Summer in Hungerford - Thursday 2nd May 2013

In the garden adjacent to our last nights mooring we saw the children in their super Tree House, it looked as though it had all mod-cons with hoists and proper steps up to it.

As we bade Great Bedwyn our goodbyes we passed the old Dutch Barge, which the family who lived close by, were renovating; whilst we were chatting yesterday afternoon I saw some of the doors and they were lovely old mahogany in a quality you would not get today.
When we had travelled up we had not had time to appreciate the countryside but taking a leisurely cruise back we were impressed with the scenery and the views of the river. It was even better because spring had finally sprung and the trees were beginning to become green at last.
We soon reached Cobblers Lock where the lovely lock side cottage has been left to fall into ruin with smashed windows and peeling paint. Such a shame as it would make somebody a lovely home.

We eventually reached Hungerford Marsh Lock with its swing bridge right over the middle necessitating swinging the bridge before you can negotiate the lock. I can only surmise that the bridge was put in after the lock and to save money they went over the top rather than as would have been more sensible over the canal immediately below the lock, probably when the canal was in a disused state.

A little further on we came to the Hungerford Church Lock so named because it is adjacent to the church. As June opened it so a large group of walkers decided to watch her, non offered to help however but several said that they had wondered how the bridges were opened and now they knew.

We moored up at Hungerford Wharf at 11.30 with not another boat in sight, we had expected it to be busy but as we had only passed one boat on the move perhaps we were being pessimistic. Indeed we never saw another boat on the move all day.

After lunch I took Phoenix for a walk back up the lock and into the Hungerford Marsh Nature Reserve. It is a delightful walk which follows the River Dunn which is clear as crystal and filled with Trout. They just move away from the bank as you approach and keep station in the fast flowing water waiting for food to come down river.


I walked back over Marsh Lock Swing Bridge along the towpath and via the Church with its distinctive tower into the town.
Walking out of the Church Yard I came to The Church Croft which is the site of the first Hungerford village circa 1553 and is about an acre in size and was given to the people by John Undewes and his wife for an annual gift of One Red Rose. It was to be used for Sport and if you look around today you will see the Tennis Club, the Bowls Club as well as a Surgery, Play Group and the Hungerford Club.

Whilst on my walk I spotted a few interesting cottages in the town some just like the chocolate box image one associated with villages.

Returning to the boat I stopped off at the cafe by the bridge to buy June and I one of their delicious ice creams which we ate sitting on the bench on the green next to the boat enjoying the glorious sunny afternoon. I was surprised that the sun did not go in as I had put my shorts on and that is not a pretty sight I can tell you, milk bottles come to mind.