URPoint Details
A picturesque country town, nestling in the Kennet Valley, between Marlborough and Newbury on the main London to Bath road. One of the oldest and most notable local buildings, at the corner of the Bath Road in Hungerford, is the Bear Hotel, a low white building whose origins go back as far as the 13th century.
It was settled by Henry VIII on two of his queens and, as a coaching stage and post house on the Bath Road, it was host to many royal travellers, including William of Orange who in 1688 met the King\'s Commissioners a few days before James II fled to France.
The two main streets are Charnham on the A4 and Bridge Street/High Street running adjacent.
The town is steeped in history, is a haven of antique shops including a large antiques centre. The town, built where various routes met to cross the river, was of some importance as early as 1200 when it was referred to as a 'community of burgesses'.
Richard the First granted it its present seal and John of Gaunt gave it fishing rights on the Kennet as well as a brass horn which is still kept as a very rare possession. John also exacted a nominal rent of a red rose for the fishing, which is given to any reigning monarch who
- Type:
- Landmark