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Pre-Roman: Pre-historic Hungerford (Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age)
100000BC Worked flint (Stone Age tool) found at Folly Farm
10000BC Worked flint(Stone Age tool) found at Undy's Farm
1500 BC Worked flint (Stone Age tool) found just east of St. Saviour's Church
1500BC Spear tip (Bronze Age found in Hungerford Park
43-410 Roman Occupation
873 AD The legend that Hungerford was named after "Hingwar the Dane" when he drowned in the River Kennet at Eddington is wrong. It was Edington in Wiltshire or Somerset!
899 AD King Alfred left Eddington Mill and lands to his wife Alswythe
1066-1087 William I
1086 Domesday Survey
1087-1100 William II
1100-1135 Henry I
1103-18 First written mention of "Hungerford"
1135-1154 Stephen
1147 First written mention of a church at Hungerford
1148 First written mention of a vicar of Hungerford, probably named Ralph
1154-1189 Henry II
1168 Earliest record of the Manor of Hungerford owned by Robert Beaumont 2nd Earl of Leicester
1168 Robert de Beaumont (2nd) died, and his son (Robert de Beaumont ) inherited the manor of Hungerford
1170 Burgesses of Hungerford used a 'common seal'
1173 Hungerford was a farming community and Simon de Montfort supposedly granted a charter giving rights of herbage and pannage in Hungerford Park
1189-1199 Richard I
1190 When Robert de Beaumont (3rd) died in 1190 and his son Robert de Beaumont (4th) inherited the estates.
1199-1216 John
1199 Survey of Savernake Forest mentions leper house at Hungerford
1200 Probable period of new town layout
1203 King John came back home from Portsmouth via Burbage, Marlborough, Hungerford and Newbury
1215 Barons forced King John to sign the Magna Carter
1216-1272 Henry III
1220 A bridge over the River Kennet existed
1222 Henry III spent New Year's Eve in Hungerford
1227 Henry III's 2nd Charter for deforestation of Berkshire 10th May 1227
1232 Priory of St John established on 'Bridge Street' island
1241 Town call a 'borough' for the first time
1248 First mention of a market
1248 Theft by William Turnpeny of Hungerford - escaped to Kintbury
1250 Simon de Montfort was Lord of the Manor
1265 Simon de Montfort was killed at Battle of Evesham
1272-1307 Edward I
1273 Chantry of Blessed Virgin Mary mentioned
1275 'Pons de Hungreford' (at Eddington) mentioned
1275 Two water mills in the town
1286 Edward I first stayed overnight in Hungerford
1291 There was no written mention of a court until this date
1296 There was a market in Hungerford, the tolls belonging to the Earl of Lancaster
1302 Edward I stopped in the town
1307-1327 Edward II
1313 Robert de Hungerford was appointed bailiff for the Duchy of Lancaster in Berkshire and Wiltshire
1314 The first accounts of Hungerford were presented by Geoffrey de Kyng to the Duchy of Lancaster
1318 "The Great Famine" of England started when 10% of the population died following an outbreak of foot and mouth disease.
1320 Edward II passed through Hungerford
1325 Robert de Hungerford founded the Chantry of Holy Trinity
1327-1377 Edward III
1331 Edward III passed through the town
1332 Robert and Thomas Hoppegras owned today's Hopgrass Farm
1333 The oldest Hungerford seal was "supposed " to be that of John O' Gaunt but this is impossible since he wasn't born until 1340
1336 Records of the Manor of Eddington recorded a windmill
1340 John of Gaunt born
1340 The earliest mention of a property at 114 High Street
1348-50 The Black Death - 30-60% of population die
1350 Sir Robert de Hungerford died
1351 The manor of Hungerford was in the ownership of Henry, Duke of Lancaster, who married Isabel of Beaumont
1359 John of Gaunt married Blanche he Duke of Lancaster's daughter
1360 Probable date of the old 'Courte House'
1361 Town Fair mentioned
1361 The old Duke of Lancaster died
1362 Maud the Duke of Lancaster's heir died
1362 The oldest Hungerford horn given by John of Gaunt Horn supposedly to confirm common rights to the people of Hungerford
1377-1399 Richard II
1381 The Duchy of Lancaster's copy of a charter confirming Hungerford people's rights was lost in a fire at John of Gaunt's Savoy Palace in The Strand and the other copy was stolen
