Connect an external Amiga floppy drive, via a Arduino, to a USB port on a Mac. Sounds simple doesn’t it? Before you say yes, take a look at my previous posts, anything but simple. As mentioned previously there are existing projects that claim to be working at reading data including: Amiga Floppy Reader (AFR) by Marco […]
Amiga USB Floppy: an update Read More »
At many of my local history talks I will get asked “which is the oldest pub in Thatcham?” Is it the Chequers? Is it the King’s Head? Let us assume Thatcham includes Cold Ash, Ashmore Green, Colthrop and Crookham. The answer really depends on a number of factors. Firstly remember the age of the building
The oldest Thatcham pub Read More »
I have made progress on the Amiga USB Floppy project (see original post) with an original Amiga FDD plugged in and basic control done. That is control only, I have not read anything yet. I will upload the code to GitHub and post about it. I wanted to take small steps rather than rush, and as
Amiga USB Floppy: a rethink Read More »
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? Background Thatcham was a manor but in the late 13th century, it is thought, a charter of incorporation was granted making a borough. Thus there were two manors.
Reputed manor of Henwick Read More »
I typically get asked about Henwick at many of the local history (Thatcham and Newbury) talks I give. Questions include where is it? Does it exist? Where was the manor? What does its name mean? I will cover this in two posts starting with the name. Monk’s Dairy Farm Margaret Gelling, who investigated place names,
Henwick: What’s in a name? Read More »
Thatcham became a town in 1974 and to mark the 40th anniversary I presented a talk, ‘40 years a town‘, at the Thatcham Festival in 2014. However to this day I hear people saying Thatcham is a village. If we were a village why do we have a TOWN COUNCIL? This is a quick overview
Thatcham, a village or town? Read More »
Having given a few talks on the history of Newbury recently (2016/7) I find myself defending what I believe about Newbury Grammar School, or rather St Bartholomew’s. Locally Henry Wormstall is credited with the founding of the school. It is said that from the will of Wormstall in 1466 he left specific instructions for the
Wormstalls Charity Read More »
Finding your position outdoors on a device is easy with GPS but indoors is another matter. I have some potential projects that might need indoor positioning so I have started researching and testing the subject. There are several ways to calculate indoor position and technologies including: Visible Light Communication (VLC); Bluetooth; WiFi; Ultra Wide Band
DIY indoor positioning Read More »
Most towns have a place of religious worship, a church or chapel for example. Thatcham is no different and Kemp1 suggested that Thatcham might have been a Minster Church. That is the main church for the whole area. In c.1304 a chapel, St Thomas’, was built at the east end of the town, what today is
St Luke’s or St Mary’s? Read More »
The name of a settlement can reveal so much about the history of a place. Newbury for example comes from “New Burgh”, a new market town created in the 11th century, which over the centuries became Newbury. Thatcham on the other hand has a few possible sources. Local legend says it was named after a
Newbury, a worldwide phenomenon Read More »
