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Template:Otherplaces2 Bray (sometimes Bray-on-Thames) is a village and civil parish in the English county of Berkshire. It stands on the banks of the River Thames, just south-east of Maidenhead. It is famous as the village mentioned in the song The Vicar of Bray. The parish has an area of 2,498 hectares (6,170 acres) and a population of 8460 at the 2001 census ^[1]. The village contains two triple-Michelin-starred restaurants.

Geography

Bray has always been a very large parish, although it has shrunk considerably since Maidenhead became independent in 1894. As well as the main village, the parish contains a large number of villages and hamlets, often greens, which were originally scattered amongst the dense woodland of Windsor Forest that once covered the area. These include: Bray Wick, Holyport, Water Oakley, Oakley Green, Moneyrow Green, Stud Green, Foxley Green, Touchen End, Braywoodside, Hawthorn Hill and Fifield.

Village character

Despite being located on the very edge of Maidenhead, Bray is still very much an idyllic English village. It won best 'Small Village' in the 2005 Britain in Bloom awards, while its cricket club is the oldest in the county, having been first established in 1798. Bray is a very affluent residential area, as well as being a place popular with tourists exploring the Thames. There are many delightful walks and a number of well-known eating establishments. Two of its restaurants have three Michelin stars: The Fat Duck, which was adjudged the best restaurant in the world by Restaurant magazine in 2005, and the Waterside Inn, which ranked 19 in Restaurant's list. This is particularly significant as there are only three triple-starred restaurants in Great Britain. There are also many television and film studios in the Bray area.

The old village post office in the High Street houses a unique shop,Story in Bray selling unusual home accessories.

There are several very expensive houses on the river upstream of Bray Lock and they have been referred to as 'Millionaires row' in the national press. The flooding risk of these houses has recently been decreased by the Jubilee River a large drainage ditch between Maidenhead and Eton.

Notable buildings and structures

Parish church

The Church of England parish church of St Michael was built in 1293, supposedly to replace a Saxon church at Water Oakley. It has a number of sculptures which may have come from th earlier church, including a damaged Sheela na Gig. It is best known to brass rubbers for housing the superb memorial brass of 1378 to Sir John Foxley, the Constable of Southampton Castle, and his two wives. One of the local cottages has a tunnel which it is believed leads to the church and served as an escape route for clergymen.

Almshouse

The Jesus Hospital is a red-brick group of almhouses, founded in 1609 by William Goddard, whose full-size effigy stands over the entrance, to house thirty-four of the aged poor of Bray and six of the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers to which he belonged.

Monkey Island Lodge

Main article: Monkey Island, Bray.

Monkey Island, in the Thames, is associated with the 3rd Duke of Marlborough, and still houses two amusing structures that he built and furnished with paintings of monkeys.

Notable residents

Gerry Anderson - TV producer
Rolf Harris - Artist, musician, TV presenter^[2]
Sir Michael Parkinson - journalist and TV presenter^[3]
Michael Winner - Film director/producer
Heston Blumenthal - the TV chef runs The Fat Duck^[4] and Hinds Head Hotel restaurants in Bray.

Popular culture

In the BBC faux cooking show Posh Nosh, Simon and Minty Marchmont ran a restaurant near Bray.

References

^ "Town, Ward and Parish Populations". The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.
^ http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/3810305.Rolf_Harris_and_Val_Doonican__Old_pals_reunite_/
^ http://www.michaelparkinson.tv/week-in-words,little-bluey_31.htm
^ "Fat Duck Website". Retrieved 2008-12-14.

External links

51°30′25″N 0°42′00″W / 51.507°N 0.700°W / 51.507; -0.700

[1] "Town, Ward and Parish Populations". The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.

[2] ttp://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/3810305.Rolf_Harris_and_Val_Doonican__Old_pals_reunite_/

