Around Ascot

This compilation of over 200 photographs provides a fascinating insight into the area surrounding Ascot. Covering a five-mile radius from the ‘Starting Gate’ at Ascot, this book illustrates the humble origins of a piece of heathland which went on to gain international renown for its racecourse. The effects of the social round of the gentry at Ascot are evident in the development of cheap, infertile land into parkland and spacious houses for the wealthy. Typical of this development are buildings such as Heathfield – once the residence of Signor de Paravacini, an Italian diplomat, and Lynwood – owned by John Hargreaves who also owned much of the Sunninghill area. However, this selection of images does not just concentrate on beautiful houses and visiting Royalty. It also serves as a vivid portrayal of everyday life over the last hundred years, including local events and people who were integral to a sense of community in the area comprising Central, North and South Ascot, Sunninghill, Sunningdale, Cheapside and the Eastside. These photographs have been gathered from various archives and personal collections by the author, who has previously published Distant Views from Sunninghill and several articles on East Berkshire. He has also been Chairman of the Bracknell and District Historical Society for the last twenty years. This book will appeal to those who have a long-standing acquaintance with Ascot and its surrounding area, as well as anyone who has ever wondered if there is more to Ascot than its racecourse.