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You are in [Places] [High Street Properties] [131-132 High Street] |
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Also known as 131 and 131a High Street. |
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 "P3030949w")
 "high_st_lwr_29w")
 "132HS Brooks 1984aw")
 "132HS Brooks 1984bw")
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As the quit rent was given in the surveys from 1573 onwards as 4d, whereas the site earlier had carried a quit rent of 8d, it seems clear that the original property may have been rebuilt or otherwise divided into two tenements by 1552. 1609 (NH) In 1609 a town survey shows the property now owned by Thomas Sutton, his mother presumably having died, the other details of the tenement remaining unchanged. 1613 (NH) Thomas Sutton died in 1613 and after this the Sutton family seems to have disappeared from Hungerford. 1613-76 (NH) The lack of any town rent rolls between 1610 and 1676, combined with the interruptions during the Civil War period in other records, make it unclear what happened to this property after the death of Thomas Sutton in 1613. One possibility is that the property may be identified as (or part of) the land and premises owned by Thomas Carpenter, dyer. Carpenter died in February 1625/6. Although a copy of his will seems to have been lost, an inventory was taken of his goods (Wilts R.O, Dean of Sarum) and administration was granted to his widow Alice "during the minority of Seth Scott, the nominated executor". 1642 (NH) Sixteen years later, in 1642, the Hocktide Court Book records (in Latin) that "to this court came Seth Scott
and claimed as son and heir one messuage with meadow and purtenances in Hungerford, lately in the tenure of Richard Treherne, devised to him by Thomas Carpenter, and showed the will in the handwriting of
Thomas Carpenter dated 29 July 1625 (1 Chas I), and (Scott) paid his relief" i.e. his admission fee on acceptance. 1672 (NH) Abiam Tubb I, cutler, acquired property, passed on to John Tubb. The latter's son, Abiam II (b.1702), mealman/flour merchant, aquired 132/1HS as well as other properties in
Hungerford (inc Charnham St.) 1676 (NH) In the town quit rent roll of 1676 Abiam Tubb is listed as liable for a quit rent of 4d for a house in a position in the list which corresponds to that held by Sutton in 1619 (probably 132/131 HS). 1680 (NH) In the 1680 Hocktide Court list of freeholders there is no entry for Abiam Tubb, only for "(--) Tubb widow". (NH) Another list of commoners in 1680 includes the name John Tubb. 1690 (NH) In 1690 the name Abiam Tubb appears again as freesuitor, and in 1700 John Tubb. At some time early amid the jumble of entries, Abiam Tubb I died, but no record of his death or burial occurs in the parish register. This first Abiam Tubb and his widow were succeeded by John Tubb; of whose relationship to Abiam Tubb I we are not sure. In the Constable's Accounts he too is described as "cutler", and from at least 1700 (I have not inspected the Accounts earlier than this date) until at least 1736 he is the officially appointed Keeper of the town clock, for which he received a small honorarium. This post was no sinecure; it involved cleaning and repairing, and general maintenance. We do not know the date of John Tubb's birth, but by 1730 he is described in the accounts as "old Tubb". What was the relationship of John to Abiam I? An older son who was born and baptised in another parish? A younger brother? We do not know. Why did the property descend to John and not to "Biam"? What happened to Biam? We do not know this either. The non-appearance of some of the Tubb family in records where we might expect to find them creates an image of the family at this date as close bound, somewhat secretive, perhaps separated from the main stream of other burgesses by religion, or politics, or self-interest. Whatever the explanation, John Tubb appears in all the Court rolls between 1682 and 1737 as holder of the original 'Tubb' property. 1724-48 Abiam (single), John (single), William (married) Tubb, master cutlers. 1738 (NH) In 1738 John's son William Tubb, paid his "relief" at the Hocktide Court to be entered as freesuitor in place of his father John. The parish register has no burial registered for him, at that date, but records a John Tubb buried 1746/7. 1738/9 (NH) William Tubb senior died in 1738/9 and disappears from the list of freesuitors to be replaced by his son. Abiam Tubb III. 1743 (DD) John & Abiam Tubb mortgaged to Moses Burch (ironmonger). 1753-61 (QR) Abiam Tubb for his house, q.r. 4d. (NH) In 1753 he appears in the Quit rent Roll for that year and continues on the Roll until his death. He appears in the Berkshire Poll Book
