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Crow Thorn, no “e”, in the early 17th Century lay within the bounds of the Royal Forest of Windsor and was a thorn tree at the junction of three forest walks, Easthampstead, Bagshot and Sandhurst. Visitors from Bracknell by road today pass this spot at the junction of Brookers Corner just before the roundabout at the entrance to the village. At that time Crowthorne was virtually uninhabited. The existence of Crowthorne as a village is in large part, in the second half of the reign of Queen Victoria, due to the building of Wellington College, where the first boys took up residence in January1859, and Broadmoor Hospital whose first patients arrived in May 1863.The Crowthorne of today, where many of the Victorian Buildings and village atmosphere still exist, is a thriving community. In the age of the motorcar, the first car appeared in 1911; it sits astride two of the countries major motorways the M3 and M4 south west of Bracknell which allows commuters to travel to all points of the compass. Crowthorne first established as a Parish in 1894 still has an active Parish Council which meets in the Parish Hall the first Tuesday of each month, except August, when time is made available for questions to be put by members of the Public and administers the area in conjunction with Bracknell Forest Borough Council.

Crowthorne has a reputation as a caring community and boasts many voluntary organisations helping with the disabled, the distressed, the elderly, the lonely and the sick. Private and Council sheltered accommodation for the elderly and several private nursing homes are available as are facilities for pre school groups of children. Primary and Secondary schools are available and the famous Wellington College is situated here. The village also has two doctor’s surgeries, a veterinary practice, fire station, police station, two sub post offices and a railway station that connects to Reading and Gatwick Airport, Heathrow is within one hour by road.

There are many recreational and sports facilities available. Edgbarrow Sports Centre in the grounds of Edgbarrow School provides a variety of activities badminton, netball, cricket, martial arts, table tennis, squash and yoga and a fully equipped gymnasium to name a few. Similar facilities are provided in a private membership club in the grounds of Wellington College. There are three recreation grounds for field sports and the village is surrounded by woodland for those keen on country walks. The “Look Out Discovery Park” at the northern edge of the village provides outdoor and indoor activities for children with over 70 different interactive hands on facilities. The Parish Hall and the Morgan Centre are available for hire for conferences, societies, dances, parties, weddings and meetings of all kinds. Contact the Parish Council Office at the Morgan Centre 01344 771251.

There are two hotels in the village” The Waterloo” and “The Dial House”, three public houses, several restaurants and a British Legion and Social Club. There are lively shopping areas with some of the shops still family owned, an open air market every Friday and five free car parks! There are three churches of different denominations which cooperate as “Churches together in Crowthorne”. During the Christmas Season the High Street is illuminated with festive lights and decorations and every other year hosts a summer carnival starting with colourful procession of floats and open air fete. The carnival then continues for eight days with concerts, dances, social and sporting events and an exhibition.

Crowthorne over the last 100 years has managed to evolve from a Victorian village to one in the 21st Century without losing the essential values of a village.