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This article was sent by Dr Jimmy Whittaker, March 2021.

Hungerford’s Little Known Listed Buildings:

In a previous article, I wrote about Hungerford’s historic K6 phone box found in the High Street having listed building status or, more precisely, a “Building of Special Architectural or Historic Interest”.

Since photographing and cataloguing the remaining gravestones in St. Lawrence’s, I discovered that three of the chest tombs have listed building status.

As you almost get to the main entrance to the church when entering from Parsonage Lane, look over to the left (south east corner ) of the church and you will see these very old graves. The inscriptions on these tombs were originally recorded in 1987 by Betty Clarke, then a member of the Hungerford Historical Association. Today they are almost unreadable.

At the time of writing, I have applied to English Heritage for the Hogsflesh family tomb situated in the small graveyard in front of Chapel House, Church Street, to have a similar protected status. In essence anyone can apply for such an entry to be made and before you ask the question “No, you don’t have to even own the property“!

The notes have been collated from other articles in the Virtual Museum.

Photo Gallery:

Robinson (1)
Robinson (1)
Robinson (2)
Robinson (2)
Robinson (3)
Robinson (3)
Robinson 1984
Robinson 1984
Westall (1)
Westall (1)
Westall (2)
Westall (2)
Westall (3)
Westall (3)
Westall (4)
Westall (4)
Westall 1984
Westall 1984
Whale (1)
Whale (1)
Whale (2)
Whale (2)
Whale 1984
Whale 1984

Photos taken in 1984 and 2021.


The Robinson Family Tomb:

This grave is found at location 223 on the graveyard map.

English Heritage Entry Name: Chest Tomb 1 Metre South of Robinson Tomb and 10 Metres from South East Corner of Church
Listing Date: 8 June 1984
Grade: II
Source: Historic England
Source ID: 1212392
English Heritage Legacy ID: 396898
Location: Hungerford, West Berkshire, RG17
County: West Berkshire
Civil Parish: Hungerford
Built-Up Area: Hungerford
Traditional County: Berkshire
Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Berkshire
Church of England Parish: Hungerford with Denford
Church of England Diocese: Oxford

Description

HUNGERFORD PARSONAGE LANE
SU 3368
18/26 Chest Tomb 1 Metre South of Robinson Tomb and 10 Metres from South East corner of Church
G.V. II
Tomb. C18. Rendered brick with flat stone slab. Plain rectangular chest.
Inscription illegible.
Listing NGR: SU3343968701

Memorial Inscription:

A) IMO/JOHN ROBINSON who died February 23rd, 1746 aged 58 years.

B) Also JOHN son of JOHN and WINIFRED ROBINSON who died August 18th 1740 aged 24 years.

C) IMO/MARY wife of THOMAS ROBINSON who died March 19th 1765 aged 42 years.

D.) IMO/WINIFRED wife of JOHN who died September 24th 1749 aged 29 years.

E) IMO/JOHN son of THOMAS and MARY ROBINSON who died May 7th 1772 aged 22 years.

TOP
THOMAS ROBINSON who died 23rd October 1803 aged 77. Also ANN, THOMAS and MARY ROBINSON who died 23rd September 1818 aged 64 years.

Notes: There have been Robinsons in Hungerford since the late 1500’s and they must have been quite a prominent family since Robinsons have been Constables of the Town and Manor for over 160 years as the list below probably shows a family tradition.
1638 John
1696 Thomas
1709 Thomas
1716 Thomas
1718 John
1720 Thomas
1722 John
1723 Thomas
1740 Thomas
1755 Thomas
1779 Thomas

Properties mentioning Robinsons

17 High Street
1591 (NH) John Truslowe – 1 tenement, garden, backside (+2 ½ acres arable erased) now in tenure of Richard Robinson q.r. 2d. [This Richard Robinson is probably "Richard Robinson als Hunt butcher whose wife was buried in 1597 and who (as Richard Hunte) lost a servant and a kinsman in the same year – possibly of plague?]

1600 (NH) (HCB) J. Truslove
1609 (NH) Richard Robinson, tenement and backside from Richard Tuslove, whose freehold it was, q.r. 2d. [Richard Truslove, heir of John Truslove, was admitted freeholder at the Hocktide Court of 1600. In 1621 Richard Truslove was in turn succeeded by his heir John Truslow. In 1630 John Truslowe's tenements were purchased by John Goldsmith (Hocktide Court). An inquisition post mortem on John Goldsmith 25 Aug 1640 states that he held 1 messuage + 1 acre of land and pasture in Hungerford on the west side of the High Street, lately purchased of John Truslow gent. His son Thomas aged 26 was his heir. In 1648 the Hocktide Court book accords that Henry Robinson als Hunt paid his fee for admission as freeholder in respect of lands which had been Goldsmith's and which he has by purchase from Joseph Sare. Henry is listed as a freesuitor in 1652. He was probably succeeded by Thomas Robinson who was admitted 1655, and is still listed in 1672, In 1673 John Bacon replaced him by purchase, but see also 1674. At this stage tracks become confused, because nothing in the H.C.B. shows a successor to Thomas Robinson; indeed the 1680 list of commoners contains two Thomas Robinsons, viz. senior and junior. Beyond this therefore it would at this stage be unsafe to conjecture further]

25 High Street

1781 (CL) Entry 98 = Thomas Robinson = 25HS ; Edward Duke to S. = 26HS & William Pike to N. = ?24HS
[Note: 1717 Probate PCC will of Thomas Robinson brazier refers to "the copyhold estate wherein I now live". Wife Joan, sons John and Thomas. Son-in-law John Hamblin. Daughter Susannah, dated 1711/12]
[Note: 1742 DCW will Thomas Robinson leaves all freehold land and houses to his daughter Susannah]
[Note: Probate 1804 DCW will Thomas Robinson, mercer. Son Thomas has already had his share of estate. Eldest daughter Mary, also Winifred, Ann and Jane, for whom his freehold and leasehold estates are to be held in trust by John Pearce, gent, and Anthony Woodroffe, gent. Dated 1802.]
[Note: 1828 DCW Admon Ann, leaving Mary, Winifred and Jane]
[Note: 1836 DCW will of Winifred: Mary and Jane still alive. Lands and tenements left to Thomas M(?) elder and younger as tenants in common in trust for his sisters.]

