Have been doing a bit more work on refreshing my website, got a few news posts to go, just need to finish the podcast section off - things are progressing. In mean time continuing research on Dunston House, #Thatcham - see https://nickbits.co.uk/blog/2023/10/the-dunston-estate/ . Got a few new names connected to it, would like to track down what happened to materials that were sold off, know some already. Thinking this is going to be a BIG research project

Have just updated my list of #Thatcham (and a few #Newbury) history talks I do - see @nickbits https://nickbits.co.uk/about/mytalks/ . The view below is of Broad Street, Thatcham as it was c.1900, and yes at the time it was a village and not a town - https://nickbits.co.uk/blog/2024/08/thatcham-a-village-or-town/

The latest Blue Plaque for #Thatcham at the old deopt site. Will do a blog post soon with more information.

Following on from my Walk For Hearts for the BHF ( https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/TeamDeeds-2026-WalkForHearts ) I will be giving a #Thatcham history talk for the Mayor of Thatcham in aid of Home-Start West Berkshire, Swings & Smiles and Bridge for Young People - details at https://thatchamtowncouncil.gov.uk/event/thatcham-in-old-photographs/

I will be talking to Bucklebury History Group (see https://www.hugofox.com/community/bucklebury-history-group-20816/events/the-cedars---dr-nick-young-89701 ) in February about some of the historic houses in #Thatcham including the Poplars ( see https://nickbits.co.uk/blog/2025/03/the-poplars/ ) and Dunston House (see https://nickbits.co.uk/blog/2023/10/the-dunston-estate/).

Many still think #Thatcham is a village and I actually still say I am going to "The Village" (meaning the town centre / shops) but we have been a town since 1974. See my @nickbits blog for more details - https://nickbits.co.uk/blog/2024/08/thatcham-a-village-or-town/

We have some fantastic Blue Plaques around #Thatcham, take a look at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-KcfPVoZazsYFym9Z7Bej9414-VMGPep and have your say on the next plaque(s) via Thatcham Town Council ( https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdn11BU0jRLbFggGg6ahYKCPqMePQ9rNcyljiIpJsAKYTcFhA/viewform )

I wrote a post ( https://nickbits.co.uk/blog/2018/03/thatcham-britains-oldest-inhabited-settlement/ ) on my blog back in 2018 - "Is #Thatcham Britain’s oldest inhabited settlement?" where I noted about the Saxon origins. As more archaeology (reports) has become available I have become more convinced that Saxon Thatcham lay just to the south west of the church, with possibly a bit extending northwards. I will write a new version of the post with the updated evidence and a map. In mean time see where the name #Thatcham comes from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1U9jYQTqwjE (thanks to SoG)

Got two of these (
ulanzi ) #VIJIM VL81 Bi-Colour LED during the pandemic for doing remote schooling & some #Thatcham history talks online. They have been brilliant, several people ask me what camera i use as video is good, just a cheap webcam with good lighting. Battery now going on them and switch issues on other. Lasted well, time to replace.