A beautiful side excursion can be taken soon after leaving Ramsbury to Aldbourne, three miles from the Hungerford road.  This small town, which boasts a fine church of much dignity and interest, is situated at the end of the lonely expanse of Aldbourne Chase.  From the heights above views may be had of the distant Cotswold and Malvern Hills.  Chilton Foliat, picturesquely placed on the river bank, is the only village passed on the way to Hungerford.  Its church contains a number of monuments to the Popham family and a cross-legged effigy of an unknown person.

Kintbury is three miles from Hungerford on the road which follows the canal and railway toward Newbury.  The interesting and partly Norman church was pulled about in a shameful manner in the middle of the last century.  Another restoration about forty years ago repaired the mischief as far as was possible.  The Norman doorways remain much in their original condition, also the chancel arch and the two squints.  Kintbury is a pleasant and typical Berkshire village, little altered by the railway, which seems to have spared these old towns and villages in the Kennet valley in a remarkable way, possibly because “desirable villadom” has taken itself entirely to the banks of the Thames away to the north.

The road may be now taken northwards over the Kennet Bridge in two miles to Avington, which is only about two miles from Hungerford direct and just off the main Newbury road.  The church here should on no account be missed.  It is a perfect gem of pure Norman architecture, the only portion of later date being the Tudor south porch and arch near the font; the priest’s door; vestry arch and window, and a low side window.  It will be noticed that the chancel arch is broken at the top.  The font has grotesque sculpture upon it, the subjects being doubtful.  The early carvings and arabesques in the church are of great interest and will repay careful scrutiny.  Avington is one of the smallest of hamlets, but wonderfully pretty in its setting of green on the river-bank.  The picturesque rectory is close to the church.

The Newbury road runs about half a mile north of the river past Stock Cross and Benham Park to Speen, generally supposed to be identical with Spinae, the Roman station at the junction of the roads from Bath and Cirencester to Silchester.  Not far from the rebuilt church is an ancient well over which has been erected in recent years a Gothic arch.  One mile farther, eight from Hungerford, and we are in Newbury, perhaps the “new burb” in comparison with the older settlement of Speen.  A castle built in 1140 was in existence but a few years.  It was destroyed by King Stephen after being held for the Empress Maud during a three months’ siege.  Newbury took part in the Wars of the Roses and stood for the House of York.  When the Lancastrians entered the town in 1460 the partisans of York were put to the sword.  Every one has heard of “Jack of Newbury.”  He was a rich cloth merchant named John Smallwood