1389 Dedeman's (road or track) from the west side of the High Street to the Croft was first mentioned
1393 King Richard II compelled pub landlords to erect signs outside their premises
1406 Dun Mill was first mentioned
1406 The manor of Hungerford was leased by King Henry IV to William Golding a chaplain of North Standen Chapel
1413-1422 Henry V
1420 The High Street was first known by this name
1422-1461 Henry VI
1446 "Town" and "Borough" mentioned in grant to Sir Walter Lord Hungerford
1449 Construction of 2-bay cruck house (now 85-86 High Street)
1449 Sir Walter Hungerford died
1450 Possible date of the first Town Hall?
1457 Chantry of the Blessed Virgin Mary founded by the burgesses of Hungerford
1460-61 Riot in Hungerford
1461-1483 Edward IV
1462 Record of a property at 34 High Street
1464 First mention of The Bear in Charnham Street
1470 Earliest known Rent Roll for Hungerford
1478 Hungerford's first constable is mentioned
1483 Edward V
1483-1485 Richard III
1485-1509 Henry VII
1494 Denne Myll (Dun Mill) mentioned
1495 The Bell Inn in Charnham Street opened for business
1497 The second oldest Hungerford seal was "supposed " to be that of the treasury seal of Edward IV but he died in 1483
1500 First Town Hall probably existed from this date probably in the middle of the High Street
1513 Shortcroft (road or track) from the east side of the High Street to the Common was first mentioned
1513 Pidden (road or track) from the south side of the High Street to the Salisbury Road was first mentioned
1516 Henry VIII created the Royal Mail
1520 The present Littlecote House was built by Sir George Darrell
1522 Muster Roll for Hungerford
1522 Population of Hungerford estimated to be between 500 and 700 (from Muster Rolls)
1534 The Church of England was founded by Henry VIII
1534 Dendrochronological date of 2 Bridge Street
1535 England and Wales were united politically
1537 Bear Inn landlord Robert Braybon gave evidence against highwayman
1538 Baptismal records started by Thomas Cromwell
1541 Bear Inn passed to Henry VIII's wives Anne of Cleaves, then Catherine Parr
1543 The Town Hall was described as being ruinous and decayed
1547 Priory of St. John dissolved by Henry VIII
1547-1553 Edward VI
1548 Chantry of Holy Trinity dissolved
1548 Chantry of Blessed Virgin Mary dissolved
1552 Duchy of Lancaster Survey of Hungerford
1553 Lady Jane Gray
1553 Lady Jane Gray was Queen of England for 9 days and was beheaded for treason
1553-1558 Mary I
1553 John Undewes gave The Croft to the people of Hungerford "for the people of Hungerford to sport herein"
1557 The Kings Head at 12-13 Bridge Street opened for business
1558 Population of Hungerford was around 600
1558 Thomas Hydden aged 11 was accepted as a scholar of Winchester College
1566 Great Fire of Hungerford started in Bridge Street
1573 The Case of the Missing Charters
1573 Duchy of Lancaster Survey of Hungerford
1574 A property survey on behalf of the Chantry of the Blessed Virgin Mary showed their six properties had been rebuilt following the fire in 1566
1580 The vestry minutes survive from this date
1582 The inhabitants of Hungerford placed on record their ancient customs of Hocktide
1591 Duchy of Lancaster Survey of Hungerford
1592 Queen Elizabeth's coachman Mr Slie died at The Bear and was buried here
1595 Queen Elizabeth I gave Hungerford Park to her favourite…the Earl of Essex
1600's Two fairs and three markets annually
1601 Poor Law Act
1603-1625 James I
1603-04 Plague ("Black Death") epidemic
1605 Guy Fawkes, a dissident Catholic, tried to blow up the Houses of parliament
1606 Duchy of Lancaster Survey of Hungerford
1607 The second Town Hall was built in the middle of the High Street
1617 Debate with Duchy finally settled by Feoffment
1609 The Black Death hit Hungerford for a second time
1612 John Lucas and a group purchased the Manor of Hungerford from John Eldred and William Whitmore
1617 The Manor of Hungerford was formally granted to 14 local men who became trustees
1625-1649 Charles I
1631 A Catholic tutor was taken before the churchwardens for being an unlicensed teacher of the recusant Curr family
1634 Probable date of the Lucas Horn donated by Jehosophat Lucas who was Constable at the time
1635 Dr. Sheaff founded Free Grammar School
1642-46 First Civil War
1644 Essex and his army spent the night of 10th June in the town, en route to the West Country
1648 Second Civil War
1649 King Charles I was beheaded
1649-1660 Commonwealth
1650 The population of Hungerford was around 1000 people
1654 John Evelyn visited Hungerford
1656 Oliver Cromwell allowed Jews back into England after 400 years
1658 John Savidge was the first recorded bellman (town crier) of Hungerford
1658 Detailed records of the Constables Accounts exist from this date
1660-1685 Charles II
1662 Settlement Act came into existence to prove that a person belonged to a parish in case they required financial assistance
1662 Hearth Tax introduced (repealed 1689)
1666 The Great Fire of London took place
1668 Samuel Pepys visited Hungerford and dined at the Bear
1672 Declaration of indulgence passed giving religious freedom to conformists including Roman Catholics
1675 John Boone, a maltster of Wilton House, was found guilty of receiving stolen goods and was "burned in the hand"
1676 Duchy of Lancaster Rent Roll of Hungerford
1676 George Bromham and Dorothy Newman hanged at Combe Gibbet
1685-1688 James II
1686 White Hart mentioned (stood on the site of today's Chapel Court)
1687 New clock bought for "Clock House" in Town Hall for £10. Clockwinder John Tubb
1688 William of Orange met Commissioners of James II at The Bear
1688 The bailiff's staff donated by constable Joseph Butler dates from this year
1689 Hearth Tax repealed
1689 Act of Toleration - Non-conformists were allowed their own places of worship
1689 Electoral registers were introduced
1693 Samuel Chandler a British Non-conformist minister and polemicist pamphleteer known as the 'uncrowned patriarch of Dissent' was born in Hungerford
1696 Window Tax (repealed 1851)
1697 Settlement Act
1702-1714 Anne
1702 Interesting account of Hunting in Hungerford
1707 Act of Union: England and Scotland forms Great Britain
1709 "The Great Frost" - 3 months of very cold weather across Europe. The Thames froze; devastating floods in April; disease; major shortage of food. Prices rose six-fold during the year.
