From the foundation of the Saxon village of Thatcham until the tenth century, it was held by a succession of noblemen of whom the last was Earldorman Alfeah, the godfather of Queen Elfrith, wife of King Edgar, 'King of all the English'. He was the great grandson of Alfred the Great. By this time, the manor of Thatcham had grown in size and importance until it was among the largest and most valuable manors in the country and the principle manor of Thatcham Hundred, the second largest of the thirty two Hundreds of Berkshire.
When Alfeah died about 965AD, he left many bequests of land and property to religious houses, particularly the Abbeys of Bath and Maimesbury, but he left Thatcham to the King. Thus Thatcham became a royal Manor, and it remained in the hands of the crown for over one hundred fifty years.
