Blue plaque commemorates first doctor’s surgery in Thatcham to offer public health services

A new blue plaque commemorates the first surgery in Thatcham to offer NHS services.

Thatcham Town Council’s Heritage Working Party unveiled its long-awaited seventh blue plaque at Bradley Moore House, now Cedar Dental Care, on Saturday (February 22).

Mayor of Thatcham Suzanne Adamantos unveiled the plaque dedicated to the former doctor’s surgery with Roy Patel, clinical director at Cedar Dental Care.

It will be installed above the front left bay window.

Refreshments and a short talk followed in the town council chambers, where Thatcham historian Nick Young explained the historical significance of the building.

Mr Patel told newburytoday: “There was a need for healthcare in Thatcham and this building provided that.

“We've been here since 1999. When I came here, I had my eyes on this building to create a dental practice as part of a hub with the health centre [opened in the early 70s] and the library [opened in 1981] where everybody can come along.”

The plaque reads: ‘Erected circa 1744, this building was a doctor’s surgery from 1909 and the first in Thatcham to offer public health services.’

The house, on Bath Road, is believed to have been built by the Baily family in 1744.

Richard Baily, father of famed astronomer Francis Baily, was born at the property the same year.

But its first recorded use as a doctor’s surgery came in 1909, when Thomas Martin moved from his surgery in Chapel Street.

The building, known as The Poplars and Walnut House at different times, has been expanded, modernised and downsized over nearly 300 years.

In the 1940s, it became the first surgery in Thatcham to provide public health services under the newly established NHS.

In 1974, the single surgery supported 11,000 people – the then population of Thatcham.

Several doctors worked at the practice, including Deborah Bradley-Moore.

The surgery remained until Dr Bradley-Moore retired in 1977. She continued to live at the house until her death in 1991.

It then fell into a state of near ruin until Mr Patel moved into the building in the late 1990s.

But she is still fondly remembered by her former patients.

Alan Denness, 90, from Kingsclere, said: “I was taken there quite a lot. She was very nice person. She would come to the house if necessary.

“She used to go to the eight o’clock communion at St Mary’s. I sang in the choir there for seven years.”

He added that the surgery is where his parents first met.

Tony Billington, from Bucklebury, added: “She was quite outstanding in that she seemed to get to the bottom of every problem you had.

“She was a very close family friend of my parents.

“I attended her funeral at St Mary's and the packed church was a testament to the respect and love her patients had for her.”

The Heritage Working Party is searching for nominations for its next blue plaque.

Contact enquiries@thatchamtowncouncil.gov.uk to share your ideas.

It unveiled its first plaque in 2018 outside of The Kings Head pub, where Britain’s first mail coach changed horses in 1784.

Its other projects include a QR code heritage trail. New members are welcome.