Slough, Berkshire, England

Situated in the county of Berkshire in the heart of the Thames Valley, Slough is a multi-cultural town.

Forever dammed by the poetry of John Betjeman and the antics of Ricky Gervais in "The Office", Slough has long had an image of industrialisation, tired concrete buildings and a population as dull as its architecture!

Situated midway between Reading and London and close to Heathrow Airport with excellent road and rail links, Slough has a thriving economy which has seen the town become home to many major companies including SEGRO, Masterfoods (Mars), ICI, Sara Lee, Yell, Black and Decker, O2, LG Electronics, Ferrari, Honda, Citroen, Nintendo, McAfee, Computer Associates and Amazon.com.

Slough has many claims to historical fame. The planet Uranus was discovered by Slough resident, astronomer Sir William Herschel. Queen Victoria made her first ever railway journey from Slough to London in 1842. Britain's first black female mayor, Lydia Simmons, was appointed in Slough in 1984. The Cox's Orange Pippin apple was cultivated in Slough.

Slough has 96 listed buildings, including the 900 year old St Laurence's Church, the 14th century Upton Court (home of the Slough Observer newspaper), the Ostrich Inn in Colnbrook (reputedly the third oldest inn in the country) and the splendid Victorian era Slough Railway Station.

Slough does have some open spaces and beautiful scenery such as Jubilee River, Upton Court Park, Herschel Park, Salt Hill Park, Burnham Beeches, Langley Country Park and Black Park and sporting facilities, including public playing fields, leisure centres, a bowling alley and it's famous Ice Arena where Olympic stars Torville and Dean used to train.

Over the past few years Slough has become one of the most "ethnically diverse" towns in the UK.

* Photo copyright Clearway Driver Training, used with permission

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Photo of Ye Olde George Inn 146 High Street, Colnbrook - one of the surviving coaching inns dating back to the 17th century - rumour has it that Prince Rupert and quite a few of his troops drank the place dry during the English Civil War - photo copyright CDT (the author of this page)!

The first recorded use of the name "Slough" (spelt "Slo") occurred as long ago as 1196. The name was first used to describe a small hamlet situated roughly where what is now Slough High Street meets the A332 (Slough Library and the adjacent area).

The word "Slough" means "an area of soft, muddy ground" and it is thought most likely that the settlement became known by the simple physical description of the area. It is also possible that it was so named due to a large number of blackthorn bushes which may have grown in the area at that time (the fruits of blackthorn bushes are called "sloes").

In the 17th century, as the road system started to develop rapidly, Slough became an important location for stagecoaches to change horses when travelling along the Great West Road from London to Bath. Many coaching inns (some are still in existence - see picture) sprang up to cater for the great demand.

By the 19th century, the population of Slough (what we would now call Upton-cum-Chalvey) had reached 1,502 - smaller than it's nearest neighbour, Langley Marish which boasted 1,797 people.

Slough expanded rapidly as industrialisation "came to town" triggered by the Great Western Railway which reached Slough in 1838, followed in 1882 by the Grand Union Canal.

Up until that time, the area was mostly agricultural, with a secondary industry of brickmaking, but with the development of faster and more efficient transport, the area saw rapid and extensive expansion both to the west to what is now Langley and the north to what is now Wexham. The name Slough began to be applied to a wider geographical area.

In 1918 a large plot of agricultural land to the west of Slough was developed as an army motor repair depot, used to store and repair huge numbers of motor vehicles used in the First World War .

In 1920 the Government sold this land and the remaining vehicles to the Slough Trading Co Ltd (later renamed Slough Estates Ltd). Repair of ex-army vehicles continued until 1925 when the Slough Trading Company Act was passed allowing Slough Estates Ltd to establish the world's first Industrial Estate. This opened the gates to massive industrial development and the availability of jobs for thousands of people.

The town of Slough attracted workers from all over the UK and abroad. Large housing estates including Manor Park and Cippenham were built to cater for the influx of workers.

In 1938 Slough was granted a Royal Charter and became a Municipal Borough.

