# Colnbrook

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Village in Berkshire, England

Human settlement in England

Colnbrook Bridge over Colne Brook in the village of Colnbrook Colnbrook Location within Berkshire Population 6,157 OS grid reference SU945805 Civil parish Colnbrook with Poyle Unitary authority Slough Ceremonial county Berkshire Region South East Country England Sovereign state United Kingdom Post town SLOUGH Postcode district SL3 Dialling code 01753 Police Thames Valley Fire Royal Berkshire Ambulance South Central UK Parliament Windsor List of places UK England Berkshire 51°29′01″N 0°31′20″W / 51.4835°N 0.5221°W / 51.4835; -0.5221

**Colnbrook** is a village in the [Slough](/source/Borough_of_Slough) district in [Berkshire](/source/Berkshire), England. It lies within the [historic boundaries](/source/Historic_counties_of_England) of [Buckinghamshire](/source/Buckinghamshire), and straddles two [distributaries](/source/Distributaries) of the [Colne](/source/River_Colne%2C_Hertfordshire), the [Colne Brook](/source/Colne_Brook) and [Wraysbury River](/source/Wraysbury_River). These two streams have their confluence just to the southeast of the village. Colnbrook is centred 3 miles (4.8 km) southeast of the [Slough](/source/Slough) town centre, 4 miles (6.4 km) east of [Windsor](/source/Windsor%2C_Berkshire), and 19 miles (31 km) west of central London.

Colnbrook forms the greater part of the [civil parish](/source/Civil_parishes_in_England) of [Colnbrook with Poyle](/source/Colnbrook_with_Poyle) (see also [Poyle](/source/Poyle)). Junctions of the [M4](/source/M4_motorway) and [M25](/source/M25_motorway) are near the village. To the east is [Longford](/source/Longford%2C_London), London, and [Bedfont](/source/Bedfont) and [Stanwell](/source/Stanwell) which abut the south of London [Heathrow Airport](/source/Heathrow_Airport).

Colnbrook with Poyle is a suburban parish with significant industrial units, logistical premises and open land. The parish was created on 1 April 1995 as an amalgamation of Colnbrook from [Iver](/source/Iver) to the north and the smaller Poyle from an unparished area of [Stanwell](/source/Stanwell) to the south-east. At the 2011 census the whole civil parish had a population of 6,157 living in 2,533 homes.[1]

## History

The Ostrich Inn, High Street

Mentioned in [William the Conqueror's](/source/William_I_of_England) [Domesday Book](/source/Domesday_Book), Colnbrook is on the [Colne Brook](/source/Colne_Brook), a tributary of the [River Colne](/source/River_Colne%2C_Hertfordshire), hence *Colnbrook*.[2] [Coaching inns](/source/Coaching_inn) were the village's main industry.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] In 1106, the first one was founded by Milo Crispin, named *the Hospice* (subsequently the 'Ostrich', probably by way of corruption of the original name), the third oldest in England.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

When [Princess Elizabeth](/source/Elizabeth_I) was brought from [Woodstock Palace](/source/Woodstock_Palace) to [Hampton Court](/source/Hampton_Court) in April 1555, she spent a night at *The George*.[3] By 1577, Colnbrook had no fewer than ten [coaching inns](/source/Coaching_inn).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Colnbrook's High Street was on the main London to [Bath](/source/Bath%2C_Somerset) road and turn off point for Windsor and was used as a resting point for travellers.