1709 Jethro Tull (inventor of the seed drill) moves to Prosperous Farm
1713 Jethro Tull died
1714-1727 George I
1715 Fire in Hungerford mentioned in Constables accounts
1716 The Greyhound at 24 High Street opened
1718 Lime trees planted around the pond in the High Street
1718 A Fire Eater was paid 10/- for a public performance in the Elizabethan Town Hall
1718-1720 First inoculation against smallpox
1722 Thomas Guy opens Guy's Hospital
1726 The Speenhamland to Marlborough Turnpike formed
1727-1760 George II
1727-1788 Thomas Gainsborough – English landscape and portrait painter
1728-1779 James Cook – English voyager. Endeavour, Resolution, and Adventure. Discovered New Zealand 1770
1728 Jews allowed to own land
1729 John Hungerford was the last Hungerford to own the Manor of Hungerford and is buried in Hungerford
1730 First experiments with gas street lighting (see 1801)
1731 Jethro Tull publishes "Horse-hoeing Husbandry"
1733 Gate and rails at southern limits of town
1733 English replaced Latin in official records
1736 Mrs Mary Hungerford donated five pieces of silver to create the church silver
1738 Charles Wesley founded Methodist Church
1739 John Wesley first visit to Hungerford
1740 Bridge Street made
1744 Newbury-Marlborough Turnpike Acts
1746 Glass Tax introduced (repealed 1845)
1750 Tea and coffee houses popular in Britain
1750 Bow Street runners – early "police" force
1751 Gin Act - William Hogarth "Gin Lane", "Beer Street" etc. 1697-1764
1751-1816 Richard Sheridan – British dramatist and MP, writer of comedies.
1752 Reform of the Calendar (Up until this date New Years' Day was celebrated on 25th March)
1753 Hardwick Marriage Act – all (except Jews and Quakers) must marry in Anglican church
1753 The age of consent for boys was 14 and 12 for girls
1757-1827 William Blake – English artist and poet
1757 Militia regiments had to be formed throughout England and Wales
1758-1805 Horatio, Lord Nelson, died on "The Victory"
1760-1820 George III
1761 Robert Snook an infamous highwayman was baptised in Hungerford
1762 Murder of William and Anne Cheyney
1765 First canal opened
1767 Milestones were made compulsory on all turnpike roads
1768 Royal Academy founded
1768 Application of toads used in Hungerford to treat cancer
1770 John Radcliffe opens infirmary in Oxford
1771 The Besselsleigh to Hungerford Turnpike formed
1772 The Hungerford to Leckford Sousley Water Turnpike formed
1775-1851 Joseph Turner – English landscape painter
1776 A brewhouse existed in Everland Road behind the Manor House
1776-1837 John Constable – English landscape painter
1779 First ironbridge built – Abraham Derby
1780 The Crown Inn in Charnham Street in business
1781 Britain lost American colonies after 8 year war
1781 William Greatrakes, the famous Irish author and barrister died at the Bear Inn, on his way from Bristol to London, and was buried in St Lawrence's churchyard
1783 First manned hot-air balloon flight
1784 Brick Tax introduced (repealed 1850)
1788 First meeting to consider Western Canal
1788-1824 Lord Byron – English romantic poet
1792-1822 Percy Bysshe Shelley - poet
1793 Sarah Liddiard was transported to Australia for stealing bills and notes from the Post Office
1794 Hungerford Troop of Berkshire Yeomanry formed
1795-1840 The Regency Period
1795 Speenhamland System (linking poor rate to the cost of bread)
1796 William Jenner performs first vaccination
1798 Western Canal opened to Hungerford
1799 The High Street bridge was built over the canal
1800 Georgian period: age of consent 14 yrs for boys, 12 yrs for girls
1800 Mrs Linnell came to live in Hungerford and practice as a midwife
1801 First Congregational Church built
1801 Act of Union – United Kingdom: Britain with Ireland (until 1920)
1801 Gas street lighting becomes widely used – extracted from coal
1805 Battle of Trafalgar
1805 Pond in High Street filled in
1807 First Slave Trade Act – first attempt to abolish the slave trade
1807 Wesleyan Ebenezer Chapel in Church Street was built
1809 George III's Golden Jubilee, 25th Oct
1810 Kennet and Avon Canal fully opened
1811-1820 The Regency Period
1811 Vaccination in Hungerford: Mr Major and Mr Barker vaccinating
1811 Enclosure Act for Hungerford received Royal Assent 25.5.1811
1813 Large Ordnance Depot built at Picket Field
1814 George Stephenson's first steam locomotive to haul coal from mines
1814 Buried in Woollen Act repealed
1814-16 New Church of St Lawrence built
1815 3,700 miles of canal in use
1815 Battle of Waterloo. Duke of Wellington defeated Napoleon's army. 16,000 died
1816 "Year Without Summer" caused by the eruption of Indonesian volcano, Mount Tambora, the largest volcanic explosion in recorded history. Local crops lost.
