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Hungerford in Berks County England History and GeographyHUNGERFORD, a parish comprising the market town of Hungerford, and the tythings of Eddington with Hiddon, and Sandon-Fee, in the hundred of KINTBURY-EAGLE, county of BERKS, and the township of Charnham-Street in the bundred of KINWARDSTONE, county of WILTS, and containing 2373 inhabitants, of which number, 1478 are in the town of Hungerford, 26 miles (W. by S.) from Reading, and 64 (W. by S.) from London. This place was anciently called Ingleford Charman Street, a name signifying the ford of the Angles on the Ermin-street, a Roman road which crossed the site of the town; the adjunct is still preserved in one of its avenues, now called Charnham-Street. The town stands on the road from London to Bath, partly on the declivity of a hill, and is considered to be particularly salubrious: the houses in general have a mean appearance, the streets are neither paved nor lighted, but the inhabitants are plentifully supplied with water from wells. At the entrance into the town, the river Kennet, which flows through it, is crossed by a handsome bridge of five arches; and the Kennet and Avon canal affords a line of communication with Bath and Bristol, for the conveyance of corn, coal, and other heavy articles. Near the centre of the principal street is the market-house, a neat structure of brick, erected in 1787, which contains a spacious room for the transaction of public business. The market is on Wednesday; and fairs are held on the last Wednesday in April and the 10th of August for cattle; and on the Wednesdays before and after New Michaelmas, which are statute fairs. The town is under the government of a chief constable, assisted by twelve burgesses, a steward, and town clerk: the constable, who is lord of the manor, and holds his office immediately under the crown, is annually chosen on Hock-Tuesday, by the inhabitants of the town, who are convened on that occasion by the sound of a brazen horn, said to have been presented to the townsmen by John of Gaunt. The benefice is a vicarage, in the peculiar jurisdiction and patronage of the Dean and Canons of Windsor, rated in the king's books at £9. 13. 4. The church, dedicated to St. Lawrence, is a handsome edifice, surmounted by a square embattled tower: it was erected on the site of the former church, in 1814, at the extremity of a pleasant walk, shaded by lofty trees, on the western side of the town. A window of painted glass, representing the figure of the tutelar saint, was presented by Mr. Collins, of London, on the completion of the building: in the north aisle is a circular stone, with a brass plate, to the memory of Robert de Hungerford, who was the first of that family settled in this county. There are places of worship for Independents and Wesleyan Methodists. A free grammar school for boys and girls was founded, in 1636, by the Rev. Dr. Sheaff, and endowed by Mr. Hamblen in 1729, and Mrs. Cummins in 1735; and Edward Capps, an old servant of the Hungerford family, bequeathed £50 for the erection of a new school-room, and £4 per annum as an addition to the master's salary. The National school, a handsome brick building erected in 1814, for an unlimited number of children, is supported by voluntary contributions. Hungerford park, situated at the extremity of the town, formerly the residence of the barons of Hungerford, is now the property of Charles Delbiac, Esq., who has erected a neat mansion in the Italian style, on the site of the old house, which was built by Queen Elizabeth, and given by her to the Earl of Essex. Dr. Samuel Chandler, a learned dissenting minister and theological writer, was born here in 1693. From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England 1831, courtesy of Databases 4 Sale |
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