85 & 86 High Street.

Despite the appearance of the High Street frontage, 85 & 86 High Street comprise a two-bay cruck house, which had a single bay open hall at its north end (86 High Street). The roof of the north bay is heavily smoke blackened from the early days when an open fire would have burned in the hall before hearths and chimneys were created.
It is the only property in Hungerford known to have a cruck frame construction, and it is possible that 85 & 86 High Street are the oldest surviving properties in the town.
In October 2009 the timbers of 86 High Street were assessed for dendrochronological study. The result of the survey was of great interest, and two of the samples could be precisely dated to a felling date during the winter of 1448/49.
It is likely that the two-bay house was erected in 1449. This is only 50 years after John of Gaunt died.
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