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This page includes a sample of the many aerial views of Hungerford. Many more appear in other relevant parts of the Virtual Museum.

Photo Gallery:

aerial-001
aerial-001

Market Place looking west along Church Street. Note James Great Western Mill, destroyed by fire in June 1960

aerial-003
aerial-003

Looking north over Hungerford, c1938.
Note the cinema recently built (1934). Atherton Crescent was built in 1921.

aerial-007
aerial-007

Looking north west over the Croft and St Lawrence's Church, c1972. Note Tumblings recently built, the Churchyard mostly cleared of headstones, but the cottages near the surgery still present. [Unknown. "A/172589"]

Aerial-002
Aerial-002
Aerial-004
Aerial-004

Looking north over High Street, c1955. Note the pre-1960 railway bridge.

Aerial-005
Aerial-005

Looking north-west over High Street and Church Street, c1928, before James Mill was built in Church Street (1930)

Aerial-006
Aerial-006

Looking north east over the canal wharf and Bridge Street, c1955.

Aerial-008
Aerial-008

Looking east over The Croft, c1928.
Note the houses built near the Hungerford Club sports area, and the different layout of the greens.

Aerial-009 1948
Aerial-009 1948

Looking north over the west side of Hungerford, 1948.
Note that Dog Lane (Church Way) is built (1935), Moore's Place, the cinema and Honeyfields.

Aerial-010 c1980
Aerial-010 c1980

Looking south up the High Street, c1980. Note the new buildings adjacent to the Town Hall, and the car park in Church Street.

Aerial-011 9 Aug 2007
Aerial-011 9 Aug 2007

Looking north over Canal Walk and Bridge Street, 9 Aug 2007.

19830900 Aerial view of Hungerford from north
19830900 Aerial view of Hungerford from north
19710000ca Hungerford
19710000ca Hungerford

Aerial view of the town from the south-west, c.1971 (with thanks to Marguerite Pyatt).

19800000ca Lower High Street
19800000ca Lower High Street

Lower High Street, c.1980 (with thanks to Sarah Wright).

19800000ca Station and Oakes
19800000ca Station and Oakes

The station and Oakes Bros, c.1980.

- Aerial view of Hungerford from the south-west, c.1971 (with thanks to Marguerite Pyatt).

- Lower High Street, c.1980 (with thanks to Sarah Wright).

- The station and Oakes Bros, c.1980.

- Aerial view of Hungerford from the north, September 1983.


The aerial photograph looking north-east over the town (Aerial-002) is thought to have been taken in 1938. Peter Wyatt added some comments in the NWN 20 Oct 1994: "

The new entrance to priory Road was being constructed, and Sarum Way developed on land previously known as "Fruen's Meadow". Mr Fruen lived in the "Little House" opposite. This field was let out for circuses and fairs in pre-war days.

The construction of this development was recalled by 'Wally' Dennis, who was a member of the road construction gang.

The whole of the roadway was dug out by hand, using only picks and shovels, by 24 men in several gangs, the soil being removed by three lorries, two of which were provided by Ted Geary of Shefford, and one by Harry Giles of Hungerford.

The concrete was laid by Jack Scarlett's gang, and the whole job was supervised by Harry Sharp, the council surveyor.

After the tarmac was laid and rolled in by a five ton diesel roller, the road was completed and opened in the space of only five weeks.

Sarum Way was developed by JT Gibbs & Co, for use by GWR employess. Mr Gibbs himself had the large bungalow on the end of the cul-de-sac, and the next, smaller one, was occupied by Mr Charles Redman, the stationmaster.

I think the photo was taken on a Monday morning, judging by the amount of washing hanging out in the gardens of many houses.

The shadows from the trees suggests an early morning, and the milk train can be seen leaving the station.

The south side of Tarrant's Hill, and the site of the Roman Catholic Church, were all allotments, only one building being seen on Tarrant's Hill.

The fiels next to, and opposite the schoolm were owned by Fred Barnard and let out for circuses and fairs during the 1940s and 1950s.

Most of the ground between The Breach and Bulpit Lane was occupied by Dods Nurseries, and the Priory House and estate were occupied by Mr Palethorpe (who may have been connected with the sausage firm?).

No more development took place until after the war, when Honeyfields was the first estate to be developed.

See also:

- Aerofilms catalogue of Hungerford views, 1924-1971.