Website produced and maintained for the Hungerford Historical Association
by Hugh Pihlens

You are in [Places] [High Street Properties] [129 High Street]

1663  (NH) Hearth Tax: 3 hearths or chimneys – Jonathan Reade.

1676 (NH QR) (NH) Jonathan Read "for ye Brew house", q.r. 8d. [Culver Acre is leased, as a separate entry, by Jonathan Read, quit rent 2d.]
- This seems to fit neatly with the 1609 town survey, if we assume that the 2 tenements have now been made into 1 Brewhouse and that the small close of pasture has been detached from the property. [This in fact may have been also let to Jonathan Read see the 1676 q.r. 2d "for Burches Close", listed separately under Sanden Fee]. There were two Jonathan Reads in the 17th century – the elder of them being the man referred to in 1633, and the younger the one in 1676.

Shipton – Insurance records:
- Sun 1717: Joseph Shipton ?..? as his house in the Hungerford Street, now empty
- Sun 1723: Joseph Shipton ?..? House and outhouses on the side of High Street, now in the occupation of Robert Tuck. [Also Cross keys, Andover]
- (1727=Bell Inn) ?the dwelling house was insured by Jn. Shipton in 1723 together with the malthouse, but there are no details of the structure.

1753-61 (QR) James Shipton for a brewhouse, q.r. 8d. (as well as "an Upper house (ie. higher up on the south side) and Malthouse (6d), and Culver Acre (2d)see below for notes on James Shipton)
- James Shipton was a well-to-do business man who owned several properties in Hungerford. In addition to the brewery, he had connections with the tannery, and may have come from the Shipton family who were tanners in Speen.
- James Shipton was successful enough to be described as gent in his own PCC will dated 1752. He left much of his property not to his son James Shipton junior, but to his grandson Joseph Westall. It would seem, however, from the town QRR entries that the brewery at least descended to his son James. At the time of the will, the property was in the occupation of tenants Biss, Povey and John Cannon.

*NB: 1753 & 1774: The property of James Shipton (Upper house and Malthouse with Culver Acre 1753 and Widow Westall's in 1774) have been brougt forward out of location order. Their correct location is indicated in 1676 and 1795. See also EAM 1819 under Reeves.
Likewise, in 1752 William Cheyney for his house late Turtain 8d seems to have been moved for convenience of collection from a position very much further south (Rosier 1676, Stockbridge 1774.
Such instances have been removed to their correct location and the consequent alteration in the rent roll order indicated by *.
The 1753 quit rent roll has James Shipton's name against the brewhouse, but although a superscription has added Joseph Westall, this alteration does not affect the subsequent entries.

1768 (NH) Berkshire Poll Book 1768 – James Shipton has freehold of messuage and land in Hungerford occupied by John Canninge [=Cannon?].

1774 (QR) James Shipton (probably the son of James Shipton above?) for the brewhouse, q.r. 8d. Widow Westall the Upper house and malthouse, also Culver Acre. From Widow Westall these had passed before 1795 to Thomas Watson; before 1805 Culver Acre had been taken over by the Canal Company, who remained the proprietors of it at the time of the 1836 quit rent roll.

1781 (CL) Edward Pocock & James Shipton.

1792 (UD) Shipton, gent.

1795-04 (QR) James Shipton – brewhouse. Q.r. 8d.

1805-17 (QR) George Smith (amended to Matthew Loder Smith) for a brewhouse late James Shipton (?John Harris added), q.r. 8d.

1818-23 (QR) John Harris for brewhouse, late James Shipton, q.r. 8d.

1819 (EA) G. Ryley

1832 (QR) John Brown for brewhouse late James Shipton's, q.r. 8d.
1836 (QR) John Brown for brewhouse late James Shipton's, q.r. 8d.

1840 (Betty Munford) Charles Low, plumber at 129 High Street
1841 (CS) Charles Low (25) - plumber
1843 (CL) Charles Low
1844 (PD) Charles Low

1847 (CL) John Platt, owner; ....... Brooks, occupant

29.11.1849 (DD) .. between Edward Livewright 1st part, John Platt 2nd part, and Frances Church 3rd part.

30.11.1849 (DD) Mortgage between John Platt and Catherine Sarah Livewright.
29.5.1852 (DD) Mortgage between John Platt and Catherine Sarah Livewright.