St Thomas's Church

In [Thomas Deloney](/source/Thomas_Deloney)'s fictional *Pleasant History of Thomas of Reading* (c. 1598), Jarman, the landlord of the Crane Inn during the reign of [Henry I](/source/Henry_I_of_England), installed a large trap door under the bed in the best bedroom located immediately above the inn's kitchen. The bed was fixed to the trap door and the mattress securely attached to the bedstead, so that when two retaining iron pins were removed from below in the small hours of the morning, the sleeping guest was neatly decanted into a boiling cauldron. In this way, more than sixty of his richer guests were murdered silently and with no bloodshed. Their bodies were then disposed of in the River Colne. The murder of a wealthy clothier, Thomas Cole of Reading, proved to be Jarman's undoing in that he failed to get rid of Cole's horse, leading to his confessing. The story ends with Jarman and his wife being hanged for robbery and murder, and the river and town being named "Cole" and "Colebrooke" respectively after Thomas Cole.[4][5] According to local tradition, this inn was the Ostrich Inn.[6][7][8] The inn is reportedly haunted and has been subject to investigations by the Sussex Paranormal Research Group and *[Most Haunted](/source/Most_Haunted)*.[9] On an episode of *[Ghosthunters International](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ghosthunters_International&action=edit&redlink=1)* that aired on 21 July 2010, it is mentioned that the Jarman murders at the Ostrich Inn were the inspiration for the story of [Sweeney Todd](/source/Sweeney_Todd).

Colnbrook is also the place where Richard Cox (a retired brewer), in 1825, first grafted the [Cox's Orange Pippin](/source/Cox's_Orange_Pippin) apple at his orchard named *The Lawns*.[10]

A traditional [coaching](/source/Coaching_inn) history has led to no fewer than four inns or [public houses](/source/Public_house) remaining, three in Colnbrook, one in Poyle.[11]

In August 1902, a clock was installed by public subscription to celebrate the [Coronation of Edward VII and Alexandra](/source/Coronation_of_Edward_VII_and_Alexandra), which stood until the building it was attached to was demolished in 1935. The clock was kept in storage for a number of years while several attempts to reinstall it elsewhere were unsuccessful, and it is currently kept inside The Ostrich Inn. In 2012, a new free-standing clock was installed in front of Ye Old George Inn at the end of the High Street to commemorate the [Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II](/source/Diamond_Jubilee_of_Elizabeth_II). The new clock was unveiled on 29 June 2012 in a ceremony attended by [Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall](/source/Queen_Camilla).[12]

### Administrative history

Colnbrook has a complicated administrative history. The village was historically divided by the Colne Brook between the [ancient parish](/source/Ancient_parish) of [Stanwell](/source/Stanwell) in [Middlesex](/source/Middlesex) in the east, and the parishes of [Horton](/source/Horton%2C_Berkshire) and [Langley Marish](/source/Langley_Marish) in Buckinghamshire in the west. The parish [vestries](/source/Vestry) provided traditional poor relief and road maintenance but lay in the 19th century in different [Poor Law Unions](/source/Poor_Law_Union). Stanwell became part of [Staines Rural District](/source/Staines_Rural_District) in 1894 and [Staines Urban District](/source/Staines_Urban_District) in 1930.[13] The Buckinghamshire parishes joined [Eton Rural District](/source/Eton_Rural_District) in 1894.[14]

In 1965 the eastern part of Colnbrook was transferred to [Surrey](/source/Surrey) with the rest of Staines Urban District. In 1974 Staines Urban District was absorbed into the new [borough of Spelthorne](/source/Borough_of_Spelthorne).[15] In 1974 most of the parish of Horton was transferred to the new borough of [Windsor and Maidenhead](/source/Windsor_and_Maidenhead) in Berkshire, but the western part of Colnbrook remained in Buckinghamshire and was added to the parish of [Iver](/source/Iver), in the [South Bucks](/source/South_Bucks) district. Colnbrook was finally united on 1 April 1995, when the present combined parish of Colnbrook with Poyle was formed and added to the borough of Slough in [Berkshire](/source/Berkshire). That was the county's last boundary change before [Berkshire County Council](/source/Berkshire_County_Council) was abolished to be replaced by six [unitary authorities](/source/Unitary_authorities_of_England).[15] When the county council was abolished in April 1998 the borough became more important for local government; however a Berkshire Fire and Rescue service persists, as do ceremonial roles, judicial roles and sporting competitions.

