Summary

Earliest information: 1671
Original Manor:  Hungerford Engleford
Common Rights?  Yes
Date of current building:
Listed?   No

Thumbnail History

Oram -> Clark -> Fullbrook -> Earle (ironmongers) -> Hawkes -> Clifford -> Dopson (drapers) -> Various

Description of property

Timeline:

1671-5 (NH) This property was copyhold to Elizabeth Oram, widow of Thomas Oram (d. 1670 – D.S. admin, no will) 1671-5. In 1682 widow Oram died.

1680 (NH) In the 1680 H.C.B. William Oram appears in the Commoners' List (by position). Grace, wife of William Oram, died 1682, and in 1690 William Oram died.

1770 (NH) D.C.W. will dated July 1770 (probate Nov 1771) Henry Clark ironmonger leaves to his son Harry Clark "all that messuage situate in Hungerford Berks, with ½ acre of meadow in Woodmarsh, being copyhold, held under James Smith esq. Lord of the Manor, and my son Harry being next names in the copy.".

The reference to James Smith esq as Lord of the Manor is not quite clear at present, as the V.C.H. states that the manor was bought by Matthew Loder. In his PCC will dated May 1672 (probate November 1763), Matthew Loder leaves all his manors etc. in Hungerford to Mr Samuel Smith (husband of Loder's daughter Frances) for life, and after his death the manor was given to Samuel's son and Loder's grandson, Loder Smith, for ever.

The reference to James Smith may be an inaccurate transcription of the name Samuel Smith?

According to the V.C.H. Matthew Loder renounced his right in this estate in 1771 in favour of his son Matthew Loder Smith.

Harry Clarke was born 1741, son of Henry and Ann Clark.

1777 (NH CL) John Fullbrook

1781 (NH CL) Mrs ? Fullbrook.

1811 (NH) Enclosure Act claims M.L. Smith esq. as Lord of the manor. It includes:
- (?25HS) Copyhold – reversionary interest in messuage in which the Misses Robinson live, being copyhold for the life of Thos. Robinson.
- (?) Copyhold tenement now occupied as 2 tens. Held by life of J. Bear
- (?121HS) Tenement in own occupation
- (?) Tenement in occupation of ..Shepherd, widow.
- (?119HS) Tenement in occupation John Bance
- (?) Tenement in occupation Henry Clements

1819 (EA) Un-named

1841 (CS) George Earle (35) - ironmonger.
1843 (CL) George Earle
1844 (PD) George Earle - ironmonger, brazier, tinplate worker, locksmith, bellhanger, oil and colourman.
1847 (CL) George Earle (owner & occ).
1847 (NH) Mentioned in deeds of 128HS (D/Elm T7) as on south side of present day 128. It is described as a messuage / dwelling house and garden belonging to Mrs Elizabeth Hilary, widow, now in occupation of G. Earle ironmonger. This property was originally part of the Hungerford Englefield manor, one of a block of three or four houses at this part of High Street (sites no 127, 126, 125, 124).
1851 (CS) George Earle (47), ironmonger.
1861 (CL) George Earle
1869 (PO) George Earle - ironmonger. Also Misses Sarah & Emma Jane Earle, Day & Boarding School, HS (? number).
1871 (CS) George Earle.

1881 (CS) Reynolds Richard Earle (46) - ironmonger.
1891 (KD) Reynolds Richard Earle
1896 (CL) Reynolds Richard Earle

1903 (KD) George Hawkes - ironmonger.

1914 (CL) Trustees of Reynolds Richard Earle (owner) - John Joseph Hawkes (occupant). [See record of 126HS also]

1920 (KD) Louis Clifford ironmonger

1936 (*3) Ernest W. Dopson - drapers (127 & 5 HS). Geoffrey Raymond Dopson lived above shop on north side,

1939 (Blacket's) Wessex Electricity Company
- E.W. Dopson, fancy goods and babies' outfitters
- F. Kerley, dentist
- W.J. Bambridge, MRCVS, veterinary surgeon (flat above)

1947 (CL) Alfred Edwin Baldock.

1952 (CL) Void.

1956 (CL) Geoffrey Raymond Dopson.
1963 (CL) Geoffrey Raymond Dopson.

1968 (CL) Geoffrey Raymond Dopson
1968 Dopson moved to 5 High Street

19??  (Mrs May Marks) Mr. Greenstreet - manager/owner ? ironmonger

1970 (CL) No entry!
- Frank Kerley - dentist (on north side)
- Wessex Electricity Co Ltd (on south side)

? (Geoffrey Dopson) Library here, at north end and at rear, prior to Church Street (1967).

