Description

Chippenham, one of the largest towns in Wiltshire, was an important royal possession in the Anglo-Saxon period, and grew around its river crossing on the route between Bristol and London. As well as a marketing centre for the surrounding dairying country, it became one of the manufacturing hubs of Wiltshire clothmaking, and when the railway arrived it developed engineering and other manufacturing industries, specialising through the 20th century in signalling equipment. Alongside a vibrant social and commercial life, with a full range of modern amenities, it retains many buildings from the stagecoach era of Georgian prosperity, and survivors from earlier periods, including its medieval Yelde Hall. This book is a product of research carried out over more than a decade for the Victoria County History volume covering the town and its environs, published in 2026, and was commissioned by Chippenham Town Council in partnership with the Victoria County History as a companion to that volume. It offers a succinct but readable and profusely illustrated account of the town's history, and an exploration of its streets, buildings and suburbs. It is part of a year-long programme of events during 2026 celebrating local history, Chippenham our History, which gives this book its title. John Chandler has been researching and writing books on the history of Wiltshire and the wider region for more than four decades.