1851 (CS) Sarah Balding (36), teacher
1861 (CS) Sarah Balding (44), Schoolmistress

1861 (Betty Munford) Property bought by John Platt (but see entry for 1847 CL above. It seems clear that John Platt bought it in 1847, not 1861)
1861 (CL) John Platt, owner; Miss Balding, occupant

1860's (Betty Munford) Thomas Fruen, carpenter, glass & china shop; no Fruen in 1864 Billings  Directory, but in Post Office Directory of 1869 in High Street. Thomas Fruen & later Fruen  & Son, glass & china Shop and Undertakers at 129 High Street until 1919 when premises bought by Miss Elizabeth Davies, mother to be of the present owner Miss Betty Munford.

1864 (BD) No Fruen.

1869 (PO) Miss Sarah Elizabeth Balding, Ladies Boarding School, High Street (?where in High Street)

1869 (PO) Thomas Fruen - carpenter, china & glass dealer.

1871 (CS) Unoccupied, "formerly Boarding School"

1872 (PM) Advert for Misses Bailey Market Place School "at their new residence" ??Did this school replace school at 129 High Street??

5.5.1873 (DD) Reconveyance between Wm Watkins and Edward Wynne 1st part, Joseph Maynard 2nd part, Geo Vivian Livewright 3rd part, Clifford Evans Fowler and William Law 4th part, and John Plattt 5th part.

1881 (CS) Thomas Fruen (67) - china shop. Parish Clerk.

1890 (DD) John Platt died. 129HS left to 2 sons-in-law and nephew.

1891 (CS) Thomas Fruen.

2.11.1891 (DD) Sold (by Mr Wm Skinner, F.W. Drake and Ernest Church - ??executors of Mr Platt?) to Miss Martha Ann Platt for #700. Thos Fruen occ.

2.11.1891 (DD) John Platt: Will made 6.6.1888; died 16.10.1890. Property left to sons in law – William Skinner, maltster, of Greenham, Newbury, and Frederick William Drake, coal and corn merchant of Bracknell, and his nephew Ernest Church, grocer, of Newbury. Sold to Ann Martha Platt for £700. Mentions "for many years in the occupation of Thomas Fruen". Lists previous conveyances.

31.8.1893 (DD) 21 year lease (from March 1893) from Miss Martha A. Platt to Mr Thomas Fruen, confectioner, for yearly rent of £40.

1896 (CL) Martha Ann Platt (owner), Mrs Fruen and son (occ)

[John Platt & Son, The Manor Brewery, was taken over by South Berks Brewery Co. Ltd. of Newbury c1900 (Atlas Brewery Co – Hawkins & Parfitt – name changed  to S. Berks Brewery Co in April 1913). S. Berks was taken over by H & G Simonds  of 32 Bridge Street Reading Oct 1920. Simonds was taken over by Courage Barclay & Co of London in 1960. [Info in T/S booklet by Alan Gull, 22 Stonefield Drive, Stoneclough, Radcliffe, M/C M26 9HA]. Manor Brewery was owned by John Platt 1847-1882, and by John Platt junior 1883 until acc. To Berkshire Breweries of the 19th century [Kennett R. Goodby 1975 – copy in pamphlets collection at BRO].]

1903 (KD) Fruen & Son - china & glass dealers.

1914 (CL) Exec's of Martha Ann Platt (owner), Thomas George Fruen (occup) - china & glass, undertaker.

10.6.1919 (DD) Sold (by Henry Charles Skinner of Reading, gent, Cecil Edward Drake of Canada, gent,) to Elizabeth Munford, wife of Ernest Munford of Bridge Street, printer, for £450. Martha Ann Platt's (of Reading) will dated 31.5.1910 [died 27.7.1910] appointed the vendors as executors and trustees and left  etstae to them after certain expenses. Mentions "many years past in the occupation of Thos. Geo. Fruen, bounded on the north partly by property of Theodosia Cundell and in the occupation of Mary Froome and partly by the property of Hy d'Oyley Wolvey Astley. On the south by property of H D'O W Astley in occupation of Walter Dickson. On the east by garden ground belonging to H D'O W Astley. On the west by High Street."

11.6.1919 (DD) Mortgage Mrs. Elizabeth Munford to H. D'O W. Astley.

