Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Thatcham probably takes its name from the marsh and reedbeds that provided material for
thatching. It is one of the oldest Berkshire villages, with traces of a Mesolithic settlement
and extensive working of flint, bone and antlers. It has had markets from the time of Henry
I but suffered badly from the Black Death. There is a 14th century chapel near the Victorian
church.
A straight avenue of reeds, occupied by reed buntings, leads to Widmead Lock. On top of
the ridge on the left was Greenham Common airfield, where the Americans had Cruise mis-
siles stationed from the 1970s. Their departure probably followed after the adverse publicity
resulting from the women's peace camp at the gate. The airfield itself, which hosted an air-
show during that period, has now gone too, an industrial estate spreading across the former
site, but the odd dilapidated protest caravan is still occupied at the gate.
The railway finally crosses on a new bridge. The old pillars remain in place but don't quite
meet the new bridge. Brunel would probably have loved this, exactly his sense of humour,
the line he took when he was required to shore his bridge over the Thames at Maidenhead.
Beyond the bridge there is a Nature Discovery Centre on the right before the River Kennet
joins, having picked up the River Lambourn, as Bulls Lock is approached.
Beyond Ham Lock, adjacent to another recent industrial estate, is Whitehouse roving
bridge where a breach occurred in 2000 near where contractors were digging footings for a
new bridge. It resulted in a narrowboat going aground and being pinned across the breach.
By Greenham Lock is a dry dock site and one of three marinas in Newbury. It was also
where, in 1811, locals won a £1,000 bet to shear a sheep in the morning and make the wool
into the Newbury Coat for Sir John Throckmorton by the evening, the sheep that provided
the wool joining the subsequent celebrations by being roasted. A local flourmill supplied the
Huntley & Palmer biscuit factory in Reading until it became a power station in 1903. These
days the area has much new housing, which seems to be influenced by canal warehouse ar-
chitecture.
