Chippenham, Wiltshire

Old Mill

Sad day when the old mill was pulled down. When I was growing up the schools used to have class visits to the mill to explain how it all worked, imagine that.

fishing

We used to do our fishing further down the Avon, behind the old Oxo factory where the workers used to throw lumps of Oxo across the river to us to eat.

Fishing

Favorite spot for fishing as a young boy was under the arches. We paddled out, risking cutting our feet on broken glass, which happened the odd time. Caught my biggest roach ever...but it got away! True story.

Hardenuish School for Girls

I went to Hardenuish School between 1958 -1962. The headmistress was an ex nun and did not allow the girls to mix with the boys when their school was built just down the road, so she staggered our dinner and leaving times from theirs. Silly woman - didn't stop them waiting about and meeting up later. I can remember going out... [more]

Memories of Doom

I remember sitting on the seat by the old Yelde Hall in 1964 and telling my boyfriend (Brian Robbins) that yes, I was having a baby. Then arranging that he would tell his parents, and I would tell mine and tell them we wanted to get married. He was nearly 19 and I was 17. (Still in love after 44 years)... [more]

Whitethorn Morris dance at the Chippenham Folk Festival

It rained. It truly rained absolutely all day. Although Whitethorn Morris were booked for three dance spots in the street plus an Arena show there was no chance whatever for either the dancers or musicians of the Whitethorn Band to perform as planned. We took shelter where we could, standing in doorways, shopping mall entrances and we finally took refuge at... [more]

Chippenham Swimming Pool

I was about 12 when the pool opened and what excitement it brought to us kids of Chippenham. I learnt to swim their with my friends (Margaret Ritchie, Jean West etc. and many more). I remember the bank being covered in sun bathers, people would take picnics and spend the whole day their. There was a shop at the top of... [more]

Chippenham Town and City Memories

The building behind the concrete bus shelter, No 17, was a shoe maker's run by John Lewis & Son from the late 19th century until 1914. In 1927 Mrs S G Elmes and Mr James Poros opened an electrician's, which was taken over by Pocock & Co in 1950. In the 1970s the Ramsbury Building Society opened a branch office here.... [more]

Wiltshire Pocket Album

A closer view (taken at the same time) of the timber-framed buildings in the High Street which have now disappeared. The bridge over the Avon is in the distance. On the right, a shop front has been added to an earlier building. From the pavement the change would be almost invisible.

Chippenham Town and City Memories

No 18 High Street (left, next to the fishmonger's) was a baker's run by Mr Brinkworth in the 1870s; it was a grocer's in 1890, run by Sarah Smith. From 1899 until 1931 the Doswell family ran dressmaking and confectionery businesses. In the 1940s the shop was the main Avon wool suppliers. The Tudor buildings were empty from 1960, and in... [more]