Chippenham
Chippenham photos (103 available)
Chippenham maps (2 available)
Map of Wiltshire
Beautifully hand-drawn and coloured, dating from around 1840
Personalised maps
Create an historic map centred directly on any postcode!
Chippenham books (14 available)
- 8 photos on Chippenham appear in 2 Frith books - View photos of Chippenham
- Read extracts and see photos from these books on Chippenham and Wiltshire
Chippenham memories
Read and share memories of Chippenham and Wiltshire inspired by Frith photos
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 on our art lessons in the summer and sitting by a pond in the grounds to paint the scenery around us. We cycled to school because we lived at the other end of town in Long Close - I must have been fit then!
Contributed by Sheila Dawn Robbins
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)
Contributed by Sheila Dawn Robbins
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 The Gladstone Arms where the landlord had a marquee in his courtyard. Here we shared a small dance venue with four other "sides" and managed one dance on the wet stone slabs. Sadly one of our lovely dancers - Sue - took a fall in the slippery conditions and needed first aid. Everything was simply too wet!
Why ...read more here
Contributed by John Howard Norfolk
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 the bank that sold teas, coffees and snacks. In fact when I was 14 & 15 I worked their for the summer holidays. I remember my sister Pat Potter tripping in the kids pool, then standing up and not realising her bikini top was up around her neck and she was displaying her charms. Oh! how those years have passed ...read more here
Contributed by Sheila Dawn Robbins
Extracts From Chippenham & Wiltshire books
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.
An extract from from"Chippenham Town and City Memories".
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.
An extract from from"Wiltshire Pocket Album".
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 March 1963 they were demolished; not long after they were replaced by two Bath stone buildings, shown in C294084 on pages 42-43.
An extract from from"Chippenham Town and City Memories".
This view was taken looking south to the Bear Hotel at the top end of the car park. The new Bear Hotel was built some time after 1750 by John Provis, a painter, and leased out. In the late 19th century the hotel was run by S Buckle - this is where Joe Buckle, a well-known Chippenham trader, was born. The Bear Hotel was a much-visited restaurant in the 1960s and 70s, but it became rather run-down and lost most of its clientele. It has re-opened following renovation and cleaning.
An extract from from"Chippenham Town and City Memories".
Looking across the park with the matured trees in the background.
An extract from from"Chippenham Town and City Memories".