We didn't rush to get up as there was rain this morning and it was a little breezy. When we did leave the boat to venture up the High Street we wondered where everybody was on market day. A little later when we had walked past the railway bridge we wondered where the market was, never mind the punters! We did get some nice baked goods though. A massive cheese straw, scones and a lardy cake. It is no wonder we are sworn off bread. It is to make room for all the cake we eat.
There are antique shops a plenty in the town. Most of them are well beyond what we would pay, and more to the point not what we want to buy. It doesn't mean that we can't enjoy a good poke about in them to spot the things that maybe worth something when we come to down size in a year or so. We have several chimney pots and they were selling for around £80. Helen was amazed that there were step ladders for sale to for nearly that price. I have several in our garage that would scrub up well I reckon. The Hungerford Arcade is like a Tardis with lots of little areas full of antiques and what they call 'collectables'. The things with those is that we can go along and say either 'I have one of those', 'I always wanted one of those' or, 'oh heck I sold one of those for 10p at a car boot'! The fact is that we should be grateful that we are not quite classed as antiques yet. Helen did find a little jug and bowl by Crown Devon. Crown Devon ware has never been made in Devon and comes from the ceramic centre of Stoke on Trent. Simon Fielding lent money to some potters to start up in business. His son was working in a colour factory. The business went bust so Simon Fielding bought it and eventually his son was made the boss. They changed the name of the pottery to Crown Devon from the Railway Pottery after a series of wares that they had made under that name. The company went out of business in 1982. Helen has always liked a little jug.
There are antique shops a plenty in the town. Most of them are well beyond what we would pay, and more to the point not what we want to buy. It doesn't mean that we can't enjoy a good poke about in them to spot the things that maybe worth something when we come to down size in a year or so. We have several chimney pots and they were selling for around £80. Helen was amazed that there were step ladders for sale to for nearly that price. I have several in our garage that would scrub up well I reckon. The Hungerford Arcade is like a Tardis with lots of little areas full of antiques and what they call 'collectables'. The things with those is that we can go along and say either 'I have one of those', 'I always wanted one of those' or, 'oh heck I sold one of those for 10p at a car boot'! The fact is that we should be grateful that we are not quite classed as antiques yet. Helen did find a little jug and bowl by Crown Devon. Crown Devon ware has never been made in Devon and comes from the ceramic centre of Stoke on Trent. Simon Fielding lent money to some potters to start up in business. His son was working in a colour factory. The business went bust so Simon Fielding bought it and eventually his son was made the boss. They changed the name of the pottery to Crown Devon from the Railway Pottery after a series of wares that they had made under that name. The company went out of business in 1982. Helen has always liked a little jug.
The cavernous inside of the Hungerford Arcade.
We went to the Tutti Pole Tea Rooms for a coffee and teacake. This is the place where the Hocktide event starts from. The Hocktide is the proper name for Tutti Day which is the second Tuesday after Easter. It now marks the last day of the Town Council's administrative year. The Town Crier, or Bellman, calls commoners to the council. Two Tutti men are dressed up and holding a Tutti Pole that is wreathed in flowers. They are also accompanied by an Oragneman. There task was to go around the houses of the commoners, about 100 houses now, to collect the rent. Now they collect kisses and distribute an orange in exchange. The proprietors of the tea room have taken part in the ceremony for three generations and are very proud of the fact.
Tutti Pole Tea Rooms just round the corner from the canal bridge. The food looked very good and the prices reasonable.
In the afternoon we walked up the tow path to St Lawrence's church for a look around. We then walked up to Marsh lock and over the Freeman's Marsh Reserve. This reserve is to the west of the town and to the east is Hungerford Common. These are lands that were granted as common land by John O'Gaunt who had the manor in the late 14th Century. These lands are still administered by the Twon Council and manor of Hungerford as well as is the John O'Gaunt pub and the Croft green as well as the fishing rights of the Rivers Dun and Kennet.
St Lawrence's Church, Hungerford.
The canal seems much quieter today maybe hire boats are having to get close to their bases and as it isn't quite as warm as recently others may not be moving from their berths. We will move on tomorrow how ever.
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