-->England-->Berkshire-->Thatcham

Local Information for Thatcham

Thatcham is a town in Berkshire, England located 3 miles (5km) east of Newbury and 15 miles (24km) west of Reading. It covers approximately 8.75 square miles (23 km²) and has a population of 23,000 people (2003). This number has grown rapidly over the last few decades from 5,000 in 1951 and 7,500 in 1961. There is a large secondary school, Kennet School, which ranks very well in the country.

It lies on the River Kennet, the Kennet and Avon Canal, the A4 road and the course of a Roman road. It is also served by Thatcham railway station on the line between Newbury and Reading. Employment is provided by a number of light industrial units and it is also a dormitory town for Newbury, Reading and London.

The area has been occupied continuously from prehistoric times - the well-preserved remains of a Mesolithic village dating from 7700 BC have been found in its vicinity. Indeed it is noted in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest continuously inhabited place in England...More