The historic county of Berkshire lies to the west of London, stretching from Windsor in the east to Newbury in the west, and up to Abingdon in the north. Over time, boundary changes have reshaped the county: in the 1974 local government reorganisation, the northern area around Abingdon (the Vale of the White Horse) was transferred to Oxfordshire (formerly Berkshire), while Slough and surrounding areas were incorporated into Berkshire from Buckinghamshire.

Today, Berkshire no longer exists as a single administrative county council. Instead, it is made up of six unitary authorities: Bracknell Forest, Reading, Slough, West Berkshire, Windsor and Maidenhead, and Wokingham. These authorities work together to support the Royal Berkshire Archives in Reading - an essential resource for anyone researching family history in the area.

Historically, Berkshire was predominantly rural, and many ancestors from the county were connected to agriculture. Whether as farmers, landowners, craftsmen, or agricultural labourers, their lives were closely tied to the land and local communities.
The arrival of the railways in the nineteenth century transformed Berkshire, opening up new opportunities for work and travel. Many people began to commute or relocate to London and other growing towns and cities, meaning Berkshire family histories often extend far beyond county boundaries.

The map below shows the original boundaries of Berkshire before the various reorganisations and includes the railway lines. Click on the map itself for a larger version.

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