This is a work in progress and will grow over the years. We want to show the people, both royal and common, in this section. We will also include the buildings and the politics. The church and other related topics will be covered as well.
Local Blue Plaques
The local Blue Plaque scheme commemorates notable people and places. It also honours events linked to the borough by installing permanent signs on local buildings. You will be able to find them all in this section. We have added details and pointers to find other information. It includes plaques that have disappeared over time. You will see the very latest announcement in BBC Berkshire News.
Local VC Recipients
The Victoria Cross is the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the United Kingdom. It is presented to members of the British Armed Forces for acts of valour “in the presence of the enemy“. There are 46 local recipients of the Victoria Cross since it was created, many of them posthumously. We do not want to forget these heroes of the past and present. They have contributed so much so we can enjoy our lives. Lest we forget.
Early Years of Windsor
As a start, we have taken excerpts from our publication “Windsor – A Thousand Years.” These excerpts tell the story of the Early Years of Windsor from 1 AD to 1500 AD. The first thousand years are directly from the book; unfortunately, little remains of that period. The next 500 years appear in a timeline format. This format highlights the Domesday Book, the birth of New Windsor, and the establishment of the Guildhall.
John Norden (c1754 – 1625) was a renowned cartographer and topographer. He was appointed as surveyor of the royal woods and forests of Berkshire in 1600. We have reproduced Norden’s 1607 Map of the Town of Windsor and the Little Park. It makes interesting reading. You really need a cuppa tea and biccie whilst savouring the detail.
Eton Prime Ministers
Twenty of the UK’s Prime Ministers were educated at Eton College. Many of the names are instantly recognisable. For each individual, we have some key facts. We have also created a timeline of major events in their life. References have been added as well. We hope that this helps you with your studies. See our Eton Prime Ministers page.
Members of Parliament
We have a dedicated page about the Members of Parliament for the Windsor constituency. It is split into various sections that show the development of the UK electoral system. For many years, the constituency had two MPs, many of whom did little or nothing in Parliament. After reform, it became a single, professional MP. This MP focused most of their efforts on the betterment of the local community and the UK.
Bailiffs and Mayors
The term “bailiff” refers to ancient roles. It is not a current position in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM) council. Instead, the council has leaders and mayors. Local government can be traced back to 1321. They are all remembered on a board in the Guildhall, called Bailiffs and Mayors of Windsor. We have reproduced it on a searchable page for local historians.
Windlesora
Windlesora is our annual journal of the WLHG. Articles cover a wide range of topics related to Windsor, Old Windsor, and Eton. Each Windlesora contains any number of fascinating articles about the town, its businesses, its people, and more. The cumulative content of over 500 articles, represents a valuable source of information.
Newspaper Clippings and Scrapbooks
Over the years, the Group have collected numerous Newspaper Clippings. These clippings regard local history, the Group, the Friends of the Museum, and other related topics. We are digitising the scrapbooks that we have been maintaining since the Group was formed in 1976. Ellen’s Purple Scrapbook is now available online, covering 1982 to 2004. Another scrapbook documents the successful launch of our book, Windsor: A Thousand Years. It includes all the photos and newspaper reports.