The village of Virginia Water shares its name with the lake at the southern end of Windsor Great Park that was created in 1746 by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, who was then the Ranger of the Park. The area was part of Windsor Forest, a royal hunting ground for many centuries, and the history of the park and the settlements in its vicinity are inextricably connected. Maps from the 18th century show a hamlet named Virginia that stood at the point where a stream flowed out of Windsor Great Park and crossed the main road. After the Duke of Cumberland's lake expanded, this hamlet and the one at nearby Egham Wick were absorbed into the park, and new communities emerged at both places in the 19th century. Today, Virginia Water is one of the wealthiest communities in the country and has continued to enjoy royal patronage, as HRH The Queen Mother often stayed at the nearby Royal Lodge. This book follows the area and its inhabitants, weaving an exceptionally rich tapestry from its earliest beginnings to the present day.