The wealth of excellent early 20th century photographs of Hungerford is largely down to the skills of one man - the local photographer Albert Parsons.

Albert Parsons came to Hungerford c1902. Initially, he was unable to find ideal premises for a photographic studio, so he and his wife made their first home in Church Street, and built a studio in the garden.

Within a few years, however, he was able to move to a prime site at 1 Bridge Street, next to the Hungerford Printing Works.

Albert Parsons joined the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War. His interest in flying explains the large number of photographs of aircraft landing on Hungerford Common.

It is said that his 12-year-old son drowned in Hungerford Lock during the war, and the Parsons family moved from Bridge Street after this tragic event.

Around 1916-17 the family moved to 30 High Street (now Barclays Bank), premises previously owned by William Mapson, a watch-maker and photographer who had worked there since 1891.

Albert Parsons expanded his business to include car hire. The photograph of the upper High Street shows his Rover car standing outside his shop and studio.

When Albert Parsons died in 1950, the business closed, and the property was used as the Gateway Café (run by Miss Catherine Rose) until being redeveloped by Barclays Bank, which opened in 1967.

The quality of Albert Parsons' photographic work was second to none, and his output was prolific.

Albert Parsons, in his RFC uniform, c1915

Albert Parsons at the wheel of his
Rover car, c1914.
In 1991 the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu identified this as a Rover 6hp.
In 2011, Mike Evans, Vintage Registrar of the Rover Sports Register kindly contacted  to correctly identify it as a 1907 Rover 8hp.
It had dark green paintwork, with dark red upholstery, and was capable of speeds of up to 50mph! The vehicle was fitted with two brake pedals, whilst the speed was controlled by hand rather than foot pedal.

Brochure for the Rover 8hp, 1907.
Kindly sent by Mike Evans

Albert Parsons' Photographic Studio, 1 Bridge Street, c1914.

Upper High Street showing
Parsons studio and shop (30 High Street) on the right, c1918.