Chippenham is
the largest town in the North Wiltshire District, located
about 17 kilometres (10.6 miles) south-west of Lyneham.
Chippenham is on the main line rail route
from London Paddington to the West Country and is famous
for it’s railway arches and other buildings created
by Isambard Kingdom Brunel when he built the Great Western
Railway. The town continued to grow when the Great Western
Railway arrived in 1841, and while historically a market
town the economy has changed to that of a commuter
town.
Cultural festivals such as the Chippenham
Folk Festival are hosted by the Chippenham Folk Festival
Association & Organised by the Festival
Team who are all volunteers.
Chippenham is twinned with La
Fleche in France and Friedberg in
Germany. The town motto is "Unity and Loyalty". The name
of Chippenham is said to derive from the Saxon (5th Century)
leader Cyppa and hamme - the settlement at the bend of
the river.
Chippenham lies on the River Avon and it's first recorded
history goes back some 1600 years. Chosen by the Saxon King
Alfred for a hunting lodge it was later an important centre
of the wool trade and flourished on the great west coaching
route and later the Great Western Railway. St Andrew's church
dates from 1442 and close-by are the fine houses of St Mary
Street, 15th century Yelde Hall, Buttercross and Heritage Centre.
The Buttercross in the Market Place is a reminder of its importance
in serving the surrounding farming communities for over 1000
years.
The Market Place
is thought to hold some of the towns oldest buildings. Oliver
Cromwell, who led the rebellion against King Charles 1, is
said to have stayed in The White Hart which stood in 1649,
the year after the defeat of Charles I in the second Civil
War. Originally situated at the edge of the market square,
the Buttercross now stands centrally, having been relocated
in a local village a number of years ago and recently restored
and returned.
The Yelde Hall is one of two Grade I listed
buildings in the town. It was originally used as the Council
Chamber and had prison cells in the basement. At one time,
it was the fire station and more recently the town museum.
The building has recently undergone major restoration work
Chippenham (spelt Chipnam in 1474) is traditionally a farming
town, and 150 years ago was known for its cheese market. There
was very good pasture land in the area and with transportation
a problem, the farmers had to turn their milk into butter and
cheese. The advent of the railway through the town in the 1840's
helped a lot. The Anglo Swiss dairy (which later became Nestlé,
the famous chocolate firm), had a dairy where a car park and
the tourist board office now stand. Chippenham was also well
known for many years for it's cured bacon.
The chalk hills start a few miles out of town - the White
Horse carved into the hillside at Cherhill,
just outside Chippenham - and the saying 'like chalk and cheese'
(meaning opposites) comes from this area.
Alfred the Great (849 - 899AD) is noted for his defence
of the kingdom against the Danish Vikings,
becoming the only English King
to be awarded the epithet "the
Great". He was king
of the southern Anglo-Saxon kingdom
of Wessex from 871
to 899. |
