The county is one of the oldest in England, being reliably dated back to the setting of the county borders by King Alfred the Great of Wessex.
Following the reorganisation of the counties in 1974, Abingdon (Berkshire’s former county town) and the Vale of the White Horse were transferred to Oxfordshire, Slough was added from Buckinghamshire, and Reading became the county town.
The county takes its name from a large forest of birch trees that was called Bearroc (Celtic for 'hilly') and was originally a transaction of land to King Cenwalh of Wessex. At this time, it only consisted of the northerly and westerly parts of the current county.
Berkshire has also been the scene of many battles through history, like Alfred the Great's campaign against the Danes, the battle of Englesfield, the battle of Ashdown and the battle of Reading. During the English Civil War there were two battles in Newbury.