Eton, Berkshire
Encyclopedia
Eton is a town
and civil parish in Berkshire
, England
, lying on the opposite bank of the River Thames
to Windsor
and connected to it by Windsor Bridge
. The parish also includes the large village of Eton Wick
, 2 miles west of the town, and has a population of 4,980. Eton was in Buckinghamshire
until 1974, when it was transferred to Berkshire. Since 1998 it has been part of the unitary authority
of Windsor and Maidenhead
.
The town is best known as the location of Eton College
, a famous public school.
.
On Borough level, the town is part of the Eton and Castle
electoral ward and is currently represented by one councillor (George Fussey of the Liberal Democrats
) in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
.
Nationally, since 1997 the ward has formed part of the UK Parliamentary constituency of Windsor
and is currently represented by Adam Afriyie
of the Conservative Party
.
Between 1983 and 1997, the town was part of the UK Parliamentary constituency of Windsor and Maidenhead
which was continually held by the Conservative Party
during this period.
Before 1983, the town was within the boundaries of the UK Parliamentary constituency of Eton and Slough
. This was consistently held by the Labour Party
from its creation in 1945 to its redistribution
in 1983, except between 1964 and 1966 when it was briefly held by the Conservative Party
.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
and civil parish in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, lying on the opposite bank of the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
to Windsor
Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
and connected to it by Windsor Bridge
Windsor Bridge
Windsor Bridge or Windsor Town Bridge, is a road bridge over the River Thames between the towns of Windsor and Eton in the English county of Berkshire. It now only carries pedestrian and cycle traffic, and crosses the Thames just above Romney Lock....
. The parish also includes the large village of Eton Wick
Eton Wick
Eton Wick is a village in the English county of Berkshire on the western outskirts of London, immediately north of the River Thames. It is located very close to both the historic towns of Windsor and Eton, as well as Slough and Dorney Lake, the planned rowing venue for the 2012 Olympics...
, 2 miles west of the town, and has a population of 4,980. Eton was in Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
until 1974, when it was transferred to Berkshire. Since 1998 it has been part of the unitary authority
Unitary authority
A unitary authority is a type of local authority that has a single tier and is responsible for all local government functions within its area or performs additional functions which elsewhere in the relevant country are usually performed by national government or a higher level of sub-national...
of Windsor and Maidenhead
Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead is a Royal Borough of Berkshire, in South East England. It became a unitary authority on 1 April 1998.It is home to Windsor Castle, Eton College, Legoland and Ascot Racecourse....
.
The town is best known as the location of Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
, a famous public school.
Origin of the name
The name 'Eton' derives from Old English Ēa-tūn, = River-Town, i.e. Town on the River ThamesRiver Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
.
People
- George E. DavisGeorge E. DavisGeorge Edward Davis is regarded as the founding father of the discipline of Chemical Engineering.Davis was born at Eton on 27 July 1850, the eldest son of George Davis, a bookseller. At the age of fourteen he was apprenticed to a local bookbinder but he abandoned this trade after two years to...
(1850-1906), founding father of Chemical EngineeringChemical engineeringChemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with physical science , and life sciences with mathematics and economics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms...
, was born here. - Edmund BristowEdmund BristowEdmund Bristow was an English animal, still life and subject painter.-Life and work:Bristow was born in Eton, Berkshire, the son of an heraldic painter. At an early age he was patronised by the Princess Elizabeth, the Duke of Clarence , and others...
(1787-1876), artist, was born here and lived his whole life in the WindsorWindsor, BerkshireWindsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
area.
Politics
On a Parish level, the town is represented by seven councillors in the Eton Town Council, a body which also includes seven councillors representing Eton Wick.On Borough level, the town is part of the Eton and Castle
Eton and Castle
Eton and Castle is an electoral ward of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. As its name suggests, it comprises the town of Eton and Windsor Castle. It is currently represented by George Fussey of the Liberal Democrats...
electoral ward and is currently represented by one councillor (George Fussey of the Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
) in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead is a Royal Borough of Berkshire, in South East England. It became a unitary authority on 1 April 1998.It is home to Windsor Castle, Eton College, Legoland and Ascot Racecourse....
.
Nationally, since 1997 the ward has formed part of the UK Parliamentary constituency of Windsor
Windsor (UK Parliament constituency)
Windsor is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. In its modern form, it elects one Member of Parliament by the first-past-the-post system of election.-Boundaries:...
and is currently represented by Adam Afriyie
Adam Afriyie
Adam Afriyie is a British Conservative Party politician, and the Member of Parliament for Windsor. He was first elected at the 2005 general election and re-elected at the 2010 election.-Early life:...
of the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
.
Between 1983 and 1997, the town was part of the UK Parliamentary constituency of Windsor and Maidenhead
Windsor and Maidenhead (UK Parliament constituency)
Windsor and Maidenhead was a county constituency in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
which was continually held by the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
during this period.
Before 1983, the town was within the boundaries of the UK Parliamentary constituency of Eton and Slough
Eton and Slough (UK Parliament constituency)
Eton and Slough was a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first-past-the-post voting system....
. This was consistently held by the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
from its creation in 1945 to its redistribution
Redistribution (election)
Redistribution , called redistricting in the United States, is the process of changing of political borders. This is a form of boundary delimitation that changes electoral district boundaries, usually in response to periodic census results that cause malportionment of representation...
in 1983, except between 1964 and 1966 when it was briefly held by the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
.