Churches of the British Isles

Bridge Street Primitive Methodist Chapel stands on the western side of Bridge Street, about thirty metres south-west of the junction with The Forge. The first chapel here opened in 1830 in opposition to Ebenezer Wesleyan Chapel (see links). The present chapel was built in 1864 and a Sunday School was added in 1907. Today it serves as Hungerford Methodist Church, combining the post-war remnants of its own congregation with that of Charnham Street (above).

St John the Baptist's Hospital stood on the island between the two branches of the River Dunn at Bridge Street's northern end (this 1921 photo shows the island and war memorial). Founded before 1232 it was meant for lodging poor, sick, and infirm persons. By the 1400s it was noted as a free chapel of royal foundation, and seemingly no longer a hospital at the Dissolution. Still in existence in 1665-66, work on the current bridge in 1740 probably removed its remnants.

Hungerford & Ramsbury Union Workhouse Chapel is at the south-east corner of Park Street and Ramsbury Terrace on the eastern side of Hungerford. The town had a workhouse in operation from about 1729. With it being overseen by an elected 'Board of Guardians', in 1847 new buildings were erected on this site. The workhouse later became Hungerford Hospital, but in the late 1990s the site was completely cleared for housing. Only the former chapel survived.

Hungerford Congregational Chapel was built on the western side of the High Street, around ninety metres south of the junction with Park Street. In 1672 the house of Daniel Reade was licensed for Presbyterian worship. The first purpose-built chapel here dates to 1806, set back from the street. The present building with its Georgian facade was erected in front of the first chapel in 1840 (which became the Sunday School). Today it is Hungerford United Reformed Church.

The Mission Hall of St John the Baptist, Hungerford, stood at the north-east corner of the Salisbury Road and Priory Road junction, with Tarrant's Hill on its eastern flank (behind the building here). It was built in 1899 under the auspices of Captain Hatton and his wife to ensure the town's labourers and artisans began attending regular services. Post-war attendances fell off, with it being closed in 1984. Demolished in 1987, the site was redeveloped as St John's Court.

One photo on this page by P L Kessler, one from the History Files collection, two kindly contributed by Hungerford Virtual Museum, and one photo copyright © Chris Talbot and one copyright © Mike Smith, and both reused under a cc licence.