After the Second World War, several further large housing estates were built to provide accomodation for large numbers of Londoners whose homes had been damaged or destroyed during the war. Examples include the London County Council estates at Britwell and Langley, and the borough council estate at Wexham Court.

Slough was incorporated into Berkshire from Buckinghamshire in the 1974 local government reorganisation and the town became a unitary authority on April 1, 1998, with the abolition of Berkshire County Council.

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  © Copyright Ian Baker and
licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

The oldest building in Slough, the 12th Century Norman church of St Laurence, St Laurence Way, Upton-cum-Chalvey, Slough.

Many of the ancient artifacts of St Laurence's were destroyed in the Reformation, but the original baptismal font and piscina survive, along with a 13th century Italian image of the Holy Trinity.

Astronomer, Sir William Herschel was married in the church and is buried in the Herschel family vault at the base of the church tower.

Charles Hatchett, the chemist who discovered the element niobium in 1801, is also buried there.

By the middle of the 19th century, the church had fallen into serious disrepair and it was decided to build a new Parish Church for Upton-cum-Chalvey. A local farmer decided to save St Laurence's from demolition and made safe the walls and crumbling tower. The church was restored and rededicated in 1851.

In 2001, a set of stained glass windows were installed in the church to celebrate Herschel and his discovery of the planet Uranus.

More info about the church and it's history can be found at;
St Laurence's Church, Upton-cum-Chalvey, Slough

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  © Copyright Darren Smith and
licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

The Church of St Mary The Virgin in Langley dates back to the late 11th or early 12th century.

The original building was enlarged in the 13th century. In the 17th century further extensive building and refurbishment was done for Sir John Kedermister, holder of the manor of Langley Park. Along with a brand new south aisle, belltower and pulpit, Sir John financed the building of adjoining almshouses and established The Kedermister Library - over 300 books intended for the education of the rectors of St. Mary's.

The "Missale Romanum", published in 1485, is the oldest book in the current collection. The library's most valuable manuscript, is the 11th century illuminated "Kedermister Gospels", which, along with the 17th century "Pharmacopolium or a booke of Medicine", is on permanent loan to the British Library.

It is possible to arrange a visit to the Kedermister Library between May and September. For details, please see St Mary's Church Homepage at LangleyMarish.org

More information about the church and the library can be found at;

A Tour of St Mary's Church, Langley
St Mary The Virgin, Langley
The Kedermister Library

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* Photo of Upton Court - copyright CDT (the author of this page)!

Upton Court, Datchet Road, Slough
Grade II* listed building

Upton Court is an "open hall house", parts of which date back to the 14th century. It was owned by the Lords of the Manor of Upton, but was rarely occupied by any of them, being let out to tenants instead.

In he 18th century, the ownership of Upton Court passed into the Lascelles family and later into the Burton family. It remained in private ownership until 1986 when it was bought by the Berkshire and Buckinghamshire Observer and their successors the Berkshire Media Group who produced the Observer series of local newspapers there until March 2010.

Upton Court is reputed to be haunted by the ghost of a woman wearing a bloodstained nightdress who was only ever sighted on a Friday night walking (or should that be floating?) in the grounds of the building!

More information about Upton Court at;
Slough Museum - Upton Court
Slough History Online - picture gallery of Upton Court, including interior photographs

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Photograph of the Brunel Bus Station and Roundabout used under Creative Commons from Robert Neild

The Brunel Bus Station and multi-storey car park was situated on the A4 right in the middle of Slough Town Centre and is a familiar image even to those who have never visited Slough, as it is prominently featured in the opening sequence of the TV series "The Office".

The Brunel Bus Station was sandwiched between the huge Tesco Extra and the Brunel Roundabout, overlooking Thames Valley University, St Ethelbert's Church and Slough Library and flanked by Slough Railway Station.

It was a "fine" example of 1970's architecture featuring a bus station at ground level and a multi-storey car park on the upper levels. It was demolished in late 2011 under "The Heart Of Slough" refurbishment project and the Brunel Roundabout and pedestrian underpass was filled in and replaced with a traffic light controlled junction...the end of an era!

