Thame facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Thame |
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 Thame Town Hall |
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 Thame
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| Area | 12.67 km2 (4.89 sq mi) |
| Population | 13,273 (2021 Census) |
| • Density | 1,048/km2 (2,710/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | SP710060 |
| • London | 40 miles (64 km) |
| Civil parish |
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| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Thame |
| Postcode district | OX9 |
| Dialling code | 01844 |
| Police | Thames Valley |
| Fire | Oxfordshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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| Website | Thame Town Council |
Thame (pronounced TAME) is a lively market town in Oxfordshire, England. It's located about 13 miles (21 km) east of the city of Oxford and 10 miles (16 km) southwest of Aylesbury. The town gets its name from the River Thame, which flows along its northern side and helps form the border with Buckinghamshire.
Thame was first settled a very long time ago, during the Anglo-Saxon era, when it was part of the kingdom of Wessex. In 2011, about 11,561 people lived in the town and its surrounding area.
Contents
Thame's Story: A Look Back in Time
Ancient Buildings and Churches
Thame Abbey was started in 1138 by a group of monks called Cistercians. Their church was officially opened in 1145. Later, in the 1500s, during a time called the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the abbey was closed down and its church was pulled down.
Today, a house called Thame Park stands on the same spot. It includes parts of the old abbey, like the abbot's (the head monk's) house from the early 1500s. The inside of this house is one of the first examples of Italian Renaissance style in England. A new wing was added in the 1700s.
The Church of England parish church of St Mary the Virgin has parts that are even older. The base of its font (a bowl for baptisms) is from the 1100s. The church you see today was mostly built in the 1200s. It has a cross shape, which is called a cruciform design. Over the centuries, new windows and sections were added, showing different styles of English Gothic architecture.
The church tower has a set of eight bells, all made in 1876.
The Prebendal House is another very old building, known to exist by 1234. Its chapel was built around 1250. This house was once home to the famous singer/songwriter Robin Gibb from the Bee Gees and his wife Dwina. Robin Gibb is buried in the churchyard of St Mary's.
Life and Changes in Thame
In 1550, a nobleman named John Williams, 1st Baron Williams of Thame built some almshouses (homes for poor people) in Church Lane. After he died in 1559, his will helped create the local grammar school. The first school building, finished in 1569, is right next to the almshouses. In 1971, it became a larger school called Lord Williams's School.
During the English Civil War in the 1640s, Thame was taken over by both sides – the King's supporters (Royalists) and Parliament's supporters (Parliamentarians). After a battle nearby in 1643, Colonel John Hampden, who had gone to the grammar school, died in Thame from his injuries.
James Figg, a famous bare-knuckle boxer from the late 1600s, was born in Thame. He had some of his first fights at the Greyhound Inn. Today, the Greyhound Inn is called the James Figg, and there's a special blue plaque there to remember him.
In the 1700s, many buildings on the High Street were updated with new fronts made of local bricks. The famous preacher John Wesley once gave a sermon in Thame. So many people came that the floor of the building actually broke!
In the 1800s, Thame had a workhouse (a place where poor people could live and work). Henry Boddington, who later founded the famous Boddingtons brewery, was born in Thame in 1813. A blue plaque now marks the spot of the old workhouse, remembering his connection to the town.
Travel and Transport
Thame railway station opened in 1862. It was part of a railway line that eventually went all the way to Oxford. However, in 1963, passenger trains stopped running through Thame, and the station closed.
Later, in 1987, a new station called Haddenham and Thame Parkway opened about 2 miles (3 km) from Thame. This station is on the Chiltern Main Line and connects Thame to places like London Marylebone and Birmingham Snow Hill. There are buses from the station into Thame.
When the railway line through Thame was removed, the old tracks were turned into a walking and cycling path called the Phoenix Trail. This is now part of the National Cycle Network.
The M40 motorway was extended near Thame in 1974, giving the town a fast road link to London. In 1990, the M40 was completed, connecting Thame to Birmingham as well.
