Dr Nick

Combining #history, walking and fundraising, brilliant.

The Old Bluecoat School, Thatcham.

44 miles left to go, right side shows part of Greenham Common.

Day 16 of @thebhf.bsky.social Walk for Hearts:- Down to 44 miles left to go. Been to Greenham & Crookham Commons, blue plaques around #Thatcham, local historical landmarks including The Chapel of the Borough (The Old Bluecoat School nickbits.co.uk/blog/2019/03... ).

justgiving.com/fundraising/...

The Broad Street (Broadway) in Thatcham looking North around 1900.

Have just updated my list of #Thatcham (and a few #Newbury) history talks I do - see 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 - nickbits.co.uk/blog/2024/08...

The Fireplane at former RAF Greenham Common.

The RAF Greenham Common Control tower, nice cafe too!

Having placed directly 60 public access defibrillators myself I love finding more.

Continuing the @thebhf.bsky.social #WalkForHearts today between jobs, walk crossing from Hampshire to West Berkshire, Headley to Crookham to Greenham. Finding history and defibrillators along the way. Got about 66 miles left to complete.

Following on with the plaque theme, one of the walks today went via the Urquhart plaque.

G45 depot in Thatcham.

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

A selection of history walks collected so far.

I like my walking, I like my history, so love combining the two. Just a few of the walks from various places visited, Theale, Wallingford, Barnstaple, Bath, Lyme Regis, Charmouth, various
BBOWT wildlife walks - what better way to get active, relax and learn!

A sign going into Thatcham reading "Thatcham Twinned with Nideggen"

A brief history of "Thatcham Twinned with Nideggen" now on my blog - nickbits.co.uk/blog/2026/01...

Some of the gear, top, backpack, AED, that will be on my walks with me.

Backpack from Blacks, first aid kit restocked, waterproofs ready, @thebhf.bsky.social tshirt, thats me ready to start #WalkForHearts. Grateful all donations via @justgiving.bsky.social - www.justgiving.com/fundraising/... . The AED/defibrillator will be coming on some of walks to raise awareness.

Thatcham in old Photographs, a charity fundraiser. Details at https://thatchamtowncouncil.gov.uk/event/thatcham-in-old-photographs/

Following on from my Walk For Hearts for the BHF ( www.justgiving.com/fundraising/... ) 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 thatchamtowncouncil.gov.uk/event/thatch...

Thanks to everyone who has donated so far - I’m now half way to reaching my initial fundraising goal of £300 for
@thebhf.bsky.social #WalkForHearts! ✨ justgiving.com/fundraising/...

YouTube video by Thatcham Town Council Heritage Open Days 2025: Closing Video

I thought one of the walks I would do is to visit all of our new, and old plaques. If you want to know more about the plaques watch youtube.com/watch?v=RIRz... or wait until I have done that section and I will post more information about them. 2/2

A c.1798 painting of Dunston House, Thatcham.

Below is an image of what was Dunston House, #Thatcham, an 18th century manor house (rather stately home). You can read more about it on my blog at nickbits.co.uk/blog/2023/10... . There is a blue plaque for it so as part of @thebhf.bsky.social #WalkForHearts ( justgiving.com/fundraising/... ) 1/2

Plan to cover some local (Thatcham, Newbury, Greenham, etc) history & nature on the walks. And I will do parts of it carrying a defibrillator!

Later in the year will do some fundraising for other charities too. 2/2

Nick's walk for Hearts 2026 Help Nick Young raise money to support British Heart Foundation

Now signed up for @thebhf.bsky.social #WalkforHearts event, having earlier this week had an ICD change (thank you
Royal Berks ) only highlights even more the importance of the work by the BHF. I am committing to walking 100 miles in February. Donate via justgiving.com/fundraising/... 1/2

Reputed manor of Henwick Was Henwick a manor? One question I get asked and it is complicated. In short yes there is a Henwick manor, but should there have been one? Thatcham was a manor but in the late 13th century…