in 1768, qualifying for a role as a freeholder with a messuage and land, self occupied. 1768 In 1768 Abiam Tubb III appears on the Berkshire Poll Book as freeholder with messuage and land, occupied by himself. c.1770 (*2) New west frontage added c.1770. Oldest part of house is north side by canal where lead mullioned windows, flint and brick wall. As well as house, there was a dairy, malthouse (of Bath stone, brought by canal) and part of north boundary wall along the towpath. Also coach house and stables 1774-90 (QR) Abiam Tubb [amended to] John Pearce, for house, q.r. 4d. 1777 (NH) Abiam Tubb III died in 1777, and in his will (dated 1777) he bequeathed the house where he lived (i.e. 132/131 HS) to his nephew John Tubb, the son of Abiam Tubb III's
brother William. He was also left another house in Hungerford in which William Alexander lived, and 3 acres and forty poles of land lying by Hagges paths. 1781 (CL) John Tubb. (NH) John Tubb appears in the Commoner's List for that year in a position equivalent to the site of this house. 1784 (NH) John Tubb mortgaged 132/1HS to John Pierce (?Pearce). 1785 (NH) John Tubb's name, however, appears on the 1785 QRR. ?year John Tubb dies without issue and the property passed by reversionary right to Thomas Tubb. 1792 (UD) Pearce, gent. 1795-04 (QR) John Pearce for his house late Abiam Tubb's, q.r. 4d. (NH) When the next QRR is drawn up in 1795, however, John Pearce's name appears against the property "late Abiam Tubb's". All quit rents have remained at 4d. 1798 Kennet & Avon Canal cut
through: From 1796 CL, the houses pulled down were those of G.Dubber, Mrs. Lewington, Mrs. Patty Lewington, William Marchant, .. Spearman, and H. Head. Rights sold by Canal Co. to John Willes, Esq. 1799-1840 Addition to porch of Regency wrought iron tracery, and bridge, after canal open in Hfd. 1805-17 (QR) John Pearce (amended to George Ryley) for his house late Abiam Tubb's, q.r. 4d. 1810 Kennet & Avon Canal fully open. Bath stone used to dress malthouse, and to make wall along northern boundary. Slate bought for 19th century roof extensions. 1812 (DD) John Pearce sold to George Ryley (solicitor, according to Humphrey Hope). 1812 (*2) Addition of bay windows to north and south fronts. 1815 Dated brick on left of front door with 1815 scratched on it 1818-23 (QR) George Ryley for his house late Abiam Tubb's, q.r. 4d. 1826 (DD) George Riley sold to John Matthews (solicitor) 1832 (QR) George Ryley and John Matthews for house late Abiam Tubbs, q.r. 4d. 1836 (QR) John Matthews for house late George Ryley's, q.r. 4d. 1841 (CS) Thomas Hulbert (25) -attorney. 1844 (PD) Matthew & Hulbert - attorney's, High Street. 1847 (CL) Assignees in bankruptcy of John Matthews (owned) - H.E. Astley (occ) [Double Commoners Rights] 1847 (PO) Henry Edward Astley, solicitor. 1863 (Humphrey Hope) Henry Edward Astley, aged 46, married a widow Mrs Benjamin Keen (who already had two daughters of her own), of Faringdon House, 128 HS. Henry and his new wife had only one child, Henry. d'Oyley Astley. b.1865. [One of Mrs Keen's daughters married John Cottrell, brother of George Cottrell of the ironworks in Eddington. He alledgedly became alcoholic, was ruined financially, and was drowned in Sydney Harbour. The other daughter married a very large brewer in Essex] 1864 (DD) John Matthews sold to H.E.A. 1891 (CS) Henry d'Oyley Wolvey Astley - solicitor. "Bridge Villa". 1939 (KD) -do- "The Bridge" 1940 (*2) H.d'O.W.A. died in August (Aged 75yrs). Charles Lucas & Marshall continued the practice, later moving to 28 High Street, which was previously Adnams corn & seeds. (Adnams related to Hopes: HdOWA m. Catherine Richens. Her sister Susan Jane m. John Adnams. HdOWA's son was Edward Dugdale Astley, b.1897, ed. at Charterhouse, entered for Oriel College Oxford to read law, but WWI interupted studies - joined 1st Royal Berks Regiment, became Captain, killed in France June 1918, aged 21yrs. HdOWA's daughter, Barbara Astley, married W.K.T. Hope, born and brought up in Wellingborough (father a dental surgeon, died 1910 in his 50's, his 2 sons not yet qualified to take over, studied at Middlesex Hospital. During WWI served RAMC cheifly in Egypt and Palestine. His younger brother was killed in RF Corps. 