Hungerford Common
The Hungerford Common project involved the interpretation, transcription and recording of all archaeological features visible on aerial photographs for two areas of common land in Hungerford, Hungerford Common and Freeman’s Marsh. A contextual area around the common land was also surveyed. The survey took place between February and April 2005 and was part of a wider project undertaken by English Heritage’s Archaeological Survey and Investigation team called the Urban Commons Project. The Urban Commons Project involved the survey of a sample of urban commons across England, mainly through ground-based survey, in order to understand the nature and extent of archaeological remains preserved in these areas.
Using a combination of historical vertical aerial photographs and more recent oblique photographs taken by Aerial Survey and Investigation’s Reconnaissance team earthwork remains in both areas of common land were interpreted and then transcribed at 1:2,500 scale resulting in a detailed and accurate digital plan of the archaeology of the area. The interpretations and descriptions of the sites were recorded in the National Monuments Record database.
The earliest remains visible on the two areas of common land were earthwork fragments of field systems originally made up of small rectangular fields. In the case of Hungerford Common these appear to be the remains of a late prehistoric or Roman field system similar to those that have been mapped from aerial photographs in the Marlborough Downs and Lambourn Downs. On Freeman’s Marsh the terracing running down to the valley floor may date to the medieval period, as may an area of terracing to the north side of Hungerford Common.
As the commons have been used for numerous different activities by the inhabitants of Hungerford for hundreds of years some of the earthwork remains could date to any number of periods. These include the areas of quarrying, perhaps for clay with flints, river gravels or chalk, which are visible on both commons. On Hungerford Common long irregular ridges appear to show that there was an attempt to improve the common at some point, perhaps to improve the quality of the grazing.
The areas of common land are located close to the River Dun and the River Kennet. Some of the former water meadows that are visible as earthworks were also mapped as part of the project in the river valleys. Water meadows are a series of channels, ridges and sluices that were designed to promote the growth of grass as early as possible in the spring by raising the temperature of the ground surface. This provided much need fodder after the winter for the area’s sheep industry. The first water meadows in England are thought to date to the 17th century but they may have been in used right up to the 20th century. The variety of forms of water meadows visible in the river valleys near Hungerford may reflect their differing dates and extents of use.
Parts of the Second World War Kennet and Avon stop line were also recorded from the aerial photographs during the project. The stop line was part of the three-stranded GHQ line, a defensive line that was meant to stop enemy troops advancing on the industrial heartlands of the Midlands. A number of pillboxes were recorded along the line of the Kennet and Avon canal and road blocks were also recorded in the town itself.
Hungerford Common today remains an important resource for the people of Hungerford to use at their leisure. The trustees of the ‘Town and Manor of Hungerford’ were given formal rights over the common in the 17th century and overseers for Hungerford Common were appointed by the Hocktide jury. These ancient traditions still continue in the town today and are from where the town’s ‘Tutti’ day celebrations originate.
Email this to a friend