Calne, Wiltshire

Long Service

I remember as a child being taken to see my uncle Ewart who was employed at Calne Railway Station for 55 years. My cousin Jean (his daughter) told me that he also used to use a long pole to put out the gas street lamps when on his way home. As a lad he had worked for Angells greengrocers but had... [more]

Station Road

I have very fond memories of walking up this road in order to catch the old steam train to Chippenham, but alighting at Black Dog so that we could visit my grandparents who lived in Stanley. In younger days, I would paddle in the canal which partially ran alongside this road and catch tiddlers in a jam jar. Later... [more]

My memories of Calne as a small boy

Please visit www.moonrakers.com/memories.pdf where you can download my humorous account of my rather mischievous childhood in Calne in the 50's and 60's, called MEMORIES OF CALNE.

A copy of this book is lodged with the town library.

Puppet Show

We went to a puppet show inside the Town Hall - organised by Sharpe's Toffees I think. It has to be around 1955 - 58. My father worked at RAF Yatesbury and we lived in Curzon Street. I can remember this view of the Town Hall quite clearly as I think the Calne Junior Infants went to school to the right... [more]

The White Horse, Cherhill

At one time a favourite place for picnics. Can anyone remember when the RAF lads tipped tins of paint over the white horse turning it red, white and blue?

The White Horse pub

I was born in the White Horse pub in Calne in 1952, at No 1 Wood Street. My grandparents, Alec and Dorothy Poole, were landlords at the time. I loved to stay there as a very small child and my room was a cosy room in the attic with a window to the street. They had a budgie called Joey and... [more]

Calne,

I worked in Harris's factory in the early 70's, first in the sausage room then in the pre-pack bacon, then into the tinned ham room. Not the best job I have had but it kept the wolf from the door. My! how Calne has changed since then!

White Hart Hotel, London Road Calne

I worked for Jo & George Thomas (George & the Dragon) at the White Hart in Calne in the 70s. I often had to run up and down between 3 bars to work them all, and sometimes helped in the hotel by cleaning. Jo would say there's only 4 or 6 sheets today Sheila so not worth putting the washing machine... [more]

Calne Living Memories

On the left is Hawkins the butchers, with an interesting mix of periods: the building is late 17th-century with early 18th- century re-front and extension. The early 19th-century shop front has 'an ashlar stall riser beneath C20 plate-glass windows which curve to a left-hand doorway' and a 'timber modillion (ornamental bracket) cornice gutter' (Department of National Heritage List). Next to the arch is... [more]

Calne Living Memories

Market Hill House, Grade II* listed (centre), has had a variety of uses over the years: a doctor's house, a dormitory for St Mary's School and bank premises. In 1971 Spackman, Dale & Hood, solicitors, moved in from Patford Street, later becoming Bevirs. Inside is a 17th-century stone chimney piece bearing the arms of Walter Norborne, MP for the Borough in 1640, which was rescued... [more]

Calne Living Memories

At Nos 1 & 3 High Street was J H Cole & Sons, a drapers (left). It was a high- class shop, and offered many services. David Morgan, an engineer at Harris's for over thirty years, used to be a delivery boy, and remembers polishing the big brass window sill every Saturday morning for 10s a week. The shop closed in 1968 when it was demolished as part of the road widening scheme.