Timeline

16th Century (1500 to 1599)

Approx. 1540
Construction of the original property is estimated to be around this date. This date is based on architectural features such as beam size and roof construction. The size of the beams and quality of workmanship indicate that this was an important building when it was constructed. It has been speculated that the building had some association with the rich and powerful Reading Abbey.

Unknown
The property may have been expanded during the 16th Century with additional bays added.

17th Century (1600 to 1699)

Whole Century
Records are vague for this period. It is assumed that workers lived in the four cottages.

18th Century (1700 to 1799)

25 June 1728
Agreement between Richard Clark and John Latter for leasehold for a term of 500 years at peppercorn rent. Sum of £50 exchanged.

19th Century (1800 to 1899)

Approx. 1800
John Barfield buys much of the land surrounding Monks Chambers and Church Lane. Builds The Priory as a home for his family. This purchase also probably includes purchase of Monks Chambers itself (still to be proved).

1804

United Reformed Church

John Barfield builds United Reformed Church opposite Monks Chambers using bricks that came from Thatcham’s Manor House in Dunston Park (built 1722, demolished 1798).

Approx. 1805
Engineers remove majority of timber frame from lower storey and replace it with 9 inch walls of clay bricks laid on a lime mortar. Sewerage system installed and lower floor replaced with clay bricks. Similar sizes, colourings and appearance of bricks indicates the possibility that John Barfield had spare bricks from Dunston Park Manor House after building the United Reformed Church and used them to rebuild the walls of Monks Chambers.

1841
Monks Chambers is definitely owned by John Barfield. Described as Cottages & Garden. Residents listed as John Harper, Ann Hodges and Richard White. The fourth cottage listed as being empty (void). Nos. 2 and 3 Church Lane were also in existence at this time. (Source 1841 Tithe map).

1851
John Barfield dies. Ownership of Monks Chambers and surrounding land transfers to his third wife Sarah Barfield.

17 March 1864
Sarah Barfield transfers ownership of property to her son Samuel Barfield. Residents of 4 cottages named as Widow Duckett, Widow Broxley, Carter and Harris.

10 August 1877
Indenture transfers ownership of property from Samual Barfield to Frederick George Newnham. Sum of £2450 paid.

10 August 1877
J F Winterbottom named as owner of Great Meadow.

10 August 1877
Sarah Barfield named as owner of Church Meadow.

20th Century (1900 to 1999)

18 November 1908
Indenture between Frederick George Newnham and Marianne King, Sarah Beard King, Charles Phillip King and William George King. Mortgage for £500 each half yearly payment on 18th November and 18th May plus interest of £4.10.0% until all monies paid.

14 August 1909
Indenture as 18 November 1908 notes outstanding sum of £500. £250 advanced immediately plus £250 additional payment due on 18th November.

15 December 1909
Indenture as 14 August 1909 noting that £250 outstanding amount paid.

10 November 1910
Indenture as 15 December 1909 noting amounts payable reduced to £150 each six months.

02 August 1915
Frederick George Newnham dies. As per his will, property is transferred to his wife, Henrietta Rachel Cunningham Newnham.

16 May 1916
William George King dies.

14 August 1917
Indenture renewed between H E C Newnham and Kings.

06 November 1917
New indenture created between H R C Newnham and Arthur Rickarby. £400 half yearly payments 6th March and 6th September at £6% interest.

18 February 1918
Indenture as 6 November 1917 changed to payments of £100.

26 February 1919
Sale of property by H R C Newnham to Reginald Herbert Blyth, Philip Gledstanes Blyth and Maurice McAuslance Blyth for £1200. Occupants of 2 cottages (formally 4) named as William Henry Adkins and Charles Frederick Rogers.

29 November 1919
Sale of property by H R C Newnham and Blythes to Dorothy Eyre Crosthwaite and John Symons Crosthwaite. £1200 paid to Blythes and £800 to H R C Newnham.

01 June 1923
Sale of property by Dorothy Eyre Crosthwaite to Arthur Haslehurst Atkinson for sum of £2000. Identified as 2 cottages (formally 4) converted into one cottage and unoccupied.

03 October 1923
Sale of property by Arthur Haslehurst Atkinson to Arthur Brown.

12 May 1924
Cottage to left side of front door (consisting of two rooms, one downstairs and one upstairs) let to Rev. Edward Chamberlaine of the Vicarage, Thatcham by Arthur Brown. Also included are stable buildings and the plot of meadow land to the south of the cottage. The rent was £3 per quarter. The rest of the cottage was partly occupied by a Mr Worthy.

Approx. 1925

Monks Chambers Early 1900s

Photo taken of Monks Chambers which appears in future books about Thatcham.

Approx. 1953

Yvonne Farmer and Phipps Family

Cottage rented by Stan Phipps and wife Micky Phipps. Visited by Yvonne Farmer during school holidays.

1960
Robert Peter Cochrane and Denise Marjorie Cochrane return from Cameroons, West Africa and purchase Monks Chambers where they live with their three children Gerald, Ann and Richard.

1969
First part of Little Meadow sold off and a new house built.

October 1972
Robert Peter Cochrane dies leaving property to be owned by Denise Marjorie Cochrane.1976
Next part of Little Meadow sold off an another new house built.

Approx. 1978
Central heating installed and cottage split into two parts again. Numbers 4 and 4a (Exact dates and history to be confirmed with DMC). Reroofed?

10 November 1983
English Heritage bestow Grade II listing status. Listing number: 039634.

1986
Final part of Little Meadow allocated to building a new home for Denise Marjorie Cochrane prior to her selling Monks Chambers at the end of 1986.

Approx. 1986
Cottage split back into a single cottage and rewired prior to being sold at the end of 1986. (Exact dates and history to be confirmed with DMC).

08 December 1986
Sale of property by Denise Marjorie Cochrane to David James Murray and Pauline Jane Murray for sum of £82,000.

January 1987
Fitted kitchen installed.

21st Century (2000 to Present)

18 October 2001

Lynn Martin and Chris Turner

Sale of property by David James Murray and Pauline Murray to Christopher Dennis Turner and Lynn Joanne Martin for sum of £249,950.

19 October 2001
Investigations start into causes of damp and possible solutions to the problem.

1 March 2002
Listed Building Consent given for repairs and resolution of damp problems. Linings removed from living room walls reveal some remaining timber frame and even original wattle and daub panels. Areas of concrete floor removed to reveal original brick floor still in place.

May 2002
Builders remove all internal cement renders and plaster and install French Drain to reduce damp problems. Chris and Lynn remove tiles from roof of Coach House in preparation for repairs to this building.