Calne, the Strand c1955

Dr Joseph Priestley

Having been a resident of Calne from 1944 to 1962, I often walked across this little bridge, mainly on the way to the recreation ground. There used to be (and possibly still is) a plaque commemorating Dr Priestley's discovery of Oxygen in this place. I believe the pond was situated just behind Harris' factory but when I last visited the town there was a supermarket there.

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?

Wiltshires

At the back of this photograph is Calne Free Church and just in front is "Wiltshires" the grocery shop.  My father William John Cook worked there for many years.  I can see him now neatly wrapping parcels in brown paper and tying them up with string.  Amongst the many items sold here were large tins of broken biscuits and I have many happy memories of choosing my favourite types whenever he brought a tin home.
Come forward a little and the shop on the right was a stationers, whilst opposite that was Harris' shop.  Bacon, hams, pies, if it contained pig it was sold here!

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 I would visit my schoolfriend (also called Judy) who lived in a wooden bungalow on the left hand side of the road. She had a wonderful dressing up box and we would spend hours together "pretending". I then met my future husband who had been on a course at RAF Yatesbury - he and his mates would use the train to get into the "great metropolis of Chippenham". Much more exciting life there than in Calne in those days!! He now jokes that the only good thing to come out of Calne was the train and Beeching axed that. I, too, remember the gas lamplights.

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.