The Poplars, now known as Bradley Moore House and is home to the Cedars Dental Care, is a building that dates back to the 1700s and has played a crucial role in Thatcham’s history. Below is a short history of the building.
When was it built?
The general thought is that the building dates to c.1744. However a few points to note. Historic England[1] note the building, on the listed entry record, as late 18th century. Contradicting that an article Reading Mercury[12 notes the Baily family had resided at the Poplars for 200 years before they moved out in 1816. This would date the building to the early 17th century. Another source notes a Queen Anne building.
The Historic England reference I assume to be incorrect as the building is present on the Rocque 1761 map and Richard Baily, father of Francis Baily, is believed to have been born in the building, certainly living there as a child, in 1744. He later moved to Newbury where he opened a bank and became mayor[3].
Thus my assumption at present is the building dates to c.1744. The building appears to have two rooms either side of a central fire. This was then extended in the 1800s and by the end of the 1800s looked, externally, much as it does today.
The history
An 1883 OS Map shows the property with the name “Walnut House”[4]. The map was surveyed in 1877/8. However by 1883 the Brown family owned the property and it was known as “The Poplars”. The Rev W Brown was resident for a short period and then James Lay was tenant[5]. He was a farmer managing Siegecross farm, Colthrop farm and Hatchgate farm. Then there was the Sherrin family were tenants by 1905 but by c.1909 the family had moved to Eastbourne.
In 1909 Dr Thomas Martin moved from his surgery in Chapel Street to the Poplars. This is the first known connection with the building and health care. Note building still owned by the Brown family and there had been doctors around Thatcham for many years including Robert Skeen from the 1700s.
From here the surgery become the main focus and starts to grow. By 1928 Dr Peter Warwick Ransom was a GP there until at least the 1940s. Dr James Beagley was present in the 1940s and 50s. Perhaps the best known locally was Dr Deborah Bradley Moore who took up her position in c.1946. She was a qualified surgeon but moved to Thatcham to become a GP.
Other names associated with the surgery include:
- Dr Walker
- Dr West
- Dr Brown
- Dr Holland
- Dr Smith
- Dr Tayton
The team established a family planning clinic, they introduced nurses to help keep people out of hospital and surgery meetings were held regularly so all members could have a say in how the practice operated. Minor surgical procedures were undertaken on site. Bradley Moore would visit patients in surrounding areas, including Cold Ash, in her Standard Vanguard estate car, green. The NHS was created and the surgery became the first in Thatcham to offer NHS services. People I have spoken to have recalled how the practice worked in the early days. No appointment was needed, you just turned up and took a number. Some said you could wait half a day due to the number of people there, but there was no complaints, people were happy that they could be seen and get help. By the 1970s they were caring for over 11,000 people.
Bradley Moore retired in 1977, the surgery moved to a new purpose built site in 1978, the move being complete in one weekend. By the late 1980s a second surgery opened in Thatcham.
Bradley Moore continued to live at the Poplars. It had been owned by the council but was purchased by Dr Bradley-Moore for £30,000. In 1980 part of the property was used as a temporary library.
Bradley Moore continued to live at the Poplars until her death in 1991. She is fondly remembered by many I speak to and has had a long lasting impact on the community. After that the future of the building was unclear, that is until the Cedars Dental Care moved in during the 1990s and the property was referred to as The Cedars. It was later renamed Bradley Moore House.
A plaque
A blue plaque was due to be placed at the property in 2024, although delayed it has now been unveiled (February 2025).
Summary
The building was erected c.1744 for the Baily family with the Brown family owning it by the end of the 1800s. The first doctor moved in c.1909 and a surgery grew from there taking up free public health with the formation of the NHS until 1978 when a new surgery was built. A dentist soon moved in. So since 1909 the building has been connected with healthcare.
I will continue researching and may find more to confirm or change this.
References
- [1] The Poplars, Historic England, https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1319516
- [2] Reading Mercury 27 November 1897
- [3] Horton-Smigh, L. G., The Baily family of Thatcham and later of Speen and of Newbury, all in the county of Berkshire., Leicester: 1951
- [4] National Library of Scotlen, Mapping project, available online https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=18.0&lat=51.40395&lon=-1.26173&layers=257&right=ESRIWorld
- [5] Berks and Oxon Advertiser, 25 August 1899
