Burnham, Buckinghamshire
Encyclopedia
Burnham is a village and civil parish that lies north of the River Thames
in the South Bucks District
of Buckinghamshire
, and sits on the border with Berkshire
, between the towns of Maidenhead
and Slough
. It is served by Burnham railway station
in the west of Slough on the main line between London
and Reading
. The M4
motorway passes through the south of the parish.
The village name is Old English
in origin, and means 'homestead on a stream
'. It was first recorded in the Domesday Book
of 1086 as Burneham, when the manor
belonged to Walter Fitz-Other.
Burnham was once a very important village. The road from London
to Bath (now the A4) passed through the extensive parish
of Burnham and as a result, in 1271, it received a Royal charter
to hold a market and an annual fair. However, when the bridge crossing the Thames
in Maidenhead opened the road was diverted away from Burnham, which fell into relative decay. The market was then transferred to Maidenhead.
Today the village is contiguous with Slough due to urban spread, though it retains some of its own character. Although the civil parish has a population of 11,512, residents usually consider Burnham to be a village
.
In 1265 a Benedictine
abbey
was founded near the village by Richard, King of the Romans
. This was, however, disbanded by King Henry VIII
in the Dissolution of the Monasteries
. Since 1916, a contemplative order of Anglican Augustinian nuns
has been based in the restored remains of the original abbey.
Burnham parish church
is dedicated to St Peter
. The current building dates in part from the twelfth century but has been substantially expanded, refurbished and altered, with major restoration
s in 1863-4 and 1891 and the construction of the Cornerstone Centre in 1986.
Burnham Beeches
is an area of 540 acres (2.2 km²) of protected ancient woodland, and sits just north of the village. Dorneywood
lies within the parish.
s of Boveney
, Cippenham
, Britwell
and East Burnham. Boveney became a separate civil parish in 1866 though is now back in with Burnham parish again. Cippenham was transferred to Slough in 1930, and therefore became part of Berkshire in 1974. Britwell was transferred to the borough of Slough and to Berkshire in 1974.
The parish also includes the hamlets of Lent Rise, Rose Hill, East Burnham, Egypt, Hitcham, Littleworth and Littleworth Common.
and Burnham Upper School
provide secondary education to the children of Burnham and the surrounding area. Many students, however, commute to the nearby secondary schools in Slough. Priory School is the largest primary school in the area and provides primary education for many of the local children, although the smaller "Our Lady Of Peace" Roman Catholic primary school is next to Priory School.
Burnham is the home of Burnham Football Club
.
Owing to its proximity to Pinewood Film & TV Studios
, Burnham and its surrounding areas (in particular Burnham Beeches) feature in numerous films, notably a number of the Carry On films from the 1960s and 70s.
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
in the South Bucks District
South Bucks
South Bucks is one of four local government districts in the non-metropolitan county of Buckinghamshire, in South East England.The district was formed on 1 April 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972, by the amalgamation of the area of Beaconsfield Urban District with part of Eton Rural District...
of Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
, and sits on the border with Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, between the towns of Maidenhead
Maidenhead
Maidenhead is a town and unparished area within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, in Berkshire, England. It lies on the River Thames and is situated west of Charing Cross in London.-History:...
and Slough
Slough
Slough is a borough and unitary authority within the ceremonial county of Royal Berkshire, England. The town straddles the A4 Bath Road and the Great Western Main Line, west of central London...
. It is served by Burnham railway station
Burnham railway station
Burnham railway station is the railway station for Burnham, Buckinghamshire, although it lies in Cippenham, a suburb of Slough, about half a mile to the south of Burnham proper, in Berkshire since 1974....
in the west of Slough on the main line between London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Reading
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
. The M4
M4 motorway
The M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea...
motorway passes through the south of the parish.
The village name is Old English
Old English language
Old English or Anglo-Saxon is an early form of the English language that was spoken and written by the Anglo-Saxons and their descendants in parts of what are now England and southeastern Scotland between at least the mid-5th century and the mid-12th century...
in origin, and means 'homestead on a stream
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
'. It was first recorded in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
of 1086 as Burneham, when the manor
Manorialism
Manorialism, an essential element of feudal society, was the organizing principle of rural economy that originated in the villa system of the Late Roman Empire, was widely practiced in medieval western and parts of central Europe, and was slowly replaced by the advent of a money-based market...
belonged to Walter Fitz-Other.
Burnham was once a very important village. The road from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to Bath (now the A4) passed through the extensive parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of Burnham and as a result, in 1271, it received a Royal charter
Royal Charter
A royal charter is a formal document issued by a monarch as letters patent, granting a right or power to an individual or a body corporate. They were, and are still, used to establish significant organizations such as cities or universities. Charters should be distinguished from warrants and...
to hold a market and an annual fair. However, when the bridge crossing the Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
in Maidenhead opened the road was diverted away from Burnham, which fell into relative decay. The market was then transferred to Maidenhead.
Today the village is contiguous with Slough due to urban spread, though it retains some of its own character. Although the civil parish has a population of 11,512, residents usually consider Burnham to be a village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
.
In 1265 a Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
abbey
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
was founded near the village by Richard, King of the Romans
Richard, 1st Earl of Cornwall
Richard of Cornwall was Count of Poitou , 1st Earl of Cornwall and German King...
. This was, however, disbanded by King Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
in the Dissolution of the Monasteries
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
. Since 1916, a contemplative order of Anglican Augustinian nuns
Augustinian nuns
Augustinian nuns are the most ancient and continuous segment of the Roman Catholic Augustinian religious order under the canons of contemporary historical method. The Augustinian nuns, named after Saint Augustine of Hippo , are several Roman Catholic enclosed monastic orders of women living...
has been based in the restored remains of the original abbey.
