A tour of Shaw House
On 30th June 2026, members and friends of Thatcham Historical Society were treated to a fascinating tour of Shaw House, Newbury. Our guide, Sarah, gave the group a wonderfully engaging tour, taking us into areas of the house that are not normally open to the public and giving us the opportunity to see parts of this important historic building from a rather different perspective.
Shaw House dates from the Elizabethan age and was built in the 1580s for Thomas Dolman, a wealthy cloth merchant whose family became closely associated with the house and the surrounding area. Sarah brought the history of the Dolman family to life, explaining how the house developed and changed over the centuries and the various uses it has had. One particularly interesting chapter in its history was its later use as a school, adding another layer to the story of a building that has served very different purposes over its long history.
As well as telling us about the history of Shaw House and the people connected with it, Sarah explained how the house has developed over the years and how its interpretation has evolved. It was particularly interesting to hear about the work that goes on behind the scenes to care for the building, manage the collections and decide how best to present its history to visitors.
The visit was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone who attended, and the Society would like to thank Sarah and the team at Shaw House for such an interesting and informative afternoon.
The society resumes speaker meetings on 28th September 2026, 7.30pm with a talk on “The history of Huntley & Palmers of Reading”. The talk will be presented by historian Anne Garrison. Members free, guests pay £3 (cash, on the door). This meeting is held in the Sixth Form Common Room at Kennet School. More details on our website at www.thatchamhistoricalsociety.org.uk/ .