The Mounts were also Lords of the manor of Henwick (and others), the Tulls (Crookham), neither noted. Am I missing something? Am I wrong? Henwick & Crookham were never combined (that I am aware of). A bit of my research at nickbits.co.uk/blog/2017/07... / nickbits.co.uk/blog/2023/10... (2/2)

Noting that the Lordship title of Crookham & Henwick has been sold (really???), thegazette.co.uk/notice/4944947. Issue(s):

- historically Henwick was not confirmed as a separate manor until the Raymonds (1700s) & they are not named on the document - manorialcounselltd.co.uk/wp-content/u... (1/2)

Looking at 2E (Electronic Engineering) at the University of Bath around February 2001.

Hard to think on 22 years ago today (10 Dec 2003) I graduated, for a second time, from @uniofbath.bsky.social , this time with a PhD, something I never thought achievable! Ceremony was I believe in the Assembly Rooms, had my supervisor there too - the first of his candidates to get a PhD.

Dunston House, a short lived 18th Century manor house.

I will be talking to Bucklebury History Group (see www.hugofox.com/community/bu... ) in February about some of the historic houses in #Thatcham including the Poplars ( see nickbits.co.uk/blog/2025/03... ) and Dunston House (see nickbits.co.uk/blog/2023/10...).

The Broadway (Broad Street as it was then) in Thatcham sometime around 1900.

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 blog for more details - nickbits.co.uk/blog/2024/08...

Heritage - YouTube Something special is coming for Heritage Open Days… Behind every blue plaque is a story - of people, places, and events that shaped Thatcham. Starting this F...

We have some fantastic Blue Plaques around #Thatcham, take a look at www.youtube.com/playlist?lis... and have your say on the next plaque(s) via Thatcham Town Council ( docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... )

Would like to try out some Honeycomb coatings at some point in the future. 3/3

Specsavers and Glasses Direct cases.

Will give them a bit longer to try before saying which I prefer (lens wise). Case wise though, both @specsaversuk.bsky.social and Glasses Direct use recycled materials so thumbs up there. I will sling them in my backpack so the Specsavers case comes out on top. 2/3

First ever glasses, good optician at @specsaversuk.bsky.social . Got one pair glasses from them (wasn't told about the 2 for 1 offer or extra coatings), had to go back for extra coating but still only one pair! Two pairs from Glasses Direct (KODAK Clean&CleAR). 1/3

Heritage - YouTube Something special is coming for Heritage Open Days… Behind every blue plaque is a story - of people, places, and events that shaped Thatcham. Starting this F...

We have some fantastic Blue Plaques around #Thatcham, take a look at www.youtube.com/playlist?lis... and have your say on the next plaque(s) via Thatcham Town Council ( docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... )

YouTube video by Thatcham Town Council Heritage Open Days 2025: Thatcham's First Women Councillors Elected by Public Vote

Thatcham has a lot of history and this week
Thatcham Town Council
are sharing short histories of the current blue plaque scheme. Jump over to their YouTube channel to watch - youtube.com/watch?v=NW1S... - you will also see three of our own members taking parts, see if you can spot them!

YouTube video by Society of Genealogists Thatcham: What's in a name? - Nick Young

In mean time see where the name #Thatcham comes from www.youtube.com/watch?v=1U9j... (thanks to @sogorg.bsky.social ) 3/3

YouTube video by Society of Genealogists Thatcham: What's in a name? - Nick Young

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. 2/3

Is Thatcham Britain’s oldest inhabited settlement? I wrote an article for a local magazine and town guide a few years back on the general history of Thatcham. Here is the updated version. Not everyone who lives or works in Thatcham knows that this…

I wrote a post ( nickbits.co.uk/blog/2018/03... ) on my @nickbits blog back in 2018 - "Is #Thatcham Britain’s oldest inhabited settlement?" where I noted about the Saxon origins. 1/3

Fantastic, looking forward to both this year and full return next year. Appreciate all the effort, it is much appreciated and very much enjoy watching/reading the materials.