## Geography

Colnbrook (with Poyle) is at the eastern end of the borough of Slough and is directly west of the [M25 motorway](/source/M25_motorway) which separates it from [Heathrow Airport](/source/Heathrow_Airport) in the [London Borough of Hillingdon](/source/London_Borough_of_Hillingdon) in Greater London and the [borough of Spelthorne](/source/Borough_of_Spelthorne) in Surrey. Elevations vary between 22 and 20m [Above Ordnance Datum](/source/Above_Ordnance_Datum) with the [Thames](/source/River_Thames) at 17m AOD 3 miles (4.8 km) south at [Staines](/source/Staines_upon_Thames) which is where the natural rivers generally drain toward. The river is unusual for its [regional park (and walk)](/source/Colne_Valley_regional_park) and seven mouths ([distributaries](/source/Distributary)).

## Economy

Ye Old George Inn behind the [Jubilee](/source/Diamond_Jubilee_of_Elizabeth_II) Clock erected in 2012

The town's industrial estates are important in fields such as transportation, food and drinks manufacture, warehousing and distribution and despite almost all being in [Poyle](/source/Poyle), landlords have mostly preferred to let premises under the name **Colnbrook** – but not all, such as [Coca-Cola](/source/Coca-Cola).[16] Beside the [Greater London](/source/Greater_London) boundary and a historic part of [Stanwell](/source/Stanwell) which forms the southern part of London [Heathrow Airport](/source/Heathrow_Airport), it is also equidistant between nearby accessible junctions of the [M4](/source/M4_motorway) and [M25](/source/M25_motorway) and a suburban parish with significant industrial/logistical buildings and open land.[17]

## Politics

Colnbrook is in the [Windsor](/source/Windsor_(UK_Parliament_constituency)) constituency and its Member of Parliament is [Jack Rankin](/source/Jack_Rankin) ([Conservative](/source/Conservative_Party_(UK))).

## Demography

At the 2011 census, the whole civil parish had a population of 6,157 living in 2,533 homes, giving a density of 10.9 people per hectare (approximately a quarter of the density of the borough as a whole and just under one half of the average for England).[1]

## Transport

Former Colnbrook Station located in Poyle, closed in 1965

Colnbrook was before the [M4](/source/M4_motorway) along the Roman-origin [A4 (previously the Bath road)](/source/A4_road_(Great_Britain)) as well as to [Windsor](/source/Windsor%2C_Berkshire) or [Maidenhead](/source/Maidenhead) by way of [Slough](/source/Slough), and had been a convenient halting-place for travellers before the introduction of railways.[6]

Local bus services are operated by [Metroline](/source/Metroline) who run services on the [81](/source/London_Buses_route_81) from the main village to [Hounslow](/source/Hounslow) and [First Berkshire & The Thames Valley](/source/First_Berkshire_%26_The_Thames_Valley) who run the remainder of the services.

### Abandoned railway

Main article: [Staines and West Drayton Railway](/source/Staines_and_West_Drayton_Railway)

Colnbrook was served by a railway line that ran to [West Drayton](/source/West_Drayton_railway_station), with a [railway station](/source/Colnbrook_railway_station) serving the village until it was closed in 1965 under the [Beeching Axe](/source/Beeching_Axe). The railway line formerly continued to also to [Staines-upon-Thames](/source/Staines_West_railway_station).