Modern Thame and Filming Locations
Thame Town Hall was built in 1888. It was designed in a style called Jacobethan.
In 1940, a local lorry driver found a small collection of old coins and rings near the River Thame. These items, from the 1300s to 1500s, were declared "treasure trove" and are now on display at the Ashmolean Museum. One of the rings had a special cross design, which Thame Town Council later used in its town symbol.
Thame has been used many times as a filming location for the popular TV show Midsomer Murders. It often stands in for the fictional town of Causton in the series.
How Thame is Governed
Thame has three levels of local government:
- Thame Town Council: This is the local council for the town itself. It's based at Thame Town Hall.
- South Oxfordshire District Council: This council covers a wider area, including Thame.
- Oxfordshire County Council: This is the largest council, covering the whole county of Oxfordshire.
Thame used to be a larger parish that included other villages. Over time, these villages became separate parishes. In 1871, Thame got its own local board to manage town affairs. This board became an "urban district" in 1894. In 1974, the urban district was removed, and the area became a "successor parish" with the Thame Town Council we have today.
Thame's Economy
Some of the biggest employers in Thame have their main offices here. These include CPM Group and Travelodge UK, a hotel chain. Also, W. Lucy & Co., an engineering company, moved its base to Thame in 2005.
Getting Around: Public Transport
As mentioned, the nearest train station is Haddenham and Thame Parkway, which offers fast train services to London and Birmingham.
Buses also connect Thame to other towns. Arriva the Shires runs routes 280 and X8, linking Thame with Oxford railway station and Aylesbury. Route 280 runs frequently every day.
Carousel Buses route 40 connects Thame with High Wycombe. There are also local bus routes that link nearby villages to Thame.
News and Entertainment
For local news and TV, Thame receives signals from BBC South and ITV Meridian.
Thame has several local radio stations, including BBC Radio Oxford, Heart South, Jack FM, and Greatest Hits Radio Bucks, Beds and Herts. There's also Red Kite Radio, which broadcasts from Aylesbury.
The local newspapers for Thame are The Thame Hub and the Oxford Mail.
Things to Do and Places to Learn
Thame has three primary schools: Barley Hill Primary School, John Hampden Primary School, and St Joseph's Catholic Primary School. It also has one county secondary school, Lord Williams's School.
Young people interested in military training can join the Army Cadets or the Air Training Corps units in town.
Sports and Recreation
Chinnor Rugby Club is based in Thame, and their top team plays in a national league. Thame United Football Club also has a team that plays in a league.
If you like golf, The Oxfordshire Golf Club is just southwest of Thame. Its course was designed by Rees Jones and has hosted big tournaments.
Thame Leisure Centre, on Oxford Road, has a 25-meter swimming pool, a dance studio, a gym, and facilities for racquet sports.
Town Twinning
Thame is twinned with two towns:
- Montesson in France
- Sinaia in Romania
This means they have special friendly relationships and often exchange visits.
Famous People from Thame
Many interesting people have lived in Thame over the years:
- John Fothergill, an innkeeper and writer, owned the Spread Eagle Hotel in the 1920s.
- The famous violinist Alfredo Campoli retired to Thame in 1986. A blue plaque remembers him at 39 North Street.
- Gavin Free and Daniel Gruchy, known as The Slow Mo Guys from YouTube, lived in Thame for many years.
- Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees lived in Prebendal House until his death in 2012. His younger brother, Andy Gibb, also lived there for a short time.
- The poet and playwright W. B. Yeats lived in Thame for a short period, and his son was born there in 1921. A blue plaque also commemorates him.
- The composer Howard Goodall lived in Thame and went to Lord Williams's School.
- Jonathan More and Matt Black, who form the music duo Coldcut, both lived in Thame and attended Lord Williams's School.
- Fiona Bruce, a well-known television presenter, also lives in Thame.
Town Honours
The town of Thame can grant "Freedom of the Town" to people or military units. This is a special honour.
Military Units
- RAF Halton: Received this honour on May 15, 2022.
See also
In Spanish: Thame para niños