1976 (CL) Void.

1968-77 Liptons Supermarket + Southern Electricity Board.
1976 (CL) Void

1977 Help the Aged.

1978 Newbury District Council
- Help the Aged Gift Shop

1982? Carpenters (Shergolds) - Hardware/DIY, occupiers of north end, 127a. Closed 1993.

1983 (CL) Void – Wessex Place

1983 Newbury District Council office, middle.
-  Wessex Gifts (John & Brenda Newton). Closed 1985, became Newbury Building Society.
1984 (CL) Void
1985 (CL) Void

1986  Newbury Building Society

1993 Carpenters - Hardware/DIY closed. Remained empty until Dec 1994.
- Newbury District Council office.

Dec 1994 Sold by ?..? to Omall & Lyons, antique dealers called "Fanny's" – several dealers selling within open shop floor. Name changed to "Labyrinth Antiques" c.1998.

<1995 Fanny's Antiques

1998 Labyrinth Antiques

1999 Victoria's Bedroom (Angela Wallbank and husband – moved from 4 BS). Closed ?2005, and stood empty for some months.

2000 (CL) Christine Fielding (member of Newbury BS staff)
2005 (CL) Valerie Troke

2006 Conversion to two shop premises:
- South: "Deep" Clothes and fashion shop
- North: Stan James bookmakers, moved from 18 HS in Feb 2006.

2008 (a) Newbury Building Society
- (b) West Berkshire Council. Moved to new library in Church Street Jan 2008.
- (c) Deep
- (d) Upstairs – "Freeman's House" Greatworth Properties (Charlie Woodhead)
- (e) Stan James

2011 (CL) Void
2011 (Aug) Deep closed.

^ top ^

Notes from Norman Hidden's papers:

D.C.W. will dated July 1770 (probate Nov 1771) Henry Clark ironmonger leaves to his son Harry Clark "all that messuage situate in Hungerford Berks, with ½ acre of meadow in Woodmarsh, being copyhold, held under James Smith esq. Lord of the Manor, and my son Harry being next names in the copy."

This property was copyhold to Elizabeth Oram, widow of Thomas Oram (d. 1670 – D.S. admin, no will) 1671-5. In 1682 widow Oram died, and in the 1680 H.C.B. William Oram appears in the Commoners' List (by position). Grace, wife of William Oram, died 1682, and in 1690 William Oram died.

Harry Clarke was born 1741, son of Henry and Ann Clark.

In 1777 the CL shows John Fullbrook as commoner in that position.

In 1781 the CL shows Mrs ? Fullbrook.

The reference to James Smith esq as Lord of the Manor is not quite clear at present, as the V.C.H. states that the manor was bought by Matthew Loder. In his PCC will dated May 1672 (probate November 1763), Matthew Loder leaves all his manors etc. in Hungerford to Mr Samuel Smith (husband of Loder's daughter Frances) for life, and after his death the manor was given to Samuale's son and Loder's grandson, Loder Smith, for ever.

According to the V.C.H. Matthew Loder renounced his right in this estate in 1771 in favour of his son Matthew Loder Smith.

The reference to James Smith may be an inaccurate transcription of the name Samuel Smith?

1811 (NH) Enclosure Act claims M.L. Smith esq. as Lord of the manor. It includes:
- (?25HS) Copyhold – reversionary interest in messuage in which the Misses Robinson live, being copyhold for the life of Thos. Robinson.
- (?) Copyhold tenement now occupied as 2 tens. Held by life of J. Bear
- (?121HS) Tenement in own occupation
- (?) Tenement in occupation of ..Shepherd, widow.
- (?119HS) Tenement in occupation John Bance
- (?) Tenement in occupation Henry Clements

127 High Street, Mar 2007

Earle's, 127 High Street, c1902

Dopson's (closed), 127 High Street, c1934

Liptons & Southern Electricity,
127 High Street, c1970

Carpenters,
127 High Street, c1982

Advert for Carpenter's, c1985

The Natural Fabric Co, 1992

Press report on lease of 127a to Omell and Lyons, 6th Jan 1995

Press report on opening of The Clockmaker, 2003

Newbury Building Society celebrates
20 years in Hungerford, Feb 2006

The Clockmaker on the cover of The Adviser, 7th Dec 2007

Advert for The Clockmaker in
The Adviser, 7th Dec 2007

Newbury Building Society refurbished, NWN 28th May 2008