SHORT FEATURE ON MAIDENHEAD by Harry Walton
MAIDENHEAD is believed to have got its name from the busy riverside area where the new wharf or “Maiden Hythe” was built which perhaps dates back to Saxon times.
A new bridge built across the river in the town in 1280 saw the Great Western Road diverted to make use of it.
This saw Maidenhead grow to become a stopping point for coaches between London and Bath.
On a more sombre note, King Charles I met his children in Maidenhead for the last time at the Greyhound Inn in the High Street before his execution in 1649. The building is now a branch of Natwest but a plaque commemorates the meeting.
The current 13-arch stone bridge was authorised by an Act of Parliament in 1772 and heavy tolls on this and the previous bridge were universally unpopular.
Complaints were made and finally another Act forced tolls to cease on October 31, 1903. A large crowd gathered and as November 1 started they took down the toll gates and threw them into the River Thames.
At that time the tolls were one shilling (about £9 today) for a coach and horses, sixpence (£5 today) for a car and ten old pence (£8 today) for 20 sheep.
The expansion of the railways saw modern Maidenhead slowly develop and it now has a population of about 60,000.
Maidenhead railway bridge designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel was immortalised by the great painter J.M.W.Turner in his 1844 work Rain, Speed and Steam – The Great Western Railway.
The town gained its own place in weather history when on July 12, 1901, it had 92mm of rain, just under four inches, the highest one hour total on record.
The town’s industries include computer software, plastic, pharmaceuticals, printing and telecommunications.
Half a mile from the town centre runs the Thames and the York Stream, which runs through the town centre, connects to the great river via a system of disused waterways which are hoped to be reopened through a renewal scheme.
Maidenhead has a number of notable current and former residents including the actress and sex symbol Diana Dors who lived in the town for much of her life in several properties.
Others include author Hugh Lofting, the creator of Doctor Dolittle, who was born in Maidenhead.
The town is one of the most affluent areas of the UK and its house prices are often higher than those in central London.
Maidenhead has more than 300 shops including the Nicholsons Shopping Centre.
CONTACTS:
Nicholsons Shoppings Centre: www.nicholsonsshoppingcentre.co.uk