Encyclopedia

Berkshire

Berkshire (bärk'shir, –shur, bûrk'–) [key]or Berks (bärks, bûrks) [key], former county, S central England. Part of the ancient kingdom of Wessex and the birthplace of King Alfred, the county of Berkshire was abolished as an administrative entity in 1998 and divided into the unitary authorities of Bracknell Forest, West Berkshire, Reading, Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead, and Wokingham.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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