1820-1830 George IV
1821 Bare Knuckle Fight on Hungerford Common between Bill Neat & Tom Hickman
1821 Census data records population of Hungerford as 2,025
1822 The Cherry family moved to Denford Park
1825 Local theft by John Giles and George Breadmore - transported to Australia
1827 Bare Knuckle Fight on Hungerford Common between Marten & Gybletts
1827 James Dean, London to Bath coachman, died when his coach was involved in a Collison with a hearse
1827 Eddington Bridge was built
1829 Sir Robert Peal organised civilian police force
1829 The Rocket wins £500 prize for fastest locomotive. Liverpool & Manchester Railway
1830-1837 William IV
1830 Agricultural "Swing" Riots locally - Gibbons foundry and Tannery damaged
1830 The Hungerford Society of Florists held their annual exhibition of PINKS in the Three Swans Inn
1831 Population of Hungerford was 2283 (census)
1832 Great Reform Bill passed
1833 Slavery finally abolished
1835 Hungerford & Ramsbury Union formed
1834 Tolpuddle martyrs arrested for joining trade union. Transported to Australia
1836 Height of coaching era 200 coaches weekly on Bath Road
1836 The Parish of Hungerford was transferred from the diocese of Salisbury to the diocese of Oxford1836 Workhouse in Charnham Street closed
1836 All paupers at the Hungerford and Ramsbury workhouse at 26 Charnham Street were removed to Lambourn
1836 Hardwicke's Marriage Act of 1754 was replaced by the Marriage Act
1837-1901 Victoria
1837 Turnstiles erected in Little Church Lane
1837 More than 20,500 miles of turnpike roads in use
1837 Registrations of births, marriages and deaths started
1839 Royal Berkshire Hospital opened
1839 New foundry (The Kennet Engineering Works) built by Richard Gibbons opened
1839 The General Register Office was set up
1840 Meeting in Hungerford about Emigration to New Zealand
1840 New Congregational Church built in High Street
1841 The Great Western Railway opened the line from London to Bristol
1841 Population of Hungerford was 2323 (census)
1842 Westfield House School established
1845 Canals virtually extinct
1845 Hungerford Gas Company registered
1845 Glass Tax repealed
1847 Railway opened to Hungerford terminus station
1848 New workhouse opened off Cow Lane
1848 Tithe Award for Hungerford
1848 By now only three coaches weekly on Bath Road
1848 There was a racecourse on Hungerford Common
1850 Brick Tax repealed
1851 Window Tax repealed
1851 Population of Hungerford was 2696 (census)
1851 There were 150 inmates in the Hungerford Workhouse - 6% of the population of Hungerford
1851 The parish of Hungerford included Bagshot, Shalbourne, Eddington, Hungerford Newtown and Prosperous
1852 Grand Cricket Match, England v Hungerford, July
1852 Kennet and Avon Canal bought by GWR
1857 The Principal Probate Office (for wills) was set up
1858 Night School established
1860 A Coal Club was first mentioned, to help people needing assistance with buying coal
1861 The oldest wall box (post box) in Hungerford installed at Charnham House, Charnham Street
1861 Population of Hungerford was 2551 (census)
1862 Railway extended west to Devizes
1862 New Town Hall clock given by William Hall
1862 James Edward Talmage the English chemist, geologist, and one of the religious leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was born in Hungerford
1862 The Land Registry was set up
1863 Little Church Lane turnstile replaced by posts
1864 Primitive Methodist Chapel in Bridge Street built
1864 Police Station in Park Street built
1868 St Saviours Church, Eddington built
1868 Methodist Chapel in Bridge Street was built
1869 Wesleyan Chapel in Charnham Street built
1869 Levi Cottrell's Eddington Iron Works in business
1870 Newtown School Chapel (St Mary's Church, Newtown) built
1870 Hungerford Post Office first connected to the Telegraph system
1871 Population of Hungerford was 2699 (census)
1871 New Town Hall and Corn Exchange built
1872 Autumn Troop Manoeuvres around Hungerford
1874 Railway converted to standard gauge
1876 Murder of two local policemen
1877 Last year canal made a profit
1878 A Bicycle Club was in existence
1879 Restoration of St Lawrences completed
1879 Bullock stampede in Hungerford
1881 Population of Hungerford was 2560 (census)
1881 Heavy snow completely blocked the railway line in Hungerford for a couple of days
1881 A horse drawn carriage crashed in Hungerford and the horses escaped all the way to Newbury
1884 Old Grammar School in Croft closed
1886 Hungerford Town Football club was formed
1887 Queen Victoria's Jubilee, 21st June
1888 Mr Gibbons's boundary dispute with the Town and Manor
1889 Coal Tax repealed
1890 A cycle gymkhana took place on Hungerford Common
1891 Population of Hungerford was 2513 (census)
1891 First steam fire engine "Greenwich"
1892 Party for townspeople of Hungerford to celebrate Sir William Pearce's 31st birthday
1893 First fire station built in Charnham Street
1894 Boundary changes bringing Charnham Street into Hungerford
1895 North Standen, South Standen, Charnham Street, Leverton and Chilton Foliat were transferred from Wiltshire to Berkshire
1896 Second railway bridge over High Street
1897 Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, 20th June
1899 St John's Mission Hall built
1900 Church House built
1900 Hungerford Town Football club matched were played on land in Marsh Lane
1900 Digging of ponds for the Berkshire Trout Farm began
1901-1910 Edward VII
1901 A Hungerford Patriotism dinner took place in the Town Hall to honour Hungerford Men who took part in the Boer War
1901 The Hungerford Tribute Medal was awarded to local volunteers who served in the Imperial Yeomanry and the Volunteer Service Company of the Berkshire Regiment
1901 A useful genealogical census of Hungerford was taken
1901 Population of Hungerford was 2363 (census)
1902 The station footbridge and canopy were built
1902 Parsonage Farm in the Croft was owned by the Church Commissioners
1902 Hungerford Camera Club was probably formed in the back of The Church House
1903 Water Works company formed
1903 First 5-hole golf course on Hungerford Common
1904 A dew pond in front of the Down Gate pub was filled in
1905 Telephone exchange first installed
1906 Water stand pipes were installed at the Bear corner, outside the town hall and at the top of town for water wagons used to dampen down dusty roads
