By W. L. Barker, Esq. 149 



der it was presented to the townsmen of Hungerford, in whose 

 hands it has since remained. I have enumerated the respective 

 rights of the Borough and Manor of Hungerford. Conjointly 

 they include a fishery in the Kennet, grievously curtailed in its 

 proportions, since it was first granted, but even now 3 miles in 

 extent, 226f acres of pasturage on Hungerford port downs and 

 Freeman's Marsh, 39 acres of arable land, a public house, called 

 the Duke of Lancaster's Arms, and the right of electing a Constable, 

 Portrevee, Bailifi", Hayward and Overseers of Common once a year. 



Perhaps there are some in this assemblage whose mirth may be 

 excited by the exertions which have been made to discover the 

 true donor of a gift of such moderate dimensions. To such I would 

 say, that the inhabitants of Hungerford prize the lands and waters 

 they have so long inherited, not so much for their intrinsic value, 

 as for the evidence they afibrd of the generosity of our early Kings, 

 the enviable exception they form to the privileges of neighbouring 

 towns, and the tie which thus connects them with the traditions of 

 a venerable past. 



The common rights pertain to 95 houses in the town ; the head 

 of the household can alone enjoy them. The number of animals 

 that a commoner is allowed to pasture at one time is limited to 

 four horses or eight cows. Commoners residing in the Borough, 

 may graze cattle on the downs or marsh ; those living in the tithing 

 of Sandon Fee, fifteen in number, are confined to the marsh. 

 The greatest number of animals permitted to feed on the downs 

 is 219 horses or 438 cows ; on the marsh 21 horses or 42 cows. 

 It is the duty of the hayward to tend the animals that graze on 

 the common. This instrument, his wand of oflBce, is left in 

 rotation at the houses of those whose cattle feed on the down 

 pasturage, for as many days as each house-holder possesses heads of 

 cattle, at the rate of 14d. a day. The money thus raised forms 

 the stipend of the hayward. The privileges belonging to the 

 common being under consideration, I may mention that prior to 

 the year 1812, the northern portion of the Hungerford downs was 

 divided into linchets, the remains of which are still visible, rising 

 one above the other in regular gradation. Each linchet was 



