Martins Heron
Encyclopedia
Martins Heron is a leafy suburb
an area in the civil parish of Winkfield
, on the eastern edge of Bracknell
(a town in the Bracknell Forest
district of Berkshire
, UK
, 25 miles west of London
).
The name Martin's Heron is frequently misheard, and its name is a source of much confusion. It has nothing to do with the avian Heron
but stems from the old English word for wasp - Hern. The area is bordered by Bracknell to the west and large wooded areas, notably Swinley Woods
on the east and Lily Hill Park to the north.
The area lies within the former parkland and grounds of a mansion, Martin's Herne (or Heron), built around 1750 but demolished in the early 1980s, which was associated with minor nobility for much of its life, including the 18th century British general, William Gordon
. The house made way for a small estate of mainly large detached houses.
Martins Heron and the neighbouring suburb The Warren are after a Parliamentary Boundary review in the Bracknell
constituency - until 2010 they were in the Windsor Constituency.
Martin's Heron is well known locally as being the site of Harry Potter
's uncle and aunt's house. The filmed version of the first of JK Rowling's famous stories, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
was filmed partly on location. The external scenes with the actor Daniel Radcliffe
playing Harry Potter at his house were shot on location at a house in Picket Post Close, Martin's Heron. However, according to the documentary Creating the World of Harry Potter, logistics made this location impractical as a long-term filming location, so a portion of the street was recreated on the backlot of Leavesden Film Studios
.
Martins Heron railway station
serves commuters travelling to London Waterloo
and Reading, Berkshire
. The railway station is small but is manned during the morning and is equipped with CCTV. The station is situated right next to a Tesco
supermarket, and indeed was built by the supermarket chain, as a precondition of the supermarket being built.
Martin's Heron Tesco is also used for filming. Until recently it was one of the very few Tesco supermarkets in the country that is not open on Sunday, owing to concerns from local residents. It also has restricted opening hours on weekdays. It has therefore been used as a filming location for many of the Tesco television adverts featuring Prunella Scales
and Jane Horrocks
among others.
Tesco Martin's Heron was extended in 2008, drastically increasing its size and drawing new customers to the area. However this has been an issue that has been addressed by the local residents many times, and it has taken years for Tesco to receive planning permission to go ahead with the build. The new store was finished in May 2008.
Next to Tesco, sits the Martin's Heron and The Warren Community Hall. This is a small local hall, which has also been refurbished. It had an extension built at the start of the new millennium, and now contains the main hall, as well as the annexe hall, cloakrooms and a small waiting area. It is mostly used by the local nursery school, as well as the Martin's Heron School of Dance, which holds classes most evenings during term time.
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
an area in the civil parish of Winkfield
Winkfield
Winkfield is a village and civil parish in the Bracknell Forest unitary authority of Berkshire, England.-Geography:According to the 2001 census, the parish had a population of 15,271...
, on the eastern edge of Bracknell
Bracknell
Bracknell is a town and civil parish in the Borough of Bracknell Forest in Berkshire, England. It lies to the south-east of Reading, southwest of Windsor and west of central London...
(a town in the Bracknell Forest
Bracknell Forest
Bracknell Forest is a unitary authority and borough in Berkshire in southern England. It covers the towns of Bracknell, North Ascot, Sandhurst, Crowthorne and surrounding villages and hamlets.-History:...
district of 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...
, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, 25 miles west of 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...
).
The name Martin's Heron is frequently misheard, and its name is a source of much confusion. It has nothing to do with the avian Heron
Heron
The herons are long-legged freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae. There are 64 recognised species in this family. Some are called "egrets" or "bitterns" instead of "heron"....
but stems from the old English word for wasp - Hern. The area is bordered by Bracknell to the west and large wooded areas, notably Swinley Woods
Swinley Forest
Swinley Forest is a large expanse of English Crown Estate woodland mainly within the civil parishes of Windlesham in Surrey and Winkfield and Crowthorne in Berkshire.-Coverage:...
on the east and Lily Hill Park to the north.
