12 May 2009
The occupations of people recorded in the 1881 census together with adverts and comments in the local paper show that sheep, dairy cattle and pigs were farmed locally. They were also marketed locally at Newbury and Reading as well as by public auction at farms; sheep also went to the local sheep fairs such as …
11 May 2009
Roads were not officially named until 1928. Before this point, several road names were different from the modern day and some had more than one name. Chapel Street was once known as East Street, the Broadway was known as Broad Street in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and was also known as South Street. The …
10 May 2009
The population of the parish in 1881 was 2,882 persons. This had slightly increased over that in 1871, 2,845 persons, and was to continue to increase more rapidly over subsequent decades. In 1981 the population of the parishes of Thatcham and Cold Ash combined (in 1881 Cold Ash was part of Thatcham parish) was 16,649 …
9 May 2009
During the civil war between Empress Matilda and King Stephen, Matilda presents Thatcham church to Reading Abbey. The abbots possess absolute power over their territories and are freed from all taxes and feudal dues on lands granted to them. A house is erected at Henwick (the first time the name is mentioned) for overseers of …
8 May 2009
St. Thomas Chapel, the “Chapel of the Borough”, is built in 1304AD at East Street, now Chapel Street, financed by Sir Richard de Fokerham of Colthrop. It will later become the Bluecoat School and is Thatcham’s oldest remaining building after the church of St. Mary’s, and the only grade 1 listed building in Thatcham. The …