1919 his uncle, a dental surgeon in Wimpole St., recommended him to a practice in Newbury - WHT Hope bought a share of the practice in St. Johns Rd Newbury from Dr. Rooke, who practiced there for a few years before WWI. His children are Dr. Humphrey Hope, and Lady (Cordelia) Troup.) 1940-53 House requisitioned for workers of Vickers Armstrong, arms factory at Southampton. 1947 (CL) 131: Void 1953 Vice Admiral Sir Anthony & Lady Troup. 1984 (CL) 131/2: Humphrey Dugdale Astley Hope 1985 (CL) 131/2: Humphrey Dugdale Astley Hope 2000 (CL) Humphrey Dugdale Astley Hope *1 = Mrs Jean Tubb Notes by HHA Buildings Group, 19.2.1984: This medium sized detached two and a half storey town house is situated in the heart of Hungerford adjacent to the Kennet & Avon Canal. The main house is built of red-brick in Flemish bond with a plain tile gabled roof. It dates from circa 1770, although older buildings including a dairy and malthouse lie behind it to the east. The cutting of the Kennet and Avon Canal in 1799 had a great influence on this property. Land on the north side of the property was purchased from the owners in order to allow the canal into the centre of the town. The attractive bay windows on the north and south frontages of the main house were added by George Riley, who owned the house between 1812 and 1826. The ornate wrought iron bridge carrying pedestrian access to the first floor was added a little later. At the same time the old line of the High Street, which had passed close to the front of the house was diverted up over the new canal bridge. The West front elevation features Georgian vertical sliding sash windows either side of a central wooden moulded portico with a rectangular fanlight above. The windows have gauged brick arches. The eaves are brick. There is a rough inscription "1815" on a brick to the left of the front door (relevance unclear!). The chimneys are of brick, and include ridge and near ridge positions. To the south lies a block formerly a pair of small cottages and stables, now converted to kitchen area and garage. The old pit for mending axels can be seen. Over the garage is an arched Neo-Gothic window added in 1974 replacing a hay loft door. The original archway is clearly visible from both the garden and High Street sides. To the north, adjacent to the canal, is the oldest part of the house, which incorporates part flint walling , a mullioned window with horizontal ?sliding leaded lights. There is a filled timber window frame visible from the tow-path. The interior of this block reveals an exposed timber with chamfered stops. The adjacent dairy lies between here and the malthouse. The malthouse is probably older, and is dressed in Bath stone. On the first storey, in the east wing, is an attractive bay window which was added in 1911. On the east front of the main house is a fine Regency marginal window. Other features seen from this east side are tile hanging, slate tiling, a hipped roof, and boarded eaves. The staircase of the original house has been blocked, to allow the conversion of the house into two dwellings. It was a straight run on the right hand side of the main hall, rising to the first floor in a long straight flight with a bannister on the left. Two subsidiary flights of three steps each led to front and back rooms. Dr. Hope comments that the old WC was like a throne on a platform — an enormous mahogany bench with a handle you pulled up, was fed from an open tank on the roof. Old Willis the builder used to say it was the first WC put into a house in Hungerford, and when the handle was pulled, down came leaves and all! The powder-alcoves in the front rooms, no doubt, housed the commodes before the WC was built. All doors are panelled, either four or six panels with moulded architraves. Other interior features include ornate cornices and panelling in the ground floor reception room to the left of the front door. There were two wells. From Norman Hidden's papers: 132 (or131a) High Street -The Bridge & Bridge Gardens [2 Commoners Rights 1847] It is possible that the site of this house corresponds to that in the Hungerford rental of c.1470 which is attributed to John Tuckyll