On the land between the old Ebenezer Wesleyan Chapel (on your left) and the Hungerford Hub (Library, on your right) a huge animal feed mill was built in 1932 – the Great Western Mill. It was a big employer in the town.
On Wednesday 22nd June 1960 a huge fire started in the mill at 4.00am. Despite the best efforts of 20 fire tenders and pumps, and three turntable ladders, the building was totally destroyed. The fire was so severe that the adjacent railway was closed for several days because of the timber sleepers catching fire.
How appropriate that when a new mill was built further west towards Smitham Bridge, Hungerford’s new fire station was built on the site of the old mill. It opened in 1968 and became Berkshire’s first Tri-Service Station in 2017.
Listen to the audio description by clicking the link below:
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