If you would like to know more about Camberley, here are some of our favorite things about it:
History
The area traces its origins as far back as the Neolithic times. In fact, Bronze Age artifacts have been discovered in and around the Surrey Heath area. Evidence of a Romano-British settlement that continued being occupied into the Saxon period was uncovered following excavations in nearby Lightwater.
The area had become part of Windsor Forest by the Middle Ages. It was a royal hunting ground that Henry III created and continued being enjoyed by successive monarchs until the perambulation of royal forests some years later.
The area was also a particularly busy thoroughfare in years past since the main turnpike road from London to Exeter ran through the region once. Back then, the road was known as the ‘Great Road to Land’s End’ but it is currently known as the ‘A30’.
The road was a popular haunt for highwaymen with many coaches actually raided in the area at the hands of The Gallant Highwayman (real name Claude Duval) as well as the notorious The Golden Farmer (real name William Davies).
The Royal Military College (currently known as RMA Sandhurst) was established in the area in the late 18th Century and soon after a community started developing around its gates, which eventually came to be known as Yorktown.
Years later, Captain Charles Raleigh Knight, a local landowner, saw an opportunity for development to the east of the college and built The Cambridge Hotel as well as a network of streets for an accompanying settlement.
Initially, the new community was known as Cambridge Town, but it was renamed Camberley back in 1877 to avoid confusion with the University town further up north. The name derives from the ‘Cam’ stream that runs through the town’s center (albeit mainly underground) and the ‘Amber’ Hill nearby, with the traditional suffix of ‘ley’, which refers to a clearing or pasture (perhaps in reference to the area’s hunting ground heritage).
Retail
The SQ shopping center offers an outstanding shopping experience in the heart of Camberley. Independent shops and high street retailers alike are represented within the precinct that’s currently undergoing an extensive refurbishment program.
The town center also provides a plethora of eateries that range from chain favorites to independent restaurants, which include El Pic tapas bar that Gordon Ramsay named as one of the top five Spanish restaurants in the country. If you’re in Reading, you can travel to Camberley by train from several stations that are in the Reading area, including the soon-to-be-opened Reading Green Park station.
Leisure
If you are the kind of person that’s seeking a bit of luxury, the nearby Pennyhill Park Hotel offers sumptuous afternoon teas as well as indulgent spa experiences. The surrounding golf courses, on the other hand, provide the perfect opportunity for partaking in some healthy competition and enjoying the great outdoors.
If you’re a culture vulture, Camberley Theater has a lively program of productions, which include musicals, traditional ballets, and even comedy nights.
Countryside
Surrey is known for being a very leafy county and Camberley is definitely not an exception. The region has numerous green spaces and country parks, with Frimley Lodge Park providing the largest recreational space in the area.
The park boasts 24 hectares of green space and offers pretty walking routes along the canal, a miniature railway, a pitch, as well as putt green and BBQs for hire. It has even been awarded a Green Flag for public accessibility.
Besides providing yet more green in the area Camberley Park is also the setting for The Obelisk, which is an unusual brick structure. It once stood at over 100 feet tall, but the remaining ruins stand just 30 feet tall on the hilltop and locals keep wondering about the tower’s original purpose.
One theory suggests that it was used as a signaling tower, but the structure actually predates the semaphore system, which means that any signals would have to have been transferred via reflected sunlight or flames.
Other theories suggest that The Obelisk could have been a watchtower for helping guard against highways, a viewing platform for spectators watching the local hunt, or even a beacon for guiding travelers and huntsmen home across the heathland.
Alternatively, The Obelisk might have served no useful purpose and could simply have been a rich man’s folly for ornamental purposes only. Still, the mystery of the curious tower on the hill lives on.
Industry
The military town of Camberley may have humble beginnings, but it has grown to become an area of economic significance. The town is perfectly situated for easy access to London, which makes it an attractive location for large corporations.
The sizable industrial estate at Watchmoor Park is home to several high-profile companies, which include Jägermeister, Telent, Novartis, and Unisys. The UK headquarters of Siemens can also be found in Camberley as can the UK head offices of Krispy Kreme and Oracle (formerly known as Sun Microsystems).
