Berkshire

Royal County of Berkshire is a traditional county in southern England. The county town is a matter of debate; it was long considered to be Abingdon, but the summer assizes moved to Reading in 1867, which has long been seen to have moved the county town.

Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire lie across the River Thames to the north, Surrey lies to the south-east, the southern border is with Hampshire and to the west are Wiltshire and a 5-mile border with Gloucestershire.

The county's strategic central position has resulted in it being the venue for many historical battles, notably between the Vikings and the forces of Alfred the Great, and during the English Civil War. The epithet "Royal County" is thought to be of 19th century origin, and related to the presence of Windsor Castle within the county.

Administration

Berkshire lends its name to a unitary authority, West Berkshire Council, which is administered from Newbury and covers a large and mainly rural part of the traditional county, plus a small part of Hampshire around Combe and part of Wiltshire west of Hungerford. Other unitary authorities responsible for local government in Berkshire include Bracknell Forest Council, Reading Borough Council, Windsor and Maidenhead Council (which also covers part of Buckinghamshire) and Wokingham Borough Council. The north of the county, including the towns of Wantage and Abingdon, is administered at a lower-tier level by Vale of White Horse District Council and at an upper-tier level by Oxfordshire County Council.