in Brookwood, Surrey, England. It is the largest cemetery in the United Kingdom and one of the largest in western Europe.-History:...
during the Victorian era due to the over-population of the city at that time. The logistics were accomplished using funeral trains running from London Waterloo railway station to Brookwood and subsequently down a small branch line into the cemetery grounds. This branch-line is now disused. The main station and nearby public house are at least 100 years old.
It is possible that the village was founded in the Anglo-Saxon period, as the word Brook is derived from 'Brock'. 'Brock' being Old English for Badger, so in a literal sense the village of Brookwood translates to 'badger wood'. The badger can be seen on the village crest and on the school uniform.
Local teams
Currently, Brookwood has one local football team playing within it. This is Brookwood and District Football Club. They were formed in 2007 and currently play in the Surrey and Hants Border League Division 3. Last season 2009/10 they were winners of the Prince Albert Cup, beating Abbey Rangers 5-4 in the match at Surrey Sports Park.Youth organsiations
Brookwood is home to quite a number of youth organisations and clubs. Most of these meet at either the Memorial Hall, St Saviours Church or are based in the school.Brookwood Scout Group meets in the Memorial hall every week during term time and offers both boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 14 with the opportunity to take part in a wide range of activities and adventure. The group is a member of the Scout Association and covers the youngest 3 age bands that the Association caters for (Beavers, Cubs and Scouts).
See also
- Basingstoke CanalBasingstoke CanalThe Basingstoke Canal is a British Canal, completed in 1794, built to connect Basingstoke with the River Thames at Weybridge via the Wey Navigation....
- Brookwood HospitalBrookwood HospitalBrookwood Hospital at Woking in Surrey, was established in 1867 by Surrey Quarter Sessions as the second County Asylum, the first being Springfield Asylum in Tooting...
- St. Edward the Martyr Orthodox Church