Bracknell Walk: Town Centre【4K】

Located in the county of Berkshire, and around 30 miles west of central London, is the town of Bracknell.

The name 'Bracknell' is derived from 'Braccen-Heale', meaning 'bracken-covered nook'. The first recorded reference dates back to 942 AD.

For centuries Bracknell was a small village consisting of a single narrow street inhabited mostly by shopkeepers. This began to change in 1856 when the railway arrived, leading to the development of Bracknell into a country town. A weekly cattle and poultry market started in 1870.

In 1949 Bracknell was designated a New Town as part of a post-Second World War scheme to rehouse London residents who had lost their homes in the Blitz. The idea was to turn it into a self-contained country town with the benefits of nearby green open spaces. One such space is none other than Ascot Racecourse just three miles to the east.

When Bracknell New Town was first developed, several companies moved into the town. Examples of companies with headquarters in Bracknell include Waitrose, Fujitsu, Avis Europe and the now defunct Cable & Wireless. The UK's national weather service, the Met Office, was also based in Bracknell from the '60s up until 2003 when they relocated to Exeter.

As seen in the video, Bracknell's town centre is completely pedestrianised. Despite the majority of the architecture being 20th century, there are three Grade II listed buildings in the town centre including The Bull. This pub, seen around the 10-and-a-half-minute mark has Medieval roots, albeit with some alterations from the 16th and 19th century. Nevertheless, it stands out amongst its surroundings, hinting at the aesthetic of Bracknell's past as a small village.

Today Bracknell is a rapidly growing town, serving as a commuter base for residents working in London and Reading in addition to the local economy.

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Filmed: 30th May 2021

Link to the walk on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/LVWpDaZxo58VhTLH6

Filmed on a Sony FDR-AX700 with a Zhiyun Crane 2 and a Sony ECM-XYST1M Stereo Microphone.

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 Park outside the station
1:16 Station Road
1:52 Subway to Braccan Walk
2:42 Braccan Walk
7:19 The Avenue
9:12 Eagle Lane
10:31 High Street
14:17 Grenville Place
15:11 Bracknell & Wokingham College