Thatcham
Thatcham | |
---|---|
Market town and civil parish | |
Thatcham town centre | |
Location within Berkshire | |
Area | 21.76 km2 (8.40 sq mi) |
Population | 25,464 (2021 Census) |
• Density | 1,170/km2 (3,000/sq mi) |
OS grid reference | SU5167 |
Civil parish |
|
Unitary authority | |
Ceremonial county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | THATCHAM |
Postcode district | RG18, RG19 |
Dialling code | 01635 |
Police | Thames Valley |
Fire | Royal Berkshire |
Ambulance | South Central |
UK Parliament | |
Thatcham is a market town and civil parish in the West Berkshire, England. It is situated in the valley of the River Kennet 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Newbury, 14 miles (23 km) west of Reading and 54 miles (87 km) west of London. The town has a long history dating back to prehistoric times, a claimant to the title of oldest continuously inhabited place in Great Britain. As of 2021, it had a population of 25,464, though it is part of a built-up area comprising itself and neighbouring Newbury of over 70,000 residents.[1] It is on the route of the A4 Bath Road, the historic main road between London and Bristol.
Geography
Thatcham straddles the
Etymology
The name may have been derived from that of a
History
The area has evidence of occupation dating from
In the
In 1121, Henry I founded Reading Abbey and endowed it with many gifts of land, including the Manor of Thatcham. At the same time Thatcham Hundred ceased to exist: the western part was transferred to Faircross Hundred, and the remainder to the Hundred of Reading. In 1141 Thatcham church, previously the property of the Diocese of Salisbury, was granted to Reading Abbey by the Empress Matilda, who at the same time confirmed her father's gift of the manor to the abbey.
During
Floods
On 20 July 2007 parts of Thatcham were flooded during a period of sustained heavy rain, during which three times the average July monthly rainfall hit the town in just 24 hours. While the rivers did not flood, the quantity of water flowing down the hills from Cold Ash and Bucklebury made many roads impassable and stranded hundreds of pupils at Kennet School who tried to wade with rope across Stoney Lane. About 1,100 properties were affected; many residents moved out into mobile homes.[11]
Institutions
Schools
Although there are many
Motor Insurers' Automotive Research Centre
The motor insurers' automotive research centre is located at Colthrop.[12] The 'Thatcham categories' issued there are the industry standard for vehicle immobilisers and alarms.[13]
Transport
Sports and leisure
Thatcham is home to non-league football club Thatcham Town, who play their matches at Waterside Park, 300 metres (330 yd) south of the Thatcham railway station. The club reached the final of the FA Vase in the 2017–18 season, becoming the first Berkshire side to reach a national cup final. Thatcham Town Cricket Club is based at a ground on Brownsfield Road, next to the council offices. The Henwick Worthy Sports Ground is the home of the Newbury and Thatcham Hockey Club and the Thatcham Rugby Union Football Club, and plays host to a number of amateur and youth sports.
Governance
The town is divided into four
Town twinning
Thatcham is
Demography
Local employment is chiefly in light industrial premises, sales and distribution, retail and public sectors.[citation needed]
Output area | Homes owned outright | Owned with a loan | Socially rented | Privately rented | Other | km2 roads | km2 water | km2 domestic gardens | Usual residents | km2 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Civil parish | 2,640 | 4,629 | 1,439 | 1,160 | 65 | 0.871 | 0.676 | 2.323 | 25,267 | 21.78 |
See also
- Ham class minesweeper
References
- ^ Census of England and Wales, 2021. https://www.ons.gov.uk/census
- ^ "Magic Map Application". magic.defra.gov.uk.
- ^ a b c Barfield, Samuel; Parker, James (24 May 2019). "Thatcham, Berks, and its manors. Edited and arranged for publication by James Parker". Oxford J. Parker – via Internet Archive.
- ^ "The name of Thatcham". nickbits.co.uk. 8 October 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ^ "Þæc etymology". etymologeek.com. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
- ^ "A history of the name Thatcham". nickbits.co.uk. 5 May 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ^ a b "Thatcham: an historic town in a changing world - Thatcham Historical Society". thatchamhistoricalsociety.org.uk. 21 July 2009.
- ^ "Medieval Thatcham". Thatcham Historical Society.
- ^ Historic England (10 November 1983). "The Old Bluecoat School (Grade I) (1303195)". National Heritage List for England.
- ^ Historic England (6 April 1967). "Church of St. Mary (Grade II*) (1155799)". National Heritage List for England.
- ^ "Briefing note: Flooding and Thatcham" (PDF). West Berkshire Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
- ^ "Thatcham Research: Contact Us". Motor Insurers' Automotive Research Centre. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
- ^ "Thatcham Research: Vehicle Security". Motor Insurers' Automotive Research Centre. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
- ^ "Your Councillors". West Berkshire Council. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
- ^ "Councillors". Thatcham Town Council. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
- ^ Fort, Hugh; Mackley, Elizabeth (12 December 2019). "Newbury general election results as new MP is elected". BerkshireLive. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
- ^ "Local statistics - Office for National Statistics". ons.gov.uk.
External links
- Thatcham Town Council
- Thatcham Historical Society
- A History of RAF Greenham Common and RAF Welford, the former partly in the parish of Thatcham.