Thatcham Historical Society

Medieval churches and beyond

Nick — Fri, 23 May 2025 15:37:39 +0000

The Society had a good start to 2025 with a well attended AGM in January. Our first speaker meeting of the year saw Dr David Peacock tour around the history of the Medieval Churches in West Berkshire. Adrian Doyle from Hillside House Honey gave a fascinating talk on bee keeping and the history of. Dr Nick Young looked at the history of “Thatcham Hundred” starting with the Anglo-Saxon period where…

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RAF Greenham Common & beyond

Nick — Fri, 24 May 2024 19:01:42 +0000

The Society had a good start to 2024 with a well attended AGM in January, and followed this in February with an excellent talk by Jonathan Sayers on RAF Greenham Common. This explored the use of the site as an airbase prior to, and during, WW2 – when the gliders used for the Normandy Landings on D-Day, and also for the unsuccessful and ultimately disastrous Operation Market Garden, were assembled…

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The 2023 Royal Time Capsule Project

Nick — Thu, 08 Jun 2023 12:31:07 +0000

The Heritage Working Party, at Thatcham Town Council, team are working on a time capsule project and would like your involvement. The main aims of the project are to: We are seeking materials to help us fulfil these aims. Space is limited (items may need to be folded or rolled up) so we are asking for a few carefully elected items that you think records either of…

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Langford Way

Nick — Thu, 08 Jun 2023 05:44:33 +0000

A new road in Thatcham was named after Malcolm Langford in March 2022, a well known and respected member of the community. The idea to distribute informational leaflets to the residents, explaining the significance of the road’s name, was proposed by Malcolm’s longtime friend, Bob Dewey. On Saturday, May 27th, 2023, the Mayor, accompanied by Malcolm’s family and friends personally distributed…

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Coronation Exhibition 2023

Nick — Fri, 19 May 2023 13:59:51 +0000

During the day on the Sunday 7th May and Monday 8th May, Thatcham Historical Society held an exhibition on local history, specifically focusing on the monarchy, with various items of memorabilia and photographs from over the years on display. The exhibition went well, the team greeted a constant flow of visitors over the two days. Visitors took a keen interest in learning about the building…

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Lieutenant Colonel Vernon Watkins Urquhart

Nick — Fri, 28 Oct 2022 08:09:14 +0000

On the 23rd October 2022 the Heritage Working Party of Thatcham Town Council unveiled their fifth blue plaque. This latest plaque was to commemorate Lieutenant Colonel Vernon Watkins Urquhart. Born in 1877 in West Bengal, India to parents Alexander Shaw Urquhart and Louisa Jane Urquhart (née Watkins), Vernon grew up in a large family and was educated at Christ Church (Newgate Street, London).

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Deserted Medieval Villages

Nick — Sun, 25 Sep 2022 09:48:28 +0000

Guest post by Ray Hopgood. Most people’s first contact with a Deserted Medieval Village (DMV) is seeing one referred to on an OS map. If the site is visited, then there will be little to see except humps and bumps in the ground. The first and obvious question asked is “why did these villages disappear?” The most common perception, due to local lore, is they quite literally died out due to a…

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Her Majesty The Queen

Nick — Thu, 08 Sep 2022 18:33:14 +0000

We are deeply saddened by the news of the death of Her Majesty The Queen, the UK’s longest reigning monarch. Our thoughts and sympathies to the Royal Family at this sad time.

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Berkshire Heritage Fair

Nick — Wed, 27 Jul 2022 09:41:00 +0000

Berkshire’s first ever online heritage fair takes place on Saturday 6th August – for those with Berkshire ancestry, those who live in Berkshire and those interested in Berkshire’s rich history. There are two sessions – morning and afternoon – and you can sign up for one or other or even both. And it’s FREE. This is your chance to speak to volunteers from over thirty heritage…

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The Jubilee Exhibition

Nick — Wed, 08 Jun 2022 08:31:44 +0000

Thatcham Historical Society in partnership with the Old Bluecoat School held an exhibition from 2nd to 5th June 2022. This was to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, a remarkable achievement. There were three sections to the exhibition; first there was information about the Queen and events that have happened during her reign, next there was information on the history of Thatcham…

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