[3] ttp://www.michaelparkinson.tv/week-in-words,little-bluey_31.htm

[4] "Fat Duck Website". Retrieved 2008-12-14.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+[[Image:Bray_Church, Berkshire.JPG|thumb|right|250px|St Michael's church, Bray]]
-{{other places|Bray}}
+{{otherplaces2|Bray}}
-{{infobox UK place|
+'''Bray''' (sometimes '''Bray-on-Thames''') is a [[village]] and [[civil parish]] in the [[England|English]] county of  [[Berkshire]]. It stands on the banks of the [[River Thames]], just south-east of [[Maidenhead]]. It is famous as the village mentioned in the song ''[[The Vicar of Bray (song)|The Vicar of Bray]]''. The parish has an area of {{convert|2498|ha}} and a population of 8460 at the [[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 census]]
-|country =                 England
+<ref> {{cite web
-|official_name=            Bray
+ | url = http://www.rbwm.gov.uk/web/pp_town_ward_parish_populations.htm
-|static_image_name=             Bray Church, Berkshire.JPG
+ | title = Town, Ward and Parish Populations
-|static_image_caption=     <small>St Michael's Church</small>
+ | publisher = The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
-|population=               4,646
+ }} </ref>. The village contains two triple-[[Michelin Guide|Michelin-starred]] restaurants.
-|population_ref= ''(2001)''
-|latitude=                 51.507
-|longitude=                -0.700
-|civil_parish=             Bray
-|unitary_england=	   [[Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead|Windsor and Maidenhead]]
-|lieutenancy_england=      [[Berkshire]]
-|region=                   South East England
-|constituency_westminster= [[Maidenhead (UK Parliament constituency)|Maidenhead]]
-|post_town=                MAIDENHEAD
-|postcode_district =       SL6
-|postcode_area=            SL
-|dial_code=      01752
-|os_grid_reference=     SU9079
-}}
-'''Bray''', sometimes known as ''Bray on Thames'', is a village and [[civil parishes in England|civil parish]] in the [[England|English]] county of  [[Berkshire]]. It stands on the banks of the [[River Thames]], just south-east of [[Maidenhead]]. It is famous as the village mentioned in the song ''[[The Vicar of Bray (song)|The Vicar of Bray]]''.  The village contains two of the four three-[[Michelin Guide#Michelin stars and other ratings|Michelin-starred]] restaurants in the UK,<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1576400/Full-list-of-Michelin-stars-in-Britain-and-Ireland.html Full list of Michelin stars in Britain and Ireland] ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]''. Published 24 January 2008. Retrieved 20 August 2009.</ref> and is the home of [[Bray Studios (UK)|Bray Studios]] of "[[Hammer Film Productions|Hammer Horror]]" fame.
-The parish of Bray includes a number of other villages and hamlets.  It has an area of {{convert|2498|ha}} and a population of 8,425 at the [[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 census]].<ref>[http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/viewFullDataset.do?instanceSelection=03070&productId=779&$ph=60_61&datasetInstanceId=3070&startColumn=1&numberOfColumns=8&containerAreaId=790313 Office for National Statistics : ''Census 2001 : Parish Headcounts : Windsor and Maidenhead"] Retrieved 3 November 2010</ref>
 ==Geography==
@@ Line 30: / Line 13: @@
 ==Village character==
-Despite being located on the very edge of Maidenhead, Bray retains an English village character. It won best 'Small Village' in the 2005 [[Britain in Bloom]] awards, while its [[cricket club]] is the oldest in the county, having been first established in 1798. Bray is a very affluent residential area, as well as being a place popular with tourists exploring the Thames. There are many walks and a number of well-known eating establishments. Two of its restaurants have three [[Michelin Guide|Michelin stars]]: [[The Fat Duck]], which was judged the best restaurant in the world by ''[[Restaurant (magazine)|Restaurant]]'' magazine in 2005, and the [[Waterside Inn]], which ranked 19 in ''Restaurant'''s list. This is particularly significant as there are only four (as of 2010) three-star restaurants in Great Britain. Bray is home to [[Bray Studios (UK)|Bray Studios]] of "[[Hammer Film Productions|Hammer Horror]]" fame.
