An afternoon in Thame

After the positive feedback I’ve received on this post from my other blog, The Fishbowl Manifesto, I thought it would be worth posting here too. I’ve created a new category for these posts under ‘Countryside’ where, similar to my Walled Kitchen Garden Photo-tour, I’ll be posting some views of the English countryside and towns. Many are from the Chilterns and Thames Valley areas where I live, and some will be from further afield. Enjoy!

16th Century cottage style living in Thame

The Englishman and I spent an afternoon in Thame, Oxfordshire, a lovely historic market town. Though many towns share that slogan, this place truly embodies it with a long walkable market street, plenty of independent businesses and historic buildings. The buildings date from the 13th century onwards, from Georgian inns to late Victorian townhouses. Even the more “modern” fire hall and local theatre have a certain character to them. A quintessentially English market town, I think!

Sign for Cornmarket Street, common to market towns such as Thame, where historically the corn exchange was located

View of Nelson Street

Thame Fire Station built in 1937

Sign outside the former St. Mary's Church Hall built in 1913, now home to Players Theatre

Stage entrance to the Players Theatre

Inside the Players Theatre, transformed from the former church hall in 1977

There are numerous independent shops, cafes and pubs along the High Street, making Thame a town to visit more often to really appreciate them.  We made a pit-stop at Rumsey’s Chocolaterie and Coffee Shop, a deliciously successful local food business (established by a couple inspired by the film Chocolat),  and ended the afternoon at the James Figg, a cozy pub serving good food and real ales by the fireplace.

Rumsey's Chocolaterie Coffee Shop in Thame

Proper drinking chocolate at Rumsey's Chocolaterie, with dark chocolate and hints of orange, coffee and cinnamon

Rumsey's handmade chocolate truffles

A pint of Old Hooky from Hook Norton Brewery at the James Figg Pub

Nothing more traditional than a proper fish & chips at the James Figg Pub (made with coley, a more sustainable alternative to cod)

Sitting by the pub's fireplace, we flicked through their copy of John Betjeman's poems.

For more views of the English countryside, check out my previous posts  A Walk in West Wycombe and A Drive Through The New Forest.

Tags: Chocolate, Countryside, Real Ale, Thame