Crowthorne is a small town in Berkshire Forest. It’s best known for Broadmoor Hospital, a high security psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane, which lies nearby. It was built in 1863 and in the first seven years there were fifteen escapees so they raised the perimeter wall by sixteen and a half feet. Luckily security now a days is much better!
Crowthorne was only a small hamlet until the Wellington College was built in 1859 to educate the sons of British army officers.
The town quickly grew in the 1960’s. The Transport Research Laboratory opened and is now the main employer for the non-commuters.
The railway was opened in the town in 1860 and in 1868 a wooden church erected. This was later put on rollers and moved to the other side of the road as a corn store. The present church was built in 1872 at a cost of £1934.19s.
The area was well known for highwaymen and many would be waiting the stages coaches crossing the then Berkshire Moors. One such local man, Parson Darby, from nearby Yately would preach on Sundays and rob travellers during the week.
Flats and houses for sale and rent are always to be found, with rental prices for the area averaging £650 a month for a studio flat, £700 - £750 a month for a two bed flat and a four bed house around £1500.
There are plenty of shops in Crowthorne, mostly small and unique such as a music shop and shops selling bridal wear, computers, fashion items, cycles and florists. There is also an interior design shop and a supermarket.
Crowthorne has several eating houses such as Indian, traditional cafes and steak houses making the choice wide and varied.
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