Clewer
In the days when the River Thames meandered through a wide flood plain, and in the absence of bridges, Clewer became well known for its ford as this was the only place to cross the river for several miles. It was used by soldiers, traders and pilgrims.
A chapel was built beside the ford to minister to travellers en route from St Leonard’s Hill in the south to the Chiltern escarpment in the north. Muggers and highwaymen were prevalent and law enforcement was in the hands of the local landlords.
Clewer is the oldest village in the Royal Borough. Windsor did not assume importance until after the Norman Conquest with the building of the Castle and then the bridge over the River Thames. Clewer remained important through the years until the whole area of Windsor was subject to considerable expansion in the 1840s with the arrival of the railways and the permanent residence of the Royal Family in the Castle. The arrival of the court involved a considerable amount of building for the courtiers.
