Burnham, Buckinghamshire
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Burnham | |
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| Population | 11,512 (2001 census) |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| District | South Bucks |
| Shire county | Buckinghamshire |
| Region | South East |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | SLOUGH |
| Postcode district | SL |
| Dial code | 01628 |
| Police | Thames Valley |
| Fire | Buckinghamshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| UK Parliament | Beaconsfield |
| European Parliament | South East England |
| List of places: UK • England | |
Burnham lies north of the River Thames, 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, Berkshire. The M4 motorway passes through the south of the parish.
The town name is Anglo Saxon 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 town. The road from London to Bath (now the A4) passed through the extensive parish of Burnham and as a result, in 1271, the town 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 town is indistinguishable from Slough due to urban spread, though it retains some of its elder character. Although the civil parish has a population of around 11,500, Burnham's residents usually continue to consider Burnham to be a village.
In 1265 a Benedictine abbey was founded near the town 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 restorations in 1863-4 and 1891 and the construction of the Cornerstone Centre in 1986.[1]
Burnham Beeches is an area of 540 acres of protected ancient woodland, and sits just north of the village. Dorneywood lies within the parish.
The parish of Burnham once included the hamlets of Boveney, Cippenham, Britwell and East Burnham, though these are now separate communities in their own right.
Burnham Grammar School and Burnham Upper School provide secondary education to the children of Burnham and the surrounding area.
Burnham is the home of Burnham Football Club.
Owing to its proximity to Pinewood Film & TV Studios, Burnham and surrounding areas can be spotted in numerous films, notably a number of the Carry On films from the 1960s and 70s.
[edit] External links
- Burnham Bucks community Website
- Parish Council Website
- Parish Church Website
- Society of the Precious Blood at Burnham Abbey