The area lies within the former parkland and grounds of a mansion, Martin's Herne (or Heron), built around 1750 but demolished in the early 1980s, which was associated with minor nobility for much of its life, including the 18th century British general, William Gordon
William Gordon (British Army officer)
General William Gordon , of Fyvie, was a British general and courtier. He was several times returned to Parliament by the interest of the Duke of Marlborough, and precipitated a family quarrel with his nephew, the Duke of Gordon, by commandeering a regiment that the latter was raising.He was the...
. The house made way for a small estate of mainly large detached houses.
Martins Heron and the neighbouring suburb The Warren are after a Parliamentary Boundary review in the Bracknell
Bracknell (UK Parliament constituency)
-Elections in the 2000s:-Elections in the 1990s:- Notes and references :...
constituency - until 2010 they were in the Windsor Constituency.
Martin's Heron is well known locally as being the site of Harry Potter
Harry Potter
Harry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by the British author J. K. Rowling. The books chronicle the adventures of the adolescent wizard Harry Potter and his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry...
's uncle and aunt's house. The filmed version of the first of JK Rowling's famous stories, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, released in the United States and India as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, is a 2001 fantasy film directed by Chris Columbus and based on the novel of the same name by J. K. Rowling. The film is the first instalment in the Harry Potter film series,...
was filmed partly on location. The external scenes with the actor Daniel Radcliffe
Daniel Radcliffe
Daniel Jacob Radcliffe is an English actor who rose to prominence playing the titular character in the Harry Potter film series....
playing Harry Potter at his house were shot on location at a house in Picket Post Close, Martin's Heron. However, according to the documentary Creating the World of Harry Potter, logistics made this location impractical as a long-term filming location, so a portion of the street was recreated on the backlot of Leavesden Film Studios
Leavesden Film Studios
Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden , is a film and media complex owned by Warner Bros.. The studios and backlot sit on the site of the former Rolls-Royce factory at Leavesden Aerodrome, which was an important centre of aircraft production during World War II...
.
Martins Heron railway station
Martins Heron railway station
Martins Heron railway station is a railway station in the suburb of Martins Heron, Winkfield on the eastern edge of the town of Bracknell in Berkshire, England. It is on the London Waterloo-Reading line, between Ascot and Bracknell...
serves commuters travelling to London Waterloo
Waterloo station
Waterloo station, also known as London Waterloo, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex. The station is owned and operated by Network Rail and is close to the South Bank of the River Thames, and in Travelcard Zone 1....
and Reading, Berkshire
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 railway station is small but is manned during the morning and is equipped with CCTV. The station is situated right next to a Tesco
Tesco
Tesco plc is a global grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Cheshunt, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues and the second-largest measured by profits...
supermarket, and indeed was built by the supermarket chain, as a precondition of the supermarket being built.
Martin's Heron Tesco is also used for filming. Until recently it was one of the very few Tesco supermarkets in the country that is not open on Sunday, owing to concerns from local residents. It also has restricted opening hours on weekdays. It has therefore been used as a filming location for many of the Tesco television adverts featuring Prunella Scales
Prunella Scales
Prunella Scales CBE is an English actress, known for her role as Basil Fawlty's long-suffering wife in the British comedy Fawlty Towers and her award-nominated role as Queen Elizabeth II in the British film A Question of Attribution.-Career:Throughout her long career, Scales has usually been cast...
and Jane Horrocks
Jane Horrocks
Barbara Jane Horrocks is an English voice, stage, screen and television actress, voice artist, musician, and singer. She is best known for her role as "Bubble" in the TV series Absolutely Fabulous as well as her distinctive voice....
among others.
Tesco Martin's Heron was extended in 2008, drastically increasing its size and drawing new customers to the area. However this has been an issue that has been addressed by the local residents many times, and it has taken years for Tesco to receive planning permission to go ahead with the build. The new store was finished in May 2008.
Next to Tesco, sits the Martin's Heron and The Warren Community Hall. This is a small local hall, which has also been refurbished. It had an extension built at the start of the new millennium, and now contains the main hall, as well as the annexe hall, cloakrooms and a small waiting area. It is mostly used by the local nursery school, as well as the Martin's Heron School of Dance, which holds classes most evenings during term time.