Burnham parish church
Church of England parish church
A parish church in the Church of England is the church which acts as the religious centre for the people within the smallest and most basic Church of England administrative region, known as a parish.-Parishes in England:...
is dedicated to St Peter
Saint Peter
Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
. The current building dates in part from the twelfth century but has been substantially expanded, refurbished and altered, with major restoration
Victorian restoration
Victorian restoration is the term commonly used to refer to the widespread and extensive refurbishment and rebuilding of Church of England churches and cathedrals that took place in England and Wales during the 19th-century reign of Queen Victoria...
s in 1863-4 and 1891 and the construction of the Cornerstone Centre in 1986.
Burnham Beeches
Burnham Beeches
Burnham Beeches is an area of 220 hectares of ancient woodland, located close to Farnham Common, Burnham and Beaconsfield, in Buckinghamshire. It is approximately 25 miles to the west of London, England.-Preservation:...
is an area of 540 acres (2.2 km²) of protected ancient woodland, and sits just north of the village. Dorneywood
Dorneywood
Dorneywood is a moderately large Queen Anne style house built in 1920, near Burnham in the South Bucks District of Buckinghamshire, England. It was given to the National Trust by Lord Courtauld-Thomson in 1947 as a country home for a senior member of the Government, usually a Secretary of State or...
lies within the parish.
Hamlets
The parish of Burnham once included the hamletHamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
s of Boveney
Boveney
Boveney is a village in Buckinghamshire, England, near Windsor.The village name is Anglo Saxon in origin and means 'above island'. This refers to the island that sits in the River Thames next to the village...
, Cippenham
Cippenham
Cippenham is a suburb of the unitary authority of Slough in the county of Berkshire, England. It was transferred to Berkshire from Buckinghamshire in 1974.The name, Cippenham derives from the old English Cippan-ham, meaning Cippa's homestead....
, Britwell
Britwell
Britwell is a residential housing estate and civil parish in the north west of Slough, Berkshire, in the south of England. It is about 23 miles west of London.The name Britwell derives from the old English beorhtan wiellan meaning 'bright, clear well'....
and East Burnham. Boveney became a separate civil parish in 1866 though is now back in with Burnham parish again. Cippenham was transferred to Slough in 1930, and therefore became part of Berkshire in 1974. Britwell was transferred to the borough of Slough and to Berkshire in 1974.
The parish also includes the hamlets of Lent Rise, Rose Hill, East Burnham, Egypt, Hitcham, Littleworth and Littleworth Common.
Schools
Burnham Grammar SchoolBurnham Grammar School
Burnham Grammar School is a co-educational grammar school in Burnham, Buckinghamshire. It is a community school, which takes children from the age of 11 through to the age of 18. The school has approximately 1200 pupils....
and Burnham Upper School
Burnham Upper School
Burnham Upper School is a co-educational secondary school in Burnham, Buckinghamshire. It is a community school, which takes children from the age of 11 through to the age of 18...
provide secondary education to the children of Burnham and the surrounding area. Many students, however, commute to the nearby secondary schools in Slough. Priory School is the largest primary school in the area and provides primary education for many of the local children, although the smaller "Our Lady Of Peace" Roman Catholic primary school is next to Priory School.
Burnham is the home of Burnham Football Club
Burnham F.C.
Burnham F.C. is a non-League football club from Burnham in Buckinghamshire, near Slough. They currently compete in the Southern Football League Division One Central. The team play in blue and white quartered shirts and blue shorts. The manager is Martin Stone and the chairman is Bob Breen. Home...
.
Owing to its proximity to Pinewood Film & TV Studios
Pinewood Studios
Pinewood Studios is a major British film studio situated in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, approximately west of central London. The studios have played host to many productions over the years from huge blockbuster films to television shows to commercials to pop promos.The purchase of Shepperton...
, Burnham and its surrounding areas (in particular Burnham Beeches) feature in numerous films, notably a number of the Carry On films from the 1960s and 70s.
Notable people
- Mike AshleyMike Ashley (businessman)Michael James Wallace "Mike" Ashley is an English millionaire retail entrepreneur in the sporting goods market...
– billionaire businessman - Jimmy CarrJimmy CarrJames Anthony Patrick "Jimmy" Carr is an English-Irish comedian and humourist. He is known for his deadpan delivery and dark humour. He is also a writer, actor and presenter of radio and television....
- comedianComedianA comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
attended Burnham Grammar SchoolBurnham Grammar SchoolBurnham Grammar School is a co-educational grammar school in Burnham, Buckinghamshire. It is a community school, which takes children from the age of 11 through to the age of 18. The school has approximately 1200 pupils.... - Susan CooperSusan CooperSusan Mary Cooper is an English author best known for The Dark Is Rising, an award-winning five-volume saga set in and around England and Wales. The books incorporate traditional British mythology, such as Arthurian and other Welsh elements with original material ; these books were adapted into a...
– author - Ulrika JonssonUlrika JonssonEva Ulrika Jonsson is a Swedish television presenter in the UK, who became famous as a TV-am weather presenter and moved on to present Gladiators and became a team captain of the show Shooting Stars.-Early life:...
- TV presenter - Tracey UllmanTracey UllmanTracey Ullman is a British stage and television actress, comedienne, singer, dancer, screenwriter and author ....
– comedienne