1907 School added to Primitive Methodist Chapel
1907 Berkshire Trout farm opened up for business
1908 The Manor Brewery in Everlands Road became the Hungerford Sanitary Laundry Company
1908 The tall tannery chimney at 1 Charnham Street was felled
1908 Hungerford's first boy scouts group was The St. Lawrence Troop
1908 Formation of Town & Manor Charity, under Charity Commissioners
1909 New Sewerage and Drainage system
1910-1936 George V
1910 Tragic death of Mr Freddie Pratt, June
1910 New motorised fire engine "Dreadnought"
1910 Swimming sports in the canal, 1910 onwards
1910 New 'council' school built in Fairview Road
1911 George Cottrell's foundry was closed
1911 Messrs Wooldridge of Hungerford Wharf carried out renovations of the vicarage
1912 Visit of King George V to Chilton
1913 Diseased elms in the Croft felled and replaced by Spanish chestnuts
1913 Church Lane adopted by Hungerford Rural District Council
1913 Hungerford's second Boy Scouts group was formed
1913 The Hungerford and District Rifle Club was set up in The Church House
1913 A rifle range, a stopping butt and a shooting hut were set up in the garden of The Church House
1913 Frank Goodhall, The Royal Huntsman, was landlord of the Three Swans hotel
1914 The Lancastrian Tennis club played games in the school field at Hungerford Primary School
1914 Post Office built at 126 High Street
1914-18 First World War
1915 180 Company A.S.C. MT. stationed in Hungerford
1915 The National School building was used as a VAD Hospital
1915 Denzil Ralph Evans the professional footballer who played for Halifax, Bury and Watford was born in Hungerford
1917 Plane crash in Hungerford High Street
1918 Hungerford Bowls Club was formed
1918 The end of First World War in which 77 Hungerford men died
1918 The Bridge Street "triangle " site is cleared for the siting of a war memorial
1918 Tennis courts at Hungerford Club first used
1918 Henry William Barr set up a sawmill on the Bath Road Site
1919 Peace Celebration Dinner
1919 The Hungerford Guide company was formed
1919 The 1st Hungerford Brownie Pack was formed
1920 Widening of Bridge Street: Dedication of War Memorial
1921 Sports ground opened in The Croft
1921 War Memorial Dedication Service
1921 Hungerford had its own Tug of War Team
1921 Atherton Crescent was built by the council
1921 Frank Goodhall, The Royal Huntsman, was buried in St. Saviour's graveyard
1921 Christopher Hugh Derrick an English author, reviewer, publisher's reader, essayist and lecturer was born in Hungerford
1922 The last mention of the Hungerford Coal club
1924 Motorised fire engine 'John of Gaunt'
1925 The Hungerford Freemason Lodge (in the Town Hall) was consecrated
1925 Stype Grange was sold to Hon. Ronald G Walmsley, the younger brother of the second Baron Marchelle
1925 The O.S. map shows The Barracks close to Highclose Farm
1926 An OS map showed the existence of an isolation hospital at Sanham Green
1926 The Constable of Hungerford ceased to be the coroner for the Hungerford area
1926 The first formal adoption laws gave into operation
1927 Adoption became legal
1927 Still born children were registered
1927 The whole town was lit by electricity - Wessex Electricity Company.
1928 Sale of Inglewood Estate (4,225 acres with many local properties and farms)
1928 Hungerford Park Estate was bought by Alfred George Turner
1928 Fred Ruddle was the first recorded Orangeman of The Town and Manor
1929 The Lord Craven Arms (111 High Street) closed
1929 I.A. Bennett Agricultural engineering business opened on the present Bearwater site
1929 Hungerford Rugby Club formed after a meeting in The Plume of Feathers
1929 The age of consent for boys and girls was 16
1930 Chilton Factory produced a monoplane
1930 The Bell Ale house, 115 High Street, closed
1931 Kennet Engineering Works closed
1932 Charnham Street floods, 16 May
1932 Lytton Strachey, Bloomsbury Group, dies at Ham Spray House, 28 May
1932 The Hungerford Branch of the British Legion formed
1932 The Town Mill at 7 Bridge Street demolished
1934 The Regent Cinema in Church Way built
1934 Still 78 inmates living at the workhouse in Park Street
1935 Henry Barr built a house and the yard with garages behind 5 High Street
1935 Hungerford's first ambulance was bought from carnival funds
1935 The Bear Hotel advertised itself as "a premier temperance hotel"
1935 Mill Hatch was built on the site of the Town Mill, 7 Bridge Street
1935 The first universal telephone books were published -1 in 20 households had a phone
1936 Edward VIII
1936-1952 George VI
1936 Kennet Engineering Works became Kennet Motor Works
1936 At this time Hungerford had a Territorial company
1936 Tarrants Hill built by the council
1936 Aldbourne, Baydon, Buttermere, Chilton Foliat, Froxfield, Grafton, Great Bedwyn, Ham, Little Bedwyn, Ramsbury, Shalbourne, registration distracts transferred to Marlborough
1937 Church Way built by the council
1938 F.T.G Tremlett the once Commissioner of Police was buried in St.Saviours's cemetery
1939-45 Second World War
1939-45 Westfield House in Parsonage Lane was used as a base for Spanish Republican soldiers
1939 Denford Park was sold to a French Order of Nuns
1939 Hungerford had a Toc H group formed to fight loneliness and hate
1939 Hungerford Cricket club won the Newbury Challenge Cup
1940 Rationing started
1940 Pill Boxes and other defences were built along the canal
1940 The Vickers Armstrong factory was built in Eddington
1941 The people of Hungerford raised £90,000 to help fund HMS Freesia
1941 Cattle grids were first installed at the gates on Hungerford Common
1941 The Chilton Factory switched to making monoplanes to parts for the war effort
1941 Due to the war, no national census was taken
1942 Croft Nursery School opened as a Wartime Nursery
1942 The Home Guard very active in the Hungerford area
1943 Vickers Armstrong Factory in Eddington was closed
1943 Women were allowed to join the Home Guard
1943 Hungerford people raised £1,994 for "Wings for Victory Week" National Savings campaign
1944 General Eisenhower addressed American troops on Common
1944 Small landing craft trained on the canal and on Freemans marsh
1944 Elementary schools became primary schools
1945 The Salisbury Arms, 66 High Street, closed
1945 Honeyfields built by the council
1946 The Camburn Education Trust was set up in Hungerford