28 High Street

1789 (DD) Abstract of Title dated 1873 refers John Simmons bought property (prob 30 HS) from Thomas Robinson, mercer, in October 1789.

30 High Street

1753-61 (QR) Thomas Robinson (Coxhead deleted), q.r. 2d.


The Westall Family Tomb:

This grave is found at location 212 on the graveyard map.

English Heritage Entry Name: Westall Tomb 12 Metres South East of South East Corner of Church
Listing Date: 8 June 1984
Grade: II
Source: Historic England
Source ID: 1212393
English Heritage Legacy ID: 396899
Location: Hungerford, West Berkshire, RG17
County: West Berkshire
Civil Parish: Hungerford
Built-Up Area: Hungerford
Traditional County: Berkshire
Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Berkshire
Church of England Parish: Hungerford with Denford
Church of England Diocese: Oxford

Description

HUNGERFORD PARSONAGE LANE
SU 3368
18/25 Westall Tomb 12 Metres
South East of South East
corner of Church
G.V. II
Tomb. Early C19. Stone. Flat topped chest with moulded edge to top. Carved urn corners flanking flat inscribed panels on low moulded plinth.
Inscribed to John Westall, Thomas Westall and Richard Westall.
Listing NGR: SU3344068696

Memorial Inscription:

Right Hand side of tomb - STTMO/ Mr. RICHARD WESTALL citizen and Haberdasher of London who died 29th June 1760 aged 42 years.
Left Hand side of tomb - STTMO/ JOHN WESTALL citizen and ironmonger of London who died 27th April 1757 aged 51 years.
Top of tomb - THOMAS WESTALL Haberdasher of South .... who died May 30th 1817 aged 50 years.
West End of tomb. - STTMO/WINIFRED wife of THOMAS WESTALL who died 30th January 1819 aged 43 years.
East End of tomb - Also FANNY widow of JOHN who died 28th February 1853 aged 83 yrs.

Notes: Richard and John Westall were the sons of William and Martha Westall and were both born in Hungerford on the 4th October 1700 and the 5th June 1706 respectively. Both brothers then left Hungerford to live and work in London. Richard worked as a haberdasher (a dealer in small items used in sewing, such as buttons, zips, and thread.) and John as an ironmonger.

Fanny was born in Newbury in 1770 and in 1851 was a former postmistress living in the High Street.

Her husband John Westall was a shopkeeper and postmaster from 1809 until 1836 had been recommended to the position as postmaster by Lord Ailesbury. Following his death in 1836 and burial on 22nd August 1836, his son John became postmaster in Hungerford from 1836 until 1840.


The Whale Family Tomb:

This grave is found at location 206 on the graveyard map.
English Heritage Entry Name: Whale Tomb 13 Metres South East of South Corner of Church
Listing Date: 8 June 1984
Grade: II
Source: Historic England
Source ID: 1212394
English Heritage Legacy ID: 396900
Location: Hungerford, West Berkshire, RG17
County: West Berkshire
Civil Parish: Hungerford
Built-Up Area: Hungerford
Traditional County: Berkshire
Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Berkshire
Church of England Parish: Hungerford with Denford
Church of England Diocese: Oxford

Description

HUNGERFORD PARSONAGE LANE
SU 3368
18/24 Whale Tomb 13 Metres
South East of South corner of Church
G.V. II
Tomb. Late C18. Stone. Plain chest with flat slab on rectangular base.

Inscribed to John Whale and his wife Sarah.
Listing NGR: SU3343968691

Memorial Inscription:

JOHN WHALE died 20th September 1788 aged 58 years.
SARAH his wife died 18th August 1790 aged near 60.
JANE their daughter 12th September 1771 aged 3.
MARIA JANE WHALE 28th May 1860 aged 88.

Notes: John Whale was born in Hungerford in 1733 and married twice. He married Sarah Barnard on March 3rd 1758 in Speen Church and then married Sarah Stevens. Between his wives he had six children who were Elisabeth, William Shepherd, John, Jane Maria, Thomas and Maria Jane.

In an insurance policy issued by the Royal Exchange Insurance Co based in Guildford Vol. 11 Policy No. 95048 31 October 1785: John Whale the elder of the parish of Hungerford we learn that he was an inn keeper at the Black Bear which was situated in Charnham Street and that the property also consisted of a brick built dwelling house with four stables and a meadow. Valued at £1400.

In another insurance policy also issued the Royal Exchange Insurance Co based in Guildford Vol. 11 Policy No. 95049 on 31 October 1785 we learn that his son John Whale t was also living in Charnham Street and owned a brick built , house with attached offices and he was a baker and a dealer and so the inference is that he did not follow his father as being an inn keeper. Valued at £400.He later became an iron monger whilst his wife Sarah was still running the Black bear until 1796. 

See also:

- Listed Buildings of Hungerford