+Despite being located on the very edge of Maidenhead, Bray is still very much an idyllic English village. It won best 'Small Village' in the 2005 [[Britain in Bloom]] awards, while its [[cricket club]] is the oldest in the county, having been first established in 1798. Bray is a very affluent residential area, as well as being a place popular with tourists exploring the Thames. There are many delightful walks and a number of well-known eating establishments. Two of its restaurants have three [[Michelin Guide|Michelin stars]]: [[The Fat Duck]], which was adjudged the best restaurant in the world by ''[[Restaurant (magazine)|Restaurant]]'' magazine in 2005, and the [[Waterside Inn]], which ranked 19 in ''Restaurant'''s list. This is particularly significant as there are only three triple-starred restaurants in Great Britain. There are also many television and film studios in the Bray area.
+The old village post office in the High Street houses a unique shop,[http://www.storyinbray.com Story in Bray] selling unusual home accessories.
-There are several expensive houses on the river upstream of [[Bray Lock]] and they have been referred to as 'Millionaires row' in the national press. The flooding risk of these houses has recently been decreased by the [[Jubilee River]] a large drainage ditch between Maidenhead and [[Eton, Berkshire|Eton]].
+There are several very expensive houses on the river upstream of [[Bray Lock]] and they have been referred to as 'Millionaires row' in the national press. The flooding risk of these houses has recently been decreased by the [[Jubilee River]] a large drainage ditch between Maidenhead and [[Eton, Berkshire|Eton]].
 ==Notable buildings and structures==
@@ Line 42: / Line 27: @@
 ===Monkey Island Lodge===
-{{main|Monkey Island, Bray}}
+:''Main article: [[Monkey Island, Bray]]''.
 [[Monkey Island, Bray|Monkey Island]], in the Thames, is associated with the [[Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough|3rd Duke of Marlborough]], and still houses two amusing structures that he built and furnished with paintings of monkeys.
 ==Notable residents==
+* [[Gerry Anderson]] - TV producer
 * [[Rolf Harris]] - Artist, musician, TV presenter<ref>http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/3810305.Rolf_Harris_and_Val_Doonican__Old_pals_reunite_/</ref>
-* [[Michael Parkinson|Sir Michael Parkinson]] - journalist and TV presenter<ref>http://www.michaelparkinson.tv/week-in-words,little-bluey_31.htm</ref>
+* Sir [[Michael Parkinson]] - journalist and TV presenter<ref>http://www.michaelparkinson.tv/week-in-words,little-bluey_31.htm</ref>
+* [[Michael Winner]] - Film director/producer
-* [[Heston Blumenthal]] - the TV chef runs [[The Fat Duck]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fatduck.co.uk/ |title=Fat Duck Website |accessdate=14 December 2008-12-14 }}</ref> and Hinds Head Hotel<ref>http://www.thehindsheadhotel.com/#welcome,introduction</ref> restaurants in Bray
+* [[Heston Blumenthal]] - the TV chef runs [[The Fat Duck]]<ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.fatduck.co.uk/ |title=Fat Duck Website |accessdate=2008-12-14 }}</ref> and Hinds Head Hotel restaurants in Bray.
 ==Popular culture==
 *In the [[BBC]] faux cooking show ''[[Posh Nosh]]'', Simon and Minty Marchmont ran a restaurant near Bray.
+==References==
+{{reflist}}
 ==See also==
 * [[Bray Lock]]
 * [[Bray Studios (UK)|Bray Studios]]
-==References==
-{{reflist}}
 ==External links==
-{{Commons category|Bray, Berkshire}}
 * [http://www.windsor.gov.uk/maps/bray.htm The Official Windsor Site: Bray]
 * [http://www.berkshirehistory.com/villages/bray.html Royal Berkshire History: Bray]
+* [http://www.braybank-estates.co.uk Official Website of the Braybank Estate]
 * [http://www.storyinbray.com Story in Bray]
 * [http://www.braycottages.com Bray Cottages]
 * [http://www.braystmichael.co.uk/ St Michael's church, Bray]
-* [http://www.savejesushospital.org.uk/ Friends of Jesus Hospital]
+* [http://www.friendsofjesushospital.org.uk/ Friends of Jesus Hospital]
+{{coord|51.507|-0.700|region:GB_type:city|display=title}}
 {{Windsor and Maidenhead}}
-[[Category:Bray, Berkshire| ]]
+[[Category:Windsor and Maidenhead]]
-[[Category:Populated places on the River Thames]]
+[[Category:River Thames]]
 [[Category:Villages in Berkshire]]
 [[Category:Civil parishes in Berkshire]]
-[[fr:Bray (Berkshire)]]
+[[nl:Bray (Berkshire)]]
-[[nl:Bray (Engeland)]]
-[[pt:Bray (Berkshire)]]

v t e Settlements in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
Towns	Eton Maidenhead Windsor
Civil parishes	Bisham Bray Cookham Cox Green Datchet Horton Hurley Old Windsor Shottesbrooke Sunningdale Sunninghill and Ascot Waltham St Lawrence White Waltham Wraysbury
Other villages and hamlets	Ascot Braywick Burchetts Green Cheapside Clewer Cookham Dean Dedworth Eton Wick Fifield Holyport Knowl Hill Littlewick Green Paley Street Pinkneys Green Shurlock Row Sunninghill Touchen End Warren Row