A typical rural scene by the local painter Charles Low, RA. Charles was born in 1841, and his parents Charles and Elizabeth Low lived at 12 Bridge Street between 1840 and 1881. Charles snr was a plumber and glazier, and the business was taken over by their other son Frederick Low until c1914. Many paintings by Charles Low, RA are held in private hands in Hungerford.

This delightful watercolour shows the old Town Hall, Hungerford, painted by G. Shepherd in 1829.

Follow this link for more on Town Halls.

This is a bust of St. Lawrence, the patron saint of the parish church. Follow this link for more on St. Lawrence.

Tom Simson pointed out that all the scenes depicted are fictional, and adds the details which may add to your enjoyment of the paintings:

The costumes are taken from three main sources:
 - "Le Costume chez les Peuples Anciens et Modernes" by Fr Hottenroth, published in Paris.
 - Various illustrated manuscripts of the 14th century in the British Museum, London and the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
 - In the case of the Rennie picture, from contemporary paintings of the late 18th century.

1. "St Lawrence offering the poor and needy to the Church instead of gold"

The cloisters in the St Lawrence picture are in the small French town of St Justin just south east of Roquefort in Gascony. These were used simply for their attractive colour and form.

2. "John of Gaunt presenting his charter to the Town and Manor of Hungerford"

John of Gaunt has just returned from a hunt and is shown on Hungerford Down near the present gate to the Common.

3. "John Rennie being welcomed by the Constable of Hungerford at the opening of the Kennet and Avon Canal from Kintbury to Hungerford"