This county in southern England contains
Windsor Castle, and is known as the "royal county." It is south of the
Thames and is bounded on the north by
Oxfordshire, on the south by
Hampshire, on the west by
Wiltshire, and on the east by
Middlesex.
The surface is generally undulating and wooded. The principal hills are the Berkshire Downs, or White Horse Hills. The county is drained by the Thames, Ock, Kennet, Cole, Lambourn, and Pang rivers.
Berkshire was the scene of wars between Alfred and the Danes in the 9th century and played an important role in the Civil Wars from the reign of Stephen to the death of Charles I.
Reading is the county town. Wallingford and Kintbury are also manufacturing centers.