at a quit rent of 8d; and to John Harrold as two tenements in 1552. In January 1584/5 John Sutton, husbandman, bequeathed in his will (D/S August 1585) to the use of his wife Agnes during her life and after her death to his youngest son Thomas, his "house, tenement and garden, backside and close" with all rights of common "which I did lately purchase of Robert Maye, cooper, and of one Thomas Withers shoemaker," The town survey of 1573 shows no Sutton, but a Christopher Withers who holds one messuage, garden and backside in freehold, quit rent 4d, which has been let to John James. John James weaver died in 1582. The position of this house in the survey of 1573 corresponds exactly with that in 1591 of the freehold owned by Agnes Sutton, the widow of John Sutton (who died 1585) and his son Thomas. It is described as one toft and tenement on the East side of the High Street, The word 'toft' is used to describe a plot of land on which a building stood or had formerly stood, with rights of common attached to it. As the quit rent was given in the surveys from 1573 onwards as 4d, whereas the site earlier had carried a quit rent of 8d, it seems clear that the original property may have been rebuilt or otherwise divided into two tenements by 1552. In 1609 a town survey shows the property now owned by Thomas Sutton, his mother presumably having died, the other details of the tenement remaining unchanged. Thomas Sutton died in 1613 and after this the Sutton family seems to have disappeared from Hungerford. The lack of any town rent rolls between 1610 and 1676, combined with the interruptions during the Civil War period in other records, make it unclear what happened to this property after the death of Thomas Sutton in 1613. One possibility is that the property may be identified as (or part of) the land and premises owned by Thomas Carpenter, dyer, Carpenter died in February 1625/6. Although a copy of his will seems to have been lost, an inventory was taken of his goods (Wilts R.O, Dean of Sarum) and administration was granted to his widow Alice "during the minority of Seth Scott, the nominated executor". Sixteen years later, in 1642, the Hocktide Court Book records (in Latin) that "to this court came Seth Scott and claimed as son and heir one messuage with meadow and purtenances in Hungerford, lately in the tenure of Richard Treherne, devised to him by Thomas Carpenter, and showed the will in the handwriting of Thomas Carpenter dated 29 July 1625 (1 Chas I), and (Scott) paid his relief" i.e. his admission fee on acceptance. (It is possible that the property had been held by John Goldsmith who died in 1641 and that Seth Scott's claim was consequent upon his being Goldsmith's 'son and heir',) Little is known concerning Seth Scott, although he remains freeholder of the property in Hocktide court records from 1643 to 1672, when his property "one messuage and five tenements (land holdings?) was transferred to Abiam Tubb. The parish register has no record of his birth or his marriage. The first reference to Abiam Tubb in local records appears in January 1661/2 when he stood surety in a bond for widow Ann Garney alias Cooke, in which he is described as "cutler". The name Abiam is not, as might at first sight be thought, a poorly scripted form of Abraham. As we shall see, this unusual name appears later within the Tubb family and its continued use (Abiam Tubb II born 1664 and Abiam Tubb 111 born 1702) indicates the respect in which successive generations held their predecessor, Abiam Tubb I. In 1664 a son "Biam" -- obviously an abbreviated form of Abiam -- was born, "the son of Biam" (- Abiam I) and in 1667/8 "Will", another son of "Biam", Although the family of Tubb existed in many neighbouring parishes, it first appeared in Hungerford about this date, and was to remain prominent in Hungerford for the next three hundred years and more, Unfortunately, we know little about Abiam I, neither the date of his birth nor that of his marriage. In the town quit rent roll of 1676 Abiam Tubb is listed as liable for a quit rent of 4d for a house in a position in the list which corresponds to that held by Sutton in 1619. In the 1680 Hocktide Court list of freeholders there is no entry for Abiam Tubb, only for "(--) Tubb widow". Another list of commoners in 1680 includes the name Jn. Tubb. In 1690 the name Abiam Tubb appears again as freesuitor, in 