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Maidenhead , on the River
Thames, is 26 miles from London.
The original settlement, lying
about a mile north of the present town, was known as Eletone. Its
timber wharf on the Thames was called Mai Dun Hythe (or 'Maidenhuth')
and this eventually superceded the town's original name.
When a bridge was built to replace
the ferry across the Thames in 1280, the road between London
and Bristol, later known as the Bath Road, was diverted to
cross it.
Maidenhead was one day's journey
from London and as a result developed as a major coaching
stop, with many inns located along the High Street. The current
bridge, dating from 1777, is still crossed by the Bath Road
(now the A4). By the 19th century Maidenhead was a popular
river resort and was notably ridiculed in Jerome K Jerome's
famous book, 'Three Men in a Boat'.
The Thames flows half a mile
to the east of the town centre and the Jubliee River flood
defence scheme now begins at Maidenhead. Completed
in 2002, this hydraulic channel takes the overflow from the
Thames to alleviate flooding in and around Maidenhead, Windsor
and Eton.
The town has good transport links,
standing on the A4 and lying adjacent to Junction 8/9 on the
M4 motorway. Today Maidenhead lies in England's 'Silicon
Corridor' (along the M4) and many residents commute to work
in London, Slough or Reading.
Maidenhead's industries include
plastics, telecommunications, computer software and pharmaceuticals.
The Great Western Railway (built
by Isambard Kingdom Brunel in 1838) passes through Maidenhead,
offering links with London and Bristol. Brunel's Maidenhead
Railway Bridge, spanning the Thames, is famous for its flat
brick arches.
Maidenhead also remains a significant
boating centre
The Maidenhead
Heritage Centre, in King Street, illustrates local history
from the Stone Age to the age of computers. Maidenhead offers
a good shopping centre, mulitplex cinema and the Norden
Farm Centre for the Arts (incorporating a theatre).
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Maidenhead
