Thatcham’s Heritage
Blue Plaques in Thatcham
Since 2018, Thatcham Town Councils Heritage Working Party has unveiled a new blue plaque annually.
2018
On Saturday 6th October 2018, Thatcham Town Council unveiled its inaugural blue plaque on the outside of the Kings Head Public House, as part of a series of planned, new style installations celebrating the heritage of Thatcham. The pub, found at the end of Thatcham Broadway, played a huge part in a nationally significant event in 1784, when it became a stop during Britain’s first mail coach run.
The golden age of coaching dramatically changed the postal service, but suffered with the spread of the railway across the nation; and the coaching inns along the A4 slowly declined with the introduction of the Great Western Railway which dramatically sped up mail between Bristol and London. However, the entrepreneurial Fromonts, who were the then landlords of the Kings Head, sold off parts of the pubs original facilities, that would have covered most of Waitrose’s car park and downsized into the building that we know today. Charlotte Fromont owned a large farm in South Thatcham and being business savvy, and realising the potential threat of the railway upon the coaching trade, she insisted that the railway went through her land and that is why Thatcham train station is not in the centre of town!
Unveiling of a blue plaque at the King’s Head Inn on the 6th October 2018.
2019
In 2019 it was on Thatcham Parish Hall to commemorate the first ladies elected to Thatcham Parish Council.
The Mayor and High Sheriff unveil 2019’s Blue Plaque flanked by two suffragettes!
2020
In 2020 we celebrated the life of colourful innovator Harry Lester and his famous Lester MG’s.
2020’s blue plaque on the outside of Wiltshire Tyres celebrates Harry Lester, pictured here with one of the last Lester MG’s built.
2021
In 2021 we unveiled a plaque on Thatcham Garden Centre commemorating the long history of horticulture associated with that site- particularly when it was known as a school for lady gardeners and its embrace of the pioneering French Cultivation methods.
2021: The Mayor, Dr Christina Hill-Williams (President Berkshire Gardens Trust) and members of the Heritage Working Party at Thatcham Garden Centre.
2022
2022’s plaque commemorated the site where Lieutenant-Colonel Vernon Watkins Urquhart, the Commanding Officer of Thatcham Army Ordnance Depot; G45, was sadly killed in the bombing raid of 1940. The plaque is situated as near to 141 Station Road as possible, the unveiling party were lucky to be joined by Urquhart’s Granddaughter for the ceremony.
The Mayor and Claire Virdin, grand-daughter of Lieutenant Colonel V.W. Urquhart MC, unveiling the 2022 Blue Plaque
2023
2023’s blue plaque was unveiled in October 2023 at the vehicular entrance to London Road Cemetery. The plaque recognises the former entrance to what was Dunston House, Thatcham’s 18th Century Manor House, that was demolished in 1801.
A Blue Plaque to recognise the past entrance to Dunston House.