1947 A housing scheme to build on the land which now occupies the Memorial Recreational Grounds was rejected
1947 Hungerford Hospital was taken over by The National Health Service
1947 Dr. Robert Kennedy formed a medical practice with Dr. Max Wallis
1948 George VI and Queen Elizabeth passed through Hungerford
1948 "Black Legend" - film about Combe Gibbet made by John Schlesinger
1948 George VI and Queen Elizabeth passed through Hungerford
1949 Records relating to Hungerford were deposited by The Town and Manor in the Berkshire Record Office
1949 The Lady of Lions performed live at a Cricket Club Ball held in The Town Hall
1950 Captain Robert Mansfield of the church Army (Mission Hall) died after 48 years service
1950 The Parish Council were given permission by the Town and Manor to put seats on Hungerford Common
1950 Sarum Way built by Vockins Bros
1951 The canal in Hungerford was closed to through traffic
1951 The Croft Road Bridge was replaced
1952-2022 Elizabeth II
1952 Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip passed through the town
1952 The first lease of 99 years to Hungerford Cricket Club was agreed by the Charity Commissioners
1952 The Priory was bought by Hungerford Rural District Council
1953 Start of negotiations to form a Cycle Speedway Club
1953 Hungerford Carnival was restarted
1953 Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation, 2 Jun 1953
1954 Denford Park became the New Hall Preparatory School
1954 Joe Davis the world famous snooker and billiards champion gave an exhibition at Hungerford Club
1954 North eastern side of Priory Avenue built by J.Wooldridge and Son
1954 West side of Priory Avenue built by J.T.Gibbs and Co. Ltd
1955 Hungerford Panthers stadium was completed
1955 John Davies became the headmaster of Hungerford Primary School
1956 The Hungerford British Legion Headquarters were built in Chilton Way
1956 Hungerford had a ladies football team
1956 Crush pens were installed at the Inkpen and Bath Road (Hopgrass ) gates
1956 Sidney Bushnell retired as Town Crier ending the 76 years of Bushnell Town Criers
1956 Dodd's Nursery was sold for building the "Polyhomes" (Tarrant's Hill and Orchard Park Close)
1956 Jean Tubb became the only female bellman (town crier) of Hungerford
1957 The Hungerford Wives Group (previously the Hungerford Wives ) was set up
1957 Priory Avenue built by the council
1957 Arthur J Barret, a champion blacksmith lived at Forge Cottage
1957 Oakes Bros the agricultural engineers opened up their purpose built building in Station Road
1958 A series of boxing competitions took place on Hungerford Town Football ground for apprentices and stable lads
1958 Coldharbour Road built by J.T.Gibbs and Co.Ltd
1959 New surgery built in the Croft
1959 Chilton Factory moved to Chilton Way
1959 The doctors surgery at The Manor House was deemed unsafe due to extensive woodworm
1960 Fire destroyed James Mill
1960 It was common belief that only "commoners" could vote at the Town and Manor elections when all rate-players including council house tenants could vote
1960 Lady Harrison Hughes placed staddlestones and lamp posts close to the Denford Gate on Hungerford Common
1960 The grand house and buildings in Hungerford Park were demolished
1960 The office of the Town and Manor of Hungerford moved to 28 High Street
1961 Liberty of Sanden Fee merged with the Town and Manor of Hungerford
1961 Individually designed houses in Chilton Way were built by a number of local building firms
1961 The Royal Exchange /Downgate had a sign leading down to the toilets which said "Commit No Nuisance "
1961 The Kennet and Avon Canal Trust was set up
1961 The canal froze over for 2 months
1961 Based on census data the population of Hungerford Rural District Council was 9749
1962 The Carnival committee asked the Town and Manor for permission to build a swimming pool
1962 New elm trees were planted on Hungerford Common
1962 Geoffrey Webb author of "The Archers" died when his car was in a collision with a furniture van near Hungerford
1962 Production started at the new James's Mill in Smitham Bridge Road
1962 The Blacksmith's box was made by Robin Tubb
1963 Park Way was built by J.T.Gibbs and Co.Ltd
1963 The first Mods and Rockers were part of Hungerford's culture
1963 John of Gaunt Secondary School opened
1963 The All-age Council school in Fairview Road became the Hungerford County Primary School
1964 Swimming pool opened
1964 Railway station demolished
1964 The railway station buildings in Hungerford were demolished
1964 Fairfields, Fairview Road, was built for the Council
1964 The Ale Tasters tankards were donated by Dr.Humprey Hope and Clive Norman
1964 A purpose-built dental surgery was built in Church Lane with George Dunbar as the dentist
1965 Hungerford Newtown School closed
1965 The Manor House in the High Street was demolished to make way for a petrol station.
1965 The Croft was registered as a village green under The Commons Registration Act
1965 People could register their common rights by applying for them under the Commons Registration Act
1965 Macklin Close was built
1966 Third railway bridge over High Street
1966 Hungerford Laundry closed and became Lo Heat
1966 The Railway bridge over High Street was replaced
1966 Homefield Way built by J.T.Gibbs and Co.Ltd
1966 Kennet Court, a block of council flats, was built in Eddington
1966 The toll house at the Halfway was demolished
1966 Hungerford Water Carnivals started
1966 The sewerage works near Dun Mill lock were extended and modified
1967 Albert Parsons, the town's well-known photographer died
1967 Barclays Bank was opened in Hungerford.
1967 The 1st Hungerford Scouts Group was reformed.
1967 Wooldridge's building company closed its business in Hungerford Wharfe
1967 Betts Chemist established at 125 High Street
1967 The management of the Croft was under the Hungerford Town Council
1967 The new Tutti truncheons and poles were made out of ash with copper tops
1967 Denford Park became Norland College
1967 Port Down flats were built by Croft Ltd for the council
1967 Library opened in Church Street
1968 New fire station in Church Street built
1968 The long footbridge over the canal behind the church was renewed by the County Council. This is on the ancient right of way along Stocken Street.
