A bit of a mouthful we know, but the Town and Manor of Hungerford and Liberty of Sanden Fee, or the Town and Manor as we call it for short, is a charity (formed in 1908) that protects the beautiful countryside, and a wonderful ancient set of rights, for the Commoners and people of Hungerford.
The Town and Manor of Hungerford has a unique history going back nearly 800 years.
It probably all started in the 13th Century, building on the Right to hold Markets and Fairs, and the Assize of Bread and Ale, granted to the good people of Hungerford during the reign of King Henry III (1216 – 1272).
These Rights were confirmed during the reigns of King Edward I (1272-1307) and Edward III (1327 -1377), with the addition of Grazing Rights on the Royal Estate land around the town. Fishing Rights were added by John O’Gaunt, the fourth son of Edward III; a generous act that made him the adopted son of the town to this day.
There is an extensive collection of information on the history of Hungerford and the Town and Manor on the Hungerford Virtual Museum.
The Fishery is strictly private land and is not subject to any Countryside Rights of Way, neither is it registered common land or village green. The only people allowed access are commoners who have registered to fish and our paying Rods.
The Hungerford Commoners have a right to fish on three days of the week, over the main fishery. The Sanden Fee Commoners have a right to fish on Freeman’s Marsh. The Commoners have given the Trustees permission to open up the rivers to paying rods, thereby raising income for the benefit of the charity. We run 12 beats, The Main River Kennet Fishery (Beats 1-10), Hungerford Marsh Fishery (Beat 11) and Freeman’s Marsh (Beat 12).
The Main River Kennet Fishery consists of ten beats stretching from the Chilton Foliat fishery downstream to Avington. A sport fishery has been running here at Hungerford since the Wilton Fly Fishing Club started in 1876. In the intervening years, many of the country’s best-known anglers have fished at Hungerford and continue to do so, in recognition of the quality of the fishing on offer.
Advertisement for letting of Hungerford Fishery
28th September 1851.
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The Wine Cellar pool
The wine cellar pool on the River Kennet at Hungerford has been mentioned in piscatorial writings for over a hundred years, why? It is just a gentle left hand bend of which there are many, no tales of leviathans being winched from mysterious depths after epic battles, not even modest sized trout stare down from glass cases in local pubs.
I have come across two accounts, one oral and one literary:
The book on the Wilton fly fishing club, which has is origins in Hungerford, suggests that as the sun sinks in the evening sky the river viewed from the east turns the colour of claret, I should think this would be most noticeable after a strong southerly wind when the atmosphere contains dust from the Sahara.
The other, a local version recounted to me by Lieutenant Colonel Donald Macey who managed the fishery when I first came to Hungerford. Apparently at one time there was a fishing hut on the east bank of the river, it is long since gone and no trace remains. However, before improved roads, anglers would travel to Hungerford to fish the Kennet for mayfly fortnight, residing in local inns and hotels. During the long days of late May and early June lunch would be taken at this hut. To offset the heat of early summer, bottles, whether wine or ale would be hung in the water to cool, thus anyone passing pre-lunch would see a variety of strings and suspended refreshment.
I do not know if either, neither or both of these stories are correct but angling has always been poetic in its recollections.
Rob Knight-Starr, Water Keeper
