English Heritage has embarked upon the restoration of some wall murals in Farleigh Hungerford in Somerset. The photograph above shows an image of St George as a 15th-century knight, and has suffered over the centuries from damp conditions and misguided previous attempts to save it. You can read about the work here which describes it as “part of a nationwide effort to safeguard 77 wall paintings in English Heritage’s portfolio”.
But who was the “1440s….First Lord of Hungerford” responsible for the creation of the mural? I had no real idea, and so started to investigate. There seem to have been three Barons Hungerford in that period. In time-honoured fashion, I will list them in reverse order because I found the 3rd Baron first, if you see what I mean.
He was Robert Hungerford, 3rd Baron Hungerford, who lived from circa 1429 and died 17th May 1464, so he seems a possible candidate. He was a Lancastrian and escaped from Towton, only to be executed eventually by Edward IV. But although he was alive during the 1440s, he wasn’t the 1st Baron, of course.
Number two in the list was Robert’s father, another Robert Hungerford, the 2nd Baron Hungerford (1409–1459). Still not the 1st Baron.
At last, number three in the list and the 1st Baron. Walter Hungerford KG, Speaker of the House of Commons, Lord Treasurer and father of the 2nd baron. He lived from 1378 to 9th August 1449. So for me it was third time lucky. Here we have the Lord Hungerford who was responsible for the creation of the beautiful image of St George shown above. He isn’t buried at Farleigh Hungerford, but in Salisbury Cathedral. You can read a lot more about him at here and about Farleigh Castle itself and the wall painting at this site.
murreyandblue 
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