1968 The Bear Hotel was sold at an auction
1968 The properties at 70-73 High Street were redeveloped by Hungerford Rural District Council as part of the Fairfield complex
1969 Hungerford Police come under The Thames Valley Police Force
1969 Orchard Park Close was built by Wilson Homes of Swindon
1969 Hillside Road was built by Wilson Homes of Swindon
1969 Bourne Vale was built by J.T.Gibbs and Co.Ltd
1969 Combe Gibbet was felled for the 5th time
1969 The Chilton Factory became Ottermill Chilton
1969 The house on the canal bridge (131 and 132 High Street) was spilt into two properties
1969 Surnames of children were given on a birth certificate for the first time!
1970 Steam Fairs on the Common in aid of Corn Exchange restoration
1970 St.Saviours's Church in Eddington was closed
1970 A new St. John's Ambulance HQ was opened in Station Road
1970 A proper system of cow identification was introduced on The Common and Freemans Marsh
1970 Hungerford train station ceased to deal with goods traffic
1971 The M4 Motorway was opened up
1971 The Wesleyan Chapel in Charnham Street was demolished
1971 Railway accident demolished signal box
1971 M4 Motorway opened
1972 Work commenced on the Canal Walk development
1972 Hungerford Round Table was formed
1972 Hungerford Antiques Arcade opened up at 27 and 28 High Street
1972 The Regent Cinema in Church Way was closed
1972 The plot of land owned by Chilton Electrics next to the Sun pub was sold to BWM garage
1972 Meadow View Squash Club was built on the former site of the Wesleyan Chapel in Charnham Street
1972 Homefield Way (second section) was built by J.T.Gibbs and Co.Ltd
1972 The farm buildings at Undys far were demolished
1972 The vicarage became a private residence
1972 Inglewood House became a health hydro
1972 The English Congregational Churches merged with The Presbyterian Church to form T he United Reform Church
1973 Hungerford Round Table was formed
1973 Following Dutch elm disease on the Common the replacement of lost trees was started
1973 Old grenades were dredged out of the canal by a bomb disposal unit
1973 Dr Hugh Pihlens joined the medical practice
1973 Canal Walk was built
1974 Local government re-organization: first Mayor of Hungerford
1974 Re-opening of Kennet and Avon Canal to Hungerford
1974 Local government re-organisation took place and Joe Brady was elected as Mayor of Hungerford
1974 The Kennet and Avon Canal to Hungerford was reopened
1974 The canal at Hungerford was opened up again by the volunteers of the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust
1974 The Regent Cinema in Church Way was demolished
1974 Charnham Street public conveniences built
1974 The organisers of the Fayres and Steam Engine Rallies gave a chain of office to the Town and Manor
1974 Town and Manor bought 7 1/4 acres of land from the North Standen Estate of Lord Rootes
1974 The ground floor of Hungerford Club was revamped to create a traditional pub atmosphere
1974 Lancaster Square was built by Newbury District Council
1974 Regent Close was built
1974 Hungerford Town Council was formed
1975 Clarks Gardens was built by Vockins Bros
1975 Chilton Way, the western new section, was built by Federated Homes
1975 Chantry Mead was built by Federated Homes
1975 Westbrook was built by Federated Homes
1975 Michael William, the 2nd Baron Morris was buried in St.Saviours's cemetery
1975 The Children's Act allowed adopted adults to gain access to their original birth certificates
1976 The Bath stone granary building (in Canal Walk) was converted into two separate dwellings.
1976 St.Saviours's Church Eddington was sold by the Church Commissionaires to Melvyn Fraser
1976 York Road was built by J.T.Gibbs and Co.Ltd
1976 De Montfort Grove was built by J.T.Gibbs and Co.Ltd
1977 Maj. H le Fleming Fairfax Harvey left 23 acres of land (Harvey's Meadow) to the Town and Manor
1977 CHAIN the voluntary organisation was formed
1978 New bells hung in St Lawrence's Church
1978 Morley Place was built by Trencherwood Estates
1978 Roxtons Sporting Ltd was established at 10 and 11 Bridge Street
1978 The Community of Hungerford Theatre Company (previously The Town Show) was formed
1978 Hungerford Archers (Longbow Club) started
1978 The Town and Manor introduced "Tuttigirls" into the Hocktide celebrations
1979 Hungerford Historical Association was formed
1979 Twinning ceremony with Ligueil took place in France
1979 The Town and Manor introduced the position of "blacksmith" to shoe the colts
1979 Lancaster Close was built by Newbury District Council
1979 Formation of Hungerford Historical Association
1980 Hungerford and Camburn Educational Foundation formed
1980 The Hungerford and Camburn Educational Foundation formed
1980 Twinning ceremony with Ligueil took place in Hungerford
1980 The Centenary Town Criers Competition took place
1981 Hungerford twinned with Ligueil a town in France
1981 Dr Robert Kennedy died aged 66
1981 A new bridge across an arm of the River Dun was dedicated in the memory of Wink Walter
1981 Hungerford twinned with Ligueil
1982 James's mill closed
1982 New pavilion at Hungerford Club built
1982 Combe View was built by J.T.Gibbs and Co.Ltd
1982 The Mayor of Ligueil came to Hungerford to a ceremony in naming a new road "Ligueil Close"
1983 Jack Williams became President of the Old Newburians Association
1983 "The Story of Hungerford" written by Hugh Pihlens was published by Countryside Books
1983 The Home Café in Charnham Street was demolished
1983 The "Rose of Hungerford Canal Boat was officially christened
1984 The Borough Arms changed its name to the Tuttiman