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* Photo of Slough Town Hall used with permission of the former Slough Community Forum

Slough Town Hall, Bath Road was opened on 31 March 1937.

In 1948, the poet John Betjeman (who wasn't a big fan of Slough) wrote in the Buckinghamshire Architectural Guide that the building "represents a striving for unity out of chaos".

Slough Borough Council has announced plans to sell the 5.2 acre site on which the Town Hall stands for residential development and re-locate its offices to a more modern home.

There is a campaign underway to save the Town Hall from possible demolition. To find out more, please see Help Save Slough Town Hall - this website also contains a photo gallery of both exterior and interior shots of Slough Town Hall.

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  © Copyright Nigel Cox and
licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

The Horlicks factory in Slough was completed in 1908 at a cost of £28,000.

"Horlicks" is a malted milk hot drink, which is claimed to promote sleep when consumed at bedtime. It was developed in the USA in 1873 by James Horlick, originally as a food for infants.

For those wishing to know more about Horlicks here's a link to the Horlicks website

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* Photograph of The Ostrich Inn copyright CDT (author of this page!)

The Ostrich Inn (Grade II* Listed Building)
Location: 42, High Street, Colnbrook

The Ostrich in Colnbrook High Street (a continuation of the Old Bath Road of which parts became the A4), is a former coaching inn which was originally called "The Hospice" (a name which over time became corrupted to "The Ostrich"!)

The Ostrich is said to be the third oldest pub in Britain, dates from 1106 and is reputed to be haunted! The murderous antics of a 17th Century landlord named Jarman are rumoured to have served as the inspiration for "Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"!

Well over 900 years later, The Ostrich Inn is still a popular pub and restaurant. More info about it's history and current services can be found by clicking the link below:

Photograph of Station Jim by Carcharoth (Commons) (Own work) [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

"Station Jim" (or Dog Jim), was a Canine Collector for the Great Western Railway Widows and Orphans Fund based at Slough Railway Station.

Jim came to Slough as a 3 month old puppy and started work at the railway station a month later. He suddenly collapsed and died whilst on his collecting round on 19th November 1896. He was only 2 years old :(

Poor Jim's life was short...but interesting!

After his death Jim was stuffed and placed on display in a glass cabinet with a collection slot, thus allowing him to carry on his work despite his untimely demise.

At some point a card was added to his display case, explaining his history.

Jim was the inspiration for a 2001 BBC film called "Station Jim" (unfortunately it was only very loosely based on "our" Jim and wasn't set either in a railway station, or in Slough...).

More details of the life of "Station Jim" and the full text of what is written on that card you can see in his display cabinet, can be found on Wikipedia at Slough Railway Station

Station Jim can be found on Platform 5 at Slough Railway Station - why not pay him a visit?

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  © Copyright Darren Smith and
licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Crossbow House, 40 Liverpool Road, Slough, SL1 4QZ
- right in the heart of Slough Trading Estate.

The exterior of the building became famous when it was used as the location for fictional paper merchants Wernham Hogg in the opening sequences and some of the filming for popular BBC comedy "The Office".

Crossbow House was formerly owned by John Crane UK (formerly Crane Packing - my Dad used to work there!), but the building is now used by several different companies and serviced offices.

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Slough has had a fooball club since 1889. The club is still going strong 120 years later, even after mergers, splits, name changes, relocations and wildy varying fortunes!

Slough Town Football Club's nickname "The Rebels" originated in the 1940's, following the club's decision to leave the Spartan League and join the Corinthian League - a move that was considered very contraversial at the time!

Slough Town Football Club have chalked up a long list of proud achievements over the years. They were Corinthian League champions in 1950-51, won the Athenian League three times, been Isthmian League champions twice and the peak of their success was reaching the Conference League where they spent a total of seven seasons. (Click the following link to find out more about the history of Slough Town Football Club)

Slough Town Football Club Links:

Slough Town FC - Official Website

Rebels Online - Unofficial Slough Town Football Club Website

Slough Town - Fans Focus - unofficial Slough Town Football Club messageboard

The Official Slough Town Supporters Trust Website

Slough Ladies Football Club

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