You are in [Artefacts] [Stewart Hofgartner's Collections]


Stewart Hofgartner moved to Hungerford in 1983 and opened "Below Stairs of Hungerford" Antiques at 103 High Street.

He has a great interest in the history of Hungerford and is a Trustee of the Town and Manor of Hungerford. As an antiques dealer, he has been in an ideal position to collect heritage artefacts of Hungerford and over the years has acquired an extensive and varied collection.

He has been kind enough to share much of his large collection with the Virtual Museum. Most of these photos were taken in 2009.

Stewart HofgartnerStewart Hofgartner at Below Stairs

Follow these links for the various sections of his collection:

- Billheads and Adverts (14 items)

- Crested china and other crested ware (over 100 items)

- Glass bottles (over 12 items)

- Medical and Pharmaceutical (over 10 items)

- Other Trade Items (over 45 items)

- Other Non-trade Items (over 30 items)

- Photo Gallery

- Stoneware flagons (over 25 items)

Documents and pdf copies (in date order):

- Deeds of 23 and 24 High Street, from 1761.

- Textbook of maths and construction "Compendious Measurer", 1790, owned by Josiah Wooldridge.

- John of Gaunt halfpenny token - sale details.

- John Ward's "Mathematicks" textbook, owned by Josiah Wooldridge in 1792.

- John Bonnycastle's "Intruduction to Algebra", 1793, owned by Josiah Wooldridge of Gt Bedwyn, 1794.

- Robert Snook - the last of our highwayment, 1801.

- Inclosure Act for Hungerford, pre Royal Assent, May 1811.

- Earle's Stores Ledger, 1830.

- Hymns and Psalms sung at Hungerford Church, 1834 (title page).

- Congregational Chapel Pew Rents Account Book, 1864.

- Congregational Church Accounts, 1886.

- Church Accounts (?Congregational), 1888.

Alexander grocer's (26 High Street) ledger, 1895.

- W Gee Taylor's Almenac, 1896-1901

Menu for Savernake Stag Hunt Annual Ball in Hungerford, 10th February 1899. 

1903 Blacket's Directory

- Freeman's Chester Vaughan's Collotype View Book, 1903-1

- Freeman's Chester Vaughan's Collotype View Book, 1903-2

- Abstract of Title, 2 cottages in Church Street (?52 Church Street).

- Bundle of Deeds (relating to ?52 Church Street).

- GWR Rules and Regulations (part), 1st January 1913.

- Hungerford & Ramsbury Union Workhouse ledger, 1915 (part).

- "Our Mag", the journal of 339 (MT) coy ASC, Vol 1 No 1, 9th February 1916.

- "Our Mag", the journal of 339 (MT) coy ASC, Vol 1 No 2, 23rd March 1916.

- "Our Mag", the journal of 339 (MT) coy ASC, Vol 1 No 3, 20th February 1916 (sic!).

- Letter addressed to Mr Clifton, Labour Exchange, 4th September 1919.

- Elsie White's First Communion, 12th April 1925.

- Consecration of Hungerford Masonic Lodge, 30th September 1925.

- Cert Ed Form I at Council School (Norah Smith), 31st March 1926.

- 1928 Kelly's Directory

Brochure on The Bear Hotel, written by Mr & Mrs H A Cadd, landlords in 1930s.

- Sale of Poisons Register - Taylor's, 3 Bridge Street, 1931.

- Christian Endeavour Certificate for Norah Smith, October 1931.

- James & Co - Price List, 1937.

- James & Co - Order Form, 8th March 1937.

- James & Co - Cartridges, 1937.

- James & Co - Vitaliser dry foods, 1937.

- Photo of Tuttimen Newhook and Fisher with Fred Ruddle, 13th April 1937.

- Dr Starkey-Smith's obituary.

- Craven Hunt brochure, 1938.

- 1939 Kelly's Directory.

- Letter from William Rootes to the Palmers, 22nd July 1940.

- National Savings Stamp Book (E Worsfold, 35 Charnham Street), 16th December 1941.

1942 Blacket's Directory

- Home Guard Certificate of Service, June 1940-31st December 1944 - John Henry Tucker.

