West Berkshire
Unitary authority in southeast England, created in 1998 from part of the former county of Berkshire.
Area
705 sq km/272 sq mi
Towns and cities
Newbury (administrative headquarters), Hungerford, Lambourn
Features
River Kennet; River Cambourn; Kennet and Avon Canal; Snelsmore Common Country Park covers 59 ha/ 146 acres including wetland habitats; Inkpen Hill (291 m/854 ft) with Stone Age tomb and Walbury Hill (297 m/974 ft) with Iron Age fort are the highest chalk hills in England; Thatcham Moors reedbeds are designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI); Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp (1981–2000) was the site of campaigning against nuclear weapons development at Greenham, Burghfield, and Aldermaston
Industries
racehorse industry, agriculture, dairy cattle, pig farming (including local Berkshire pig)
Population
(2001) 144,500
Famous people
Francis Baily (astronomer), George Sanger (circus entertainer)