1700 John Tubb. At some time early amid the jumble of entries, Abiam Tubb I died, but no record of his death or burial occurs in the parish register. This first Abiam Tubb and his widow were succeeded by John Tubb; of whose relationship to Abiam Tubb I we are not sure. In the Constable's Accounts he too is described as "cutler", and from at least 1700 (I have not inspected the Accounts earlier than this date) until at least 1736 he is the officially appointed Keeper of the town clock, for which he received a small honorarium. This post was no sinecure; it involved cleaning and repairing, and general maintenance. We do not know the date of John Tubb's birth, but by 1730 he is described in the accounts as "old Tubb". What was the relationship of John to Abiam I? An older son who was born and baptised in another parish? A younger brother? We do not know. Why did the property descend to John and not to "Biam"? What happened to Biam? We do not know this either. The non-appearance of some of the Tubb family in records where we might expect to find them creates an image of the family at this date as close bound, somewhat secretive, perhaps separated from the main stream of other burgesses by religion, or politics, or self-interest. Whatever the explanation, John Tubb appears in all the Court rolls between 1682 and 1737 as holder of the original 'Tubb' property. In 1738 John's son William Tubb, paid his "relief" at the Hocktide Court to be entered as freesuitor in place of his father John. The parish register has no burial registered for him, at that date, but records a John Tubb buried 1746/7. William Tubb senior died in 1738/9 and disappears from the list of freesuitors to be replaced by Abiam Tubb III, William's son. Also, from NH Notes: Little is known of the early life of Abiam Tubb III. The earliest references are found in the Constable's Accounts for 1735/6 and 1736/7 when his name is entered for "work done in Mill Mead". Accounts post 1736 have not been searched. In 1753 he appears in the Quit rent Roll for that year and continues on the Roll until his death. He appears in the Berkshire Poll Book in 1768, qualifying for a role as a freeholder with a messuage and land, self occupied. Also in 1753 he is recorded as a tenant of the manor of Hopgrass, presumably arising from this ownership pf property in Charnham Street. He was overseer of the will of ?..? for Hobbs in 1764, witness to that of the ill-fated Wm. Cheyney in 1754, and that of Robert Rosier in 1763. In 1763 he was defendant in a court case involving Hungerford mill; he is descruibed as a "mealman". Also from NH Notes: The nephew who was bequeathed the house in which Abiam Tubb lived at 131/2 High Street, was named John, the son of Abiam's brother William. He was also left another house in Hungerford in which William Alexander lived, and 3 acres and forty poles of land lying by Hagges paths. "I give and bequeath to my Kinsman John Tubb, the son of my brother William Tubb and Sarah Tubb, all that tenement I live in with the appurtanences thereto belonging with 4 cow commons on the Port Down, and likewise the tenement that William Alexander lives in I give it and the appurtenances thereto belonging to give it to my Kinsman John Tubb & to his lawful living issue lawfully begotten" [ with a reversionary right to Thomas Tubb]. This Will was dated 1777. John Tubb dies without issue and the property passed by reversionary right to Thomas Tubb. On his deathbed Thomas entrusted John Fox to take care of his widow Mary (nee Kent) in respect of her dower arising from the rents of his property (I do not know whence I obtained this information, alas!). In 1768 Abiam Tubb appears on the Berkshire Poll Book as freeholder with messuage and land, occupied by himself. In 1753 he appears in the Quit Rent Roll for that year and also in the QRR for 1774. He died in 1777 and the property seems to have passed to John Tubb, who in 1781 appears in the Commoner's List for that year in a position equivalent to the site of this house. JohnTubb is said to have mortgaged the property to John Pierce in 1784. Tubb's name, however, appears on the 1785 QRR. When the next QRR is drawn up in 1795, however, John Pearce's name appears against the property "late Abiam Tubb's". All quit rents have remained at 4d. As a corn meal merchant, Tubb tried to break the Town mill monopoly. Updated: 28.3.2010 |