- Home Guard Certificate of Service, June 1940-31st December 1944 - Frederick Roland Tucker.

- 1946 Blacket's Directory

Hungerford Gas Company Ledger No. 1, 1941-46 (part).

Hungerford Gas Company Ledger No. 4, 1941-46 (part).

- "History of 5th Berkshire Battalion Home Guard", by Lt-Col P W K Carr, 3rd May 1945.

- Marlborough Times - British restaurant, Regent Cinema, 10th January 1946.

Advert for Professor Frisco, magician of 32 Church Street, c.1950.

History of Combe Gibbett, 27th May 1950

- "The Berkshire Yeomanry", Journal of Society for Army Historical Research, Autumn 1950.

- Newbury Byelaws for Hairdressers and Barbers, 1954.

- Various advertisements, Cinema, Andrews, Smith, Joan, Norris, May 1954.

- Chamber of Commerce Exhibition and Trade Fair, 14th-17th November 1956.

- Pony Gymkhana programme, 16th August 1958.

- James & Co - Letter from Norman James re the fire, June 1960.

- James & Co - Brochure about the fire.

- Pony Gymkhana programme, 13th August 1960.

- Town Guide, 1967.

- NWN Centenary - "When the Tuttimen refused to tour (1902), and "Plane crash May 1917".

- NWN Centenary - several pre-war events.

- Berks & Hants Railway 120th Anniversary, Reading Mercury, 30th December 1967.

- Curious England (part, inc tumble stile and Hocktide), c1970.

- Steam Rally Souvenir programme 1970.

- Steam Rally Souvenir programme 1972.

- Steam Rally Souvenir programme 1973 (part).

Canal re-opening programme, 20th July 1974.

- Hungerford Arcade leaflet, c.1974.

- Beacon Farm Sale catalogue, 25th September 1975.

- Opening of Hungerford Arcade - Reading Mercury, 11th August 1977

- New Mayor (Ernie Whittaker) and Constable (Maj Hathway), The Crusader, April 1982.

- Hocktide at Hungerford - 4 page leaflet by Town & Manor, 1980

- Carnival & Centenary Town Criers Competition, 12th July 1980.

- Letter re Paul Good's closing, 7th November 1983.

- Invoice for fishing rod etc - Geoffrey Rivaz - Stewart Hofgartner, 21st July 1984.

- Littlecote House Contents sale catalogue (cover), 20th November 1985.

- Littlecote sale - details of "Wild Darrell" painting, 20th November 1985.

- Hocktide Luncheon programme, 8 Apr 1986.

- Tragedy Gala Concert in St Nicholas's Church, Newbury, 20th October 1987.

- William & Mary official magazine (cover only), 1988.

- Letter re risk of Shoeing Ceremony after Hocktide Lunch, 3rd April 1989.

Hocktide Luncheon programme, 24th April 1990.

- "Behind the Green Door" menu, c.1990.

- "School Redevelopment puts child safety first", H'ford & Dist Times, 12th September 1990.

- "Hungerford Twinning", H'ford & Dist Times, 12th September 1990.

- "New Town & Manor Charity Scheme", H'ford & Dist Times, 12th September 1990.

- "Charnham Park opened", H'ford & Dist Times, 26th September 1990.

New Trustees election, H'ford & Dist Times, 26th September 1990.

- Hungerford Fishery, H'ford & Dist Times, 18th December 1990.

- "Keepers of the Keys, Town Badge, Borough", H'ford & Dist Times, 10th April 1991.

- Town Band, Ray Tubb 80, End of Magistrates Court, H'ford & Dist Times, 19th December 1991.

- Beating the Bounds ?1994, (part record)

Hocktide Luncheon programme, 25th April 1995.

- "More Rough Poetry" by Joan Kendall (cover only).

- "History of Hungerford Police", by Brian Tagg, Station Duty Officer, May 1995

- Invitation to Ale Tasting, 20th April 2009.

- Ticket for Hocktide Luncheon, 21st April 2009.

Undated items:

- Photograph album (no details). 

GWR Rules and Regulations (cover only) (undated). 

- Sale of Poisons Register Book (cover only) (undated).