## Nearest places

Places adjacent to Colnbrook Brands Hill Colnbrook[18] Poyle Horton

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ons_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ons_1-1) ["2011 Census"](https://web.archive.org/web/20030211201309/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/). Archived from [the original](http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/) on 11 February 2003. Retrieved 17 August 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-GYLL_2-0)** *History of the Parish of [Wraysbury](/source/Wraysbury), [Ankerwycke Priory](/source/Ankerwycke_Priory), and [Magna Charta Island](/source/Magna_Carta_Island); with the History of [Horton](/source/Horton%2C_Berkshire), and the town of Colnbrook, Bucks.*, G. W. J. Gyll, 1862, London: [H. G. Bohn](/source/H._G._Bohn). [Online version at Google Books](https://books.google.com/books?id=qMcHAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA267#PPA267,M1) [OCLC: 5001532](http://worldcat.org/oclc/5001532)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Pollard, Albert Frederick; Seccombe, Thomas (1903). [*Tudor tracts, 1532-1588*](https://archive.org/details/tudortracts1532100pollrich). New York, E. P. Dutton and co. p. 360. Retrieved 26 May 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Deloney, Thomas](/source/Thomas_Deloney) (1632). ["Chapter 11"](https://archive.org/details/thomasofreadingo00delo/page/n89). *Thomas of Reading: or, The Sixe Worthie Yeomen of the West* (6 ed.). London: Robert Bird.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Ayto, John; Crofton, Ian (2005). ["Thomas of Reading"](https://archive.org/details/brewersbritainir0000unse/page/914). *Brewers Britain and Ireland*. Weidenfeld & Nicolson. p. 914.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-PAGE_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-PAGE_6-1) [*The hundred of Stoke: Colnbrook, A History of the County of Buckingham: Volume 3.*](http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=42554) William Page (editor), 1925, pp. 246-249.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** *Sweet Thames Run Softly* – [Robert Gibbings](/source/Robert_Gibbings)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** [*How Thomas of Reading was Murdered* – Thomas Deloney](http://www.hornpipe.com/mystclas/myscl8.pdf)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** [Sussex Paranormal Research Group](http://www.sprg.co.uk/ostrich07.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20100328025749/http://www.sprg.co.uk/ostrich07.htm) 28 March 2010 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-robbins_10-0)** Robbins, Michael (1953). *Middlesex*. Chichester: Phillimore. pp. 60–66. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781860772696](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781860772696). {{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#invalid_isbn_date))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Colnbrook with Poyle Civil Parish Council"](https://web.archive.org/web/20051219222411/http://www.colnbrookwithpoyleparishcouncil.org.uk/index.php). Archived from the original on 19 December 2005. Retrieved 18 February 2007.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Jubilee Clock"](http://www.colnbrookwithpoyle-pc.gov.uk/Jubilee_Clock_27128.aspx). *colnbrookwithpoyle-pc.gov.uk*. 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** [Vision of Britain: Stanwell AP/CP](http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10020232)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** [Vision of Britain: Eton RD](http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10135850/relationships)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Hunter_1995_11_15-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Hunter_1995_11_15-1) Hunter, Judith (1995). *A History of Berkshire*. Chichester: Phillimore. p. 11. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-85033-729-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-85033-729-1).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** [Example industrial estate business address listing in the parish](http://www.carehome.co.uk/supplier.cfm/searchazref/65432196804) (Poyle)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-os_17-0)** [Grid square map](http://getamap.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/getamap/frames.htm?mapAction=gaz&gazName=g&gazString=TQ0377) [Ordnance survey](/source/Ordnance_survey) website

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["OS Maps: online mapping and walking, running and cycling routes"](https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/51.48015,-0.52077,14). *osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk*. Retrieved 6 June 2021.

## External links

- [Colnbrook with Poyle Parish Council website](http://www.colnbrookwithpoyle-pc.gov.uk/)

- [Colnbrook Views *- news and discussion portal for residents of Colnbrook with Poyle*](https://web.archive.org/web/20121217032158/http://www.colnbrook.info/)

- [Colnbrook Village Website *- no longer updated*](http://www.colnbrook.com)

- [http://www.colnbrookbaptistchapel.co.uk](http://www.colnbrookbaptistchapel.co.uk)

- Surrey County Council. ["Colnbrook"](https://www.exploringsurreyspast.org.uk/Colnbrook). *Exploring Surrey's Past*. Retrieved 31 May 2017.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Colnbrook](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Colnbrook).

v t e Suburbs and areas of Slough Within the borough Britwell Chalvey Cippenham Colnbrook Ditton Huntercombe Langley Poyle Salt Hill Upton Wexham Court Windsor Meadows Outside the borough Burnham Wexham

Authority control databases National Israel Other Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Colnbrook](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colnbrook) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colnbrook?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.