1919 (Betty Munford) Elizabeth Munford (nee Davis) (owner), bought 129 from Platt executors. Her husband (Ernest) was occupier of shop. Daughter Betty born at the house in 1921. Ernest (b.1882 in Norfolk), apprenticed in London. Started business in 2 Bridge Street and moved to 129HS in ?1919. He remarried (aged 73yrs) Mrs. Robinson, and moved to Wootton Bassett. He died in 1975, aged 93yrs.
- Elizabeth Davis (b. 1882 in Glos.) attended Reading University. In 1912 she was head at the infant school. Married ?during WW II, died ?1957 aged 72. As owner of 129, she left it in her will to her daughter Betty.

1920 (KD) Ernest William Munford - Hungerford Printing Works.

c.1932 (QR #12) Mrs (Jean) Tubb, for "House formerly Brewery of Shipton afterwards Harris' then Browns then J. Platt", q.r. 8d. .(However, Betty Munford says Mrs. Jean Tubb was in 130 HS, NOT 129 HS).

1939 (Blacket's) Hungerford Printing Works (E.W. Munford, residence)

1947 (CL) E.W. Munford - H.P.W.
1952 (CL) E.W. Munford - H.P.W.
1956 (CL) Miss Miss Betty Munford - E.W. Moon - Printing Works.
1963 (CL) Betty Munford
1968 (CL) Betty Munford
1970 (CL) Betty Munford
1976 (CL) Betty Munford

1978 Hungerford Printing Works closed (End of Lease Sale 5-9 December 1978 announced
          in NWN 30 November 1978).
          Business moved to Fineline Printing Ltd, 59a High Street

1978 Miss Betty Munford. Ashley Antiques / Duff & de la Warr.

1981 Miss Betty Munford. Health Foods - Mrs. Janet Graham.
1983 (CL) Betty Munford
1984 (CL) Betty Munford
1985 (CL) Betty Munford

1988 Ashley Antiques (Robert Duff) "Furniture, clocks, pictures, weapons, metalware. Valuations and furniture restoration undertaken plus furniture makers in antique pine, oak, mahogany, fruitwood and maple. Stocked or made to customer requirements".

In 1993 (S) Marquis Travel Agents
- (N) Empty (Ashley Duffell antique repairs closed 1992)

?1994 (S) Walton's Clothing [same 2006]

May 1995 (N) Jennifer and Sasha, Italian Gifts [closed Jan 2007]

2000 (CL) Betty Munford
2005 (CL) Betty Munford

2007 (N) Prospect Charity Shop
- (S) Blue Bee Florists (Opened 27.10.2007) Walton's Clothing moved (as "Mistral") to 1 HS. Carrie Anderson lives in Reading. Blue Bee is her favourite species of Delphinium!

2009  Betty Munford died June 2009.

2010 Brenda Hollandt (inherited from Betty Munford)

Jul 2010 (S) Blue Bee Florists closed - moved to 18 High Street, opened 2nd Aug 2010.
2011 (CL) Steven Shunafore Ali

Nov 2011 (S) Hungerford Jewellers opened 7.11.2011.

Notes made by Betty Munford, March 1985

The house is situated at the North end of the High Street on the East side, near Canal Bridge and is on a typical burgage plot. Outside appearances often belie the true facts and this is certainly true of this property. We tend to think that alterations and modernisations are a particular feature of modern times, but owners in bye gone days were also enthusiastic modernisers of their properties.

The work carried out in Hungerford High Street in the 19th century in the Georgian style illustrates this fact. The alterations carried out in Newbury and Reading show that the original fronts were removed and new ones put on, and there are now problems with the two coming apart.

This modernisation is particularly evident in this house as the original roof timbers of the 16th century are still there although the front of the house has been extended and the front roof pitch altered. The alterations were carried out in this way either for social or financial reasons - it would have been easier and cheaper to give this superficial "face lift".

The original building was 'L'-shaped, timber framed, presumably two storeys high and there is one extension in the angle of the 'L', built in the 19th century at the same time as the refacing and general refurbishing took place in the then modern fashion, and to bring the house into line with the buildings erected at that time on either side. Because of this no timber framing is visible on the outside of the building. There has to be a certain amount of conjecture as to these facts but there is a good deal of evidence to prove them, particularly in the roof. And the way that the building has moved - the papered walls have pulled as timber framing flexes and moves.  It is a common right house, having fishing and grazing rights.

Looking at the house from the High Street we see what appears to be a nineteenth century house with rendering and pebble dash, which is now -painted. It seems to be a three storey building with a shop and business-premises on the ground floor and living accommodation above with sash windows. The visible roof is shallow pitched and slated. Two double brick chimneys are visible.

