Past events

Thatcham today is the smaller settlement almost merging with it’s larger neighbour, Newbury – but it was not always so, before Newbury even existed Thatcham was thriving settlement – how do they compare over the centuries – this is an opporunity to find out.

When a young Dave Stubbs arrived to police Wash Common, he was intrigued to find a musket ball in his garden, this sparked a life long interest in local history and now, here he is to tell us all about it.

Jenni Collins will tell us what she has learnt whilst researching for her university course. 

Dr Hugh Pihlens, from the successful Hungerford virtual museum will tell us about the curiosities he has discovered in his many years of research on Hungerford.

John Firth says his talk will be based on his book. “I have lived in Berkshire for 32 years and my book Geology and Archaeology of Berkshire for people who aren’t geologists or archaeologists was born during walks round the county. Both subjects can be rather abstract if no one tells you where you can […]

Ros and David Clow will host a Christmas quiz, no doubt Christmas fare will be involved. 

David Skyme will relate the tale of a mysterious lady from East Woodhay? Who is she? What infamy did she bring to the local area? 

after a brief AGM Karen Pryer will entertain us with slides of her renovation on her listed cottage. The presentation on ‘Church Cottage – Restoring a timber-framed cottage’ will describe the process that Karen & James Pryer went through to restore their Grade II listed cottage in East Garston. From the initial sale purchase to […]

Tom Allen studied Captain Hawkes, who was an old boy of St Bartholomew’s school. He will explain the history of his life before the First World War followed by his service in the Army and how he was awarded the Military Cross. 

Join us at St Marys Church for our annual history day. Doors open at 9.45am for a 10am start. Speakers are:- Dr David Peacock              Almshouses in Newbury Penelope Stokes               The Foundling Hospital Simon Marsh                     The Battles of Newbury Marie-Louise Kerr                The History of Penicillin David Willetts                    Relief in Need                   Booking […]

David Wickens has delved into the history of Newbury racecourse and will join us on May 21st to tell us more.

Johnathan Hopson will give an illustrated talk on the history of Camp Hopson, the iconic store on Newbury Northbroook Street.