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Parish Church - St. Mary’s

Although largely rebuilt in 1857, the parish church of St. Mary still retains earlier features including the Norman south doorway with its zigzag carving; the early 13th century north arcade and the handsome 15th century tower (in which is a peal of ten bells of which five were cast in the 17th century).

In the south aisle is good stained glass of 1865 whilst the modernised chancel preserves the original priest’s doorway. Monuments include, in the Fuller chapel, the tomb-chest to Sir William Danvers (dated 1504) and, a memorial, dated 1620, to Nicholas Fuller. This latter is an alabaster tablet that shows his kneeling family, the seven children below the parents.



Old Bluecoat School (also known as St Thomas’s Chapel)

The Grade 1 listed, 13th century St. Thomas’s Chapel (locally known as The Old Bluecoat School since this was once its function) standing on the north side of the A4 east of Thatcham Town Centre is currently awaiting renovation. Now in the ownership of Thatcham Town Council the Chapel is leased to a charitable Trust; Chairman, Mr Paul Dick OBE, Headmaster of The Kennet School.

In the early days of the campaign to save the Chapel from commercial buyers, contact was established with the Architectural Heritage Fund who sent down a representative to inspect the building and assess its suitability for renovation and qualification for a grant for a Feasibility Study.

Our English Heritage recommended architects have almost completed the Feasibility Study, and have submitted plans for a necessary extension to house a small kitchen and wheelchair-accessible toilet on the north side of the building. These plans, when approved by the West Berks Conservation Officer, will be submitted to the West Berks Council Planning Committee.

When planning permission is granted, our Fund Raiser will be applying for grants from charities and trusts to commence the renovation. At this stage, it will also be necessary to raise funds locally, mainly to convince those charities and trusts we approach, that ours is a project supported by the community. Consequently we shall be looking for local people to help and support our efforts. If you are interested in the conservation of ancient buildings (the chapel is over 700 years old) we shall be pleased to hear from you.

When foundations are dug for the new extension, who knows what may come to light! We may find we have our own Time Team programme right here in Thatcham!

Contact: Barbara Collins-Wootton 01635 863545.



Other Older Buildings

Close to the parish church is the former Vicarage, an early Georgian house of blue brick with Thatcham Farm, also handsome, as a neighbour.

Thatcham House, is an example of Victorian ‘Gothic’ but in the town centre there are still a few older houses - of the 17th and 18th centuries. Here, in the former market place (now by-passed by the A4), are the remains of the old market stone as well as two former coaching inns, the King’s Head and the White Hart. In Chapel Street are several Georgian or earlier houses including a row of timber framed and thatched cottages of early date and picturesque appearance.

At the east end of the main street is a small Chapel that was founded in 1304 although it contains much later work - 17th century windows, for example, and a Victorian west porch. Originally a chantry chapel it later was attached to a hospital that gave help to poor travellers. Subsequently it became the Bluecoat School which Lady Frances Winchcombe founded in 1707.

Thatcham Grange is a mixture of work of the Tudor and Queen Anne periods. On the south side of the Kennet is Chamberhouse Farm, a Georgian house standing on the site of John Pury’s medieval and crenallated manor house.

In London Road is the Francis Baily Primary School, a building that takes its name from Francis Baily who was born at Newbury in 1774 but whose father was from Thatcham. An explorer, Francis later made a fortune on the Stock Exchange which he spent on scientific and astronomical research. He was the first secretary of the Royal Astronomical Society and he produced a standard reference book on ‘known stars’ (8,000 of them); revised the Nautical Almanac; and calculated the earth’s weight.





Thatcham Parish Hall is 100 Years Old

In 1903, Miss A.L. Henry, third daughter of John Henry of Colthrop, instigated the idea for a hall to be built in Thatcham and in 1906 it was agreed to build a hall to seat at least 200 people for concerts and entertainment at a cost of £285. A high walled garden in Chapel Street was chosen as the site and funds were raised by voluntary efforts. By 1907 £350 had been collected.

On Wednesday, 10th April, 1907, the New Parish Club and Reading Room were opened by Mrs. Benyon, wife of the Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire. The Parish Council used the hall for its meetings until 1964 and since 1907 it has been used by many different local groups. Currently its hirers include three different dancing classes, a table tennis club, a Kumon Maths Group, a Pre-School, Calleva Stickdressers, Thatcham Community Church as well as many casual users.

The hall will be 100 years old in April, 2007 and grand celebrations are being planned to mark the occasion.

For hall bookings telephone: 863331

Whilst every care has been taken in compiling this publication and the statements contained herein are believed to be correct, the publishers and promoters cannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies. Reproduction of any part of this publication in any format, without permission, is strictly forbidden. Thatcham Town Council express their sincere gratitude to the following people for giving
permission to use their photographs in this guide: Mike Cass www.cherrytreeimages.com, Norman Jones http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/norriesite, Andrew Cooper and David Dobson.