| Holyport | |
|---|---|
| Village | |
 Village green, Holyport | |
  Holyport Location withinBerkshire | |
| OS grid reference | SU895775 |
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | MAIDENHEAD |
| Postcode district | SL6 |
| Dialling code | 01628 |
| Police | Thames Valley |
| Fire | Royal Berkshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| UK Parliament | |
| 51°29′20″N0°42′36″W / 51.489°N 0.710°W /51.489; -0.710 | |
Holyport (pronouncedHollyport) is a suburban village in thecivil parish ofBray (where at the2011 Census the population was included), about 2 miles (3.2 km) south ofMaidenhead town centre in theEnglish county ofBerkshire.
The name 'Holyport' originates fromOld Englishhorig +port meaning 'muddymarket-town', although a localfolk etymology holds that the village was a stopping-off point forpilgrims travelling fromCanterbury toSt David's.[1] The first element had become 'Holy-' by the end of the 14th Century.[1]
The village has a butcher, a newsagent, a grocery, a small café and a hairdresser as well as the post office and a doctor's surgery. Holyport has four public houses - The George, The Belgian Arms, The White Hart and The Jolly Gardener. Also in the village are HolyportChurch of EnglandPrimary School,Holyport College and Holyport Cricket Club. An hourly bus service operated byCourtney Coaches connects the village toWindsor andMaidenhead. Holyport has anature reserve on the edge of the village,Bray Pit.[2]
There is also a village hall, Holyport Memorial Hall,[3] tennis court, children's playground and playing field, all of which are owned and managed by the Holyport Community Trust, a Charitable Incorporated Organisation.
The village's football teamHolyport F.C. plays in theHellenic Football League.[4] Its cricket club plays in the Chilterns Cricket League on Saturdays and in friendlies against local clubs on Sundays.
Holyport has one of the world's fewreal tennis courts, at theRoyal County of Berkshire Real Tennis Club, built in 1889.[5]
The Holyport Village Fair is held on the village green on the first Saturday in June every year. The fair was established to raise funds to build the Memorial Hall and held at Foxley Manor on 21st July 1945. It draws large crowds from the surrounding area and it is understood 2020-21 are the only two years since the fair's inception that it did not take place - due to Covid.[6]
Holyport was the final residence of veteranBBC TV presenterFrank Bough until his death in 2020.Stirling Moss, the racing driver, lived in the village, and was a member of the Bray and HolyportScout Group.
Monty Python filmed aMaypole dance-related sketch on the green, the filmHappy is the Bride was shot here and inBray, andJoan Collins filmed an advertisement in Holyport. The movieOne of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing was partly filmed in Holyport. A scene from the 1995Mr. Bean episode, entitled 'Tee off Mr. Bean', was filmed on Holyport Green.
Media related toHolyport at Wikimedia Commons