1984 I.A. Bennett Agricultural engineering site was cleared for the Bearwater development
1984 A Wednesday market was reintroduced into the town
1984 Lord Edmund Fermoy Princess Diana's maternal uncle committed suicide in Hungerford
1985 Chilton Factory closed
1985 Work commenced on Bearwater
1985 Pound Piece was built by Trencherwood New Homes Ltd
1985 A trade and industry exhibition was held in the Town Hall to promote businesses development in Hungerford
1985 Freemans Close was built by Trencherwood New Homes Ltd
1985 Wiltshire Close was built by Trencherwood New Homes Ltd
1986 The Rotary Club of Hungerford was set up as a daughter club of Newbury Rotary Club
1986 Somerset Close was built by Trencherwood New Holmes Ltd
1986 Wessex Close was built by Trencherwood New Homes Ltd
1986 John Adhemar Simpson artist and holder of the Distinguish Service Cross was buried in St.Saviours's cemetery
1987 The Hungerford shooting tragedy took place
1987 Hungerford Scouts moved to their new headquarters behind the Croft Hall
1987 There were around 250 gravestones in St. Lawrence's churchyard , today (2020) there are less than 100
1987 The Garden of Remembrance for cremations was founded in St. Saviour's cemetery
1987 Hungerford shooting tragedy
1988-89 Archaelogical Dig at Undy's Farm
1988 The Mission Hall was demolished
1988 An archaeological dig took place at Undy's Farm
1988 Resort Hotels bought the Bear Hotel
1988 The police station was given a complete refurbishment
1988 Following the Hungerford Tragedy the firearms act was amended
1989 The management of the Croft reverted to the Town and Manor of Hungerford
1989 Hungerford Hospital closed
1989 An archaeological dig in Charnham Park found relics linked to both the Stone and Bronze Ages
1989 Crown Mews and Crown Passage was developed
1989 The English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Championship club West Bromwich Albion was born in Hungerford
1990 TV presenter Johnny Morris buried his wife Sybil in the orchard at Hopgrass farm
1990 The Kennet and Avon Canal was fully re-opened after restoration
1990 New roundabout and road from Eddington Bridge to Swindon road was built
1990 St. John's Court was built on the site of the old Mission Hall
1991 Hungerford Primary School buildings were vastly improved
1991 The recording of audio archives from Hungefordians started and placed on the Hungerford Virtual Museum website
1991 A video entitled "Hungerford - a Town for Industry" was made
1991 Hungerford and District Community Arts Festival (HADCAF) set up
1992 Hungerford Town Football club won the Berks and Bucks Senior Cup
1992 A replica of the Lucas Horn was given to the Town and Manor by John Newton
1992 The newest Hungerford horn was donated by John Newton and made by Robin Tubb, the Bellman and Town Crier
1992 The Kennet Way development was started by Trencherwood New Homes Ltd
1992 A number of Croatian refugees were housed in Hungerford Hospital
1993 Paul Lewington took over from his uncle "Bob" as Orangeman on Tutti-Day.
1993 Oral history recordings with local Hungerford residents started
1993 9 Bridge Street had been a barbers for 77 years
1994 Boots the Chemists established at 125 High Street
1994 The old Hungerford Hospital was sold to Trencherwood for building
1995 Ramsbury Drive by Trencherwood New Homes Ltd
1995 Aldbourne Close by Trencherwood New Homes Ltd
1995 Julie Shuttleworth's book Elizabethan Hungerford was published
1996 Day care centre opened up in the grounds of the of the Hungerford Hospital
1996 Hungerford Leisure centre at the John O'Gaunt School was opened up
1996 The Kennet Way housing development was completed
1996 The new Texaco garage with a shop and canopy were built in
1996 The Morley Lunches were established for pensioners by Terry Tracey, Ian Morley and Diane "Diggie" Hall
1996 The Tuesday Club a club for people with disabilities or difficulties was formed
1996 There was a major fire at Eddington House
1997 The Chapel at the workhouse in Park Street was converted into two dwellings
1997 The Tuttiman reverted to its original name -The Borough Arms
1997 The new roundabout on the A4 was made to divert traffic into Charnham Park
1997 The St. John's Ambulance HQ in Station Road was closed
1998 Hungerford Fish Mortality
1998 There was a large fish mortality in Hungerford caused by an algal bloom
1998 Hungerford Hospital demolished
1998 The Kennet Enterprise centre (off Charnham Street) was built
1998 Berkshire Labels relocated to Charnham Park in 1998
1998 The new bridge across the canal above Cobblers Lock was built
1999 Bruce Mayhew elected at Constable of the Town and Manor
1999 Hungerford's first large supermarket built in Everlands Road
1999 New Summerfield and car park built in Everland Road
1999 100 trees were planted on Hungerford Common as a millennium project
1999 Through a National Lottery grant, Hungerford Town Band purchased new instruments
1999 Charnham Street public conveniences were demolished
1999 A report on the 10 closed circuit television cameras were installed in the town was made
1999 Johnny Morris the likeable TV presenter died
1999 The Probus Club was formed
1999 Hungerford Cricket club won the Southern Premier League
1999 Lo Heat in Everland Road was demolished
2008 New library and council office opened in Church Street
2012 Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee
2012 Jubilee Pedestrian bridge built over canal
2015 Queen Elizabeth celebrates being the longest reigning monarch - 9 Sep - 63 yrs, 216 days
2017 Fire Station in Church Street re-developed as a Tri-force Station
2022-now: Charles III
See also:
- Events
The Canal Wharf, 2011