Entering the house through the front door there is a passage through to the back of the house which has flagstones and two archways. This passage may originally have been wider as parallel to it, and now under the present stairs, appears to be the remaining section of an old brick path.

The ground floor is now used for business. There were originally two living rooms to the left of the front door, now added to with a one storey flat roofed extension some fifty years old. There were no foundations as understood today - the floor joists being on the soil.  To the right of the front door is the original shop with an attractive pine fitting towards the back of it and twentieth century shop front. Behind the shop is a large room originally used as the kitchen when there was living accommodation on the ground floor. This has a flagstone floor with a large open fireplace and evidence of a bread oven.

There is a large 'L'-shaped walled garden - one wall being an interesting mixture of brick and flint. There was a large pigeon loft of wood with a slate roof and standing on staddlestones. Also, until demolished, a range of single storey outbuildings joined the back of the house on the South side of the garden. One of the buildings had a cellar and another a tall chimney, indicating the possibility of living accommodation, as was common behind properties in the High Street, and the tall chimney could have been connected with, the fact that in the mid—1700's the premises had been a brewery.

There is no back way to the premises although it is believed there was originally a right of way giving access. There is evidence of the existence of wells.

The front elevation of lath and plaster applied to the old timber frame with the sash windows, wooden door case are typical of around 1830, giving no hint of the buildings real age.

Roof and Plan

As the roof contains much of the evidence relating to the age of the building we will consider it next.

The roof is of three frames, being a two bay building in front and 2½ bays at the back, the original building probably being longer than it is now. The original house was of box frame construction with a Queen Post roof.

When the front of the house was altered in the early nineteenth century it was given the appearance of three storeys to fit in with its neighbours, built at that time, but it is only two storeys - the top windows only lighting the roof space. Fortunately when the new roof was made the old original timbers were left inside, some of them being very large, with chamferring. The new roof is of slate with a shallower pitch to arrive at the same height as the old. tiled roof.

Remains of lathes in the front part of the roof indicate that at one time the roof was ceiled and plastered to form attic rooms and there is evidence on some timbers of a window catch which might well have belonged to a dormer window. Much of the tiled roof has padding of a hay-like substance which acts as insulation and prevents driving snow and rain entering the roof space.

Floors

The stairway to the first floor leads off to the right at the end of the passageway. Although the present stairs of pine are probably only about 100 years old, the bannister rail and hand-turned oak ballustrade are thought to be of the same age as the building.

The front rooms, both on the ground floor and first floors, were heightened when the nineteenth century alterations were carried out and a sloping ceiling runs the width of the house at the East side of the upper rooms.

Also the floors in these rooms are double - a newer pine floor having been laid on top of the older oak ones.  The Regency doors are of nine, some having recently been stripped and others remaining painted. The fireplace in one front room has been opened and has a slate mantlepiece and surround and the door has an attractive brass lock.

There is evidence in the roof of the position of the original chimney for the front of the house, there being a large gap of some feet in the rafters. This gap goes from the top to bottom of the house and it appears that the bricks were used in the construction of the present front room chimney, which is much smaller.

The other room at the front and the added back room both have a small iron grate, typical of their period.

The walls in these rooms, along with others, are canvas hung, making any fixings extremely difficult.

The large landing gives access to the rear of the house which has both the most interesting original part of the building and, in contrast, part of the 19th century additions.  Here is the room mentioned in the 19th century alteration as being in the angle of the 'L'-shape and this has a typical decorative iron grate. The living room has an original open fireplace with the ancient brick sides and shaped wooden lintel. There are also exposed timbers visible.

This fireplace is above the one on the ground floor mentioned -previously and shares the double chimney. Leading from the room is a small room which is at the end of the house. This has exposed timbers mid it is thought that possibly the house may have originally extended beyond here.

Occupants

I have not said much about the various occupants of the house, there being a separate list detailing these. The first known occupant was James Shipton in 1753 who had a brewery. In 1861 the property was owned by John Platt who had a number of properties in the town and it remained in the Platt family until 1919 when it was sold, and has remained in my family ever since. As some of the old records are not always entirely accurate and also the fact that the houses have only been numbered in recent years, this is perhaps one of the most difficult areas to research.

See also:
- Sarah Balding's School, 129 High Street
- Working Drawings of 129 High Street, June 1993

Updated: 7.11.2011

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