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Camberley
lies in north-west Surrey, on the border with Hampshire and
Berkshire.
Set on
Surrey heathland, the town grew up in the 19th century around
the gates of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, which moved
to its present position in 1812. The military town was originally
known as Cambridge Town but in 1877 its name was changed to
Camberley to save confusion with the university town of Cambridge.
Camberley
was popular with retired army officiers and in the late-19th
century the town's clean air was recommended for people with
lung complaints. As a result Camberley grew to become the
largest town in the district.
Lying
29 miles by rail from Waterloo, Camberley also developed as
bustling commuter town. Recently the town's location in the
corridor between the M3 and M4 motorways has created further
development.
The Surrey
Heath Museum, housed at the Surrey Heath's Civic Office
complex in Knoll Road, charts the growth of the military town
and its development as a Victorian health resort. Other displays
include local archaeology, geology, place names and transport.
Camberley
retains its links with the military. The village of Bisley
to the west of Camberley is famous for the UK's National Rifle
Championships. These are held on the Bisley Ranges which
are owned by the Ministry of Defence.
Five
miles south of Camberley lies the village of Deepcut, home
to the Princess Royal Barracks, Deepcut. The Barracks belong
to the Royal Logistics Corps and outside the perimeter of
the Barracks, on the northern edge of Deepcut village, stands
the
Royal Logistics Corps Museum (open to the public).
The Princess
Royal Barracks, Deepcut, has been involved in a controversy
concerning the suspicious deaths of several recruits.
Around
the village of Deepcut are hundreds of acres of open heathland
and woods, mostly owned by the Ministry of Defence.
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Camberley
