Not Just Oxygen - An Anthology

As part of Priestley250, Calne Wordfest Writers group have compiled an anthology celebrating Priestley and Oxygen, in both fictional stories and factual pieces.

This anthology showcases a captivating collection of short stories and articles penned by local writers. Immerse yourself in 13 thought-provoking pieces from the Calne Wordfest Writers’ Group, and explore 21 imaginative tales crafted by talented schoolchildren inspired by a Priestley 250 competition.

The book includes a piece of my own, describing Priestley's discovery of the artificial carbonation of water and the innovations that came afterwards and that led to today's mass market for fizzy pop!

From the life of Priestley in Calne to the surprising connection between Schweppes and his discoveries, these works offer a fresh perspective on the man and his legacy. Delve into factual accounts and let your imagination soar with tales of oxygen, science, and the potential consequences of altering our atmosphere."

Copies of Not Just Oxygen can be ordered directly from https://amzn.to/3BHJNuZ
Paperback - £16.50
Hardback - £21.99

Or they can be ordered more cheaply from Calne Wordfest by emailing steve@calnewordfest.co.uk
Paperback - £12.00
Hardback - £15.00


All profits go to Calne Wordfest to support their work on local literacy projects.

𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝘁𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲 - 𝑪𝒂𝒍𝒏𝒆 𝑵𝒐𝒘 𝑨𝒗𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑫𝒐𝒘𝒏𝒍𝒐𝒂𝒅

After a busy day of uploading content, I am pleased to announce that the Calne unit is now available to download in the Explore Wiltshire app.

As part of this, I have made sure that the Calne Wordfest Tale Trails app is linked, so users can reach trails such as the Calne Art Trail and Evie's Book Swap Network directly.

While there is a lot of content on the app now, it is still a work in progress. So, continue to pop ideas in a comment or PM me your (sensible!) suggestions. Thank you to those that have given suggestions!

Very much looking forward to having this new avenue to highlight the fantastic town we live in.

You can find out more about the app and download here: https://events.wiltshire.gov.uk/mobileapp

Place Names of Calne: Cop Croft

Cop Croft appears c. 1900 with several houses along the path that led to the allotments, now Sainsbury's, however the area has been known as Cop Croft since at least Thomas Cruse's 1828 map of Calne. The original houses including 1 Cop Croft "Fair View" and the terraces, are of hammer-chipped stone. When it was for sale in 1951, we see that it had two double bedrooms with fireplaces on the first floor, with another two bedrooms on the second floor. It had a washroom with bath already installed, along with a coal and wood house[1].

Cop Croft

The year 1927 saw the town clerk write to the owners of Cop Croft about their willingness to sell, so the council could build more housing, the response was negative. They looked to Mill Street and Eastmead Street (see Anchor Road and Broken Cross) instead[2]. More housing on Cop Croft could have given us a very different looking Calne, with perhaps no Sainsbury's - would that have been better or worse?

Cop Croft is an interesting choice of name, which was a general name for the field garden, owned by the Marquis of Lansdowne and Lord Crewe.  Later the land became allotments and has gradually been built on. In Old English 'cop' refers to a hill, however that doesn't seem to be right for this location. Perhaps Cop is shortened from copse, which is a small group of trees. This would align with 'Pippin', which likely refers to apple trees, grown in the field gardens or allotments.



References:
[1] 'Sale of the Detached Town Residence, known s "Fair View" Cop Croft, Calne'  Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, Saturday 13 January 1951 [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001671/19510113/189/0006 [Accessed on 26 September 2019]
[2] 'Health and Housing: Prospective Building Sites'  Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, Saturday 14 May 1927 [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001557/19270514/142/0008 [Accessed on 26 September 2019]

Meeting The High Sheriff of Wiltshire

Left to right: Andrew Jones (Friends Of The Marden Valley), The High Sheriff of Wiltshire
Dr Olivia Chapple, myself Cllr Tim Havenith, Chilvester and Abberd, and
Robert MacNaughton, Calne and Wiltshire Cllr and Founder of Friends of the Marden Valley.

Today, I had the pleasure of meeting The High Sheriff of Wiltshire, Dr Olivia Chapple OBE when she visited to discover the work of Friends Of The Marden Valley, of which I am a member and Calne Town Council representative.

While we were exploring Castlefields park and explaining the good work of Castlefields CARP, we met PCSO Nicole Sheppard of Calne Police with Colin Conway, the Citizens in Policing Manager and the Neighbourhood Harm Reduction Team performing a sweep in the area.

The High Sheriff of Wiltshire, Dr Olivia Chapple and Dave Phelps

The High Sheriff also met Dave Phelps, one of our most recognisable members of the team at the council due to the amazing work he does in the town. Olivia spent time congratulating him on his 23-year career at Calne Town Council and the positive impact he has on the town.

As the High Sheriff showed a genuine interest in the town, it was a pleasure to highlight the great work of so many community groups in the town, including River Warriors Calne.

As a parting gift, I was given a packet of Wiltshire wildflower seed mix from the charity, Horatio's Garden, of which Olivia is the founder and chair of trustees. This charity nurtures the wellbeing of people after spinal injury in beautiful sanctuaries, so please check it out!

Many thanks to the High Sheriff for taking the time to visit Calne and gain an understanding the special community this town is fortunate to have.

Place names of Calne: Canal Close

Calne, From the Canal by William Westall

Canal Close

Canal Close, c. 1990s (approx) is a cul de sac of brick and stone built houses ranging from 3 to 6 bedroom houses.

Canal Close is named for the Calne branch of the Wilts and Berks Canal that opened in 1802. The peak of the canal was 1840, however by 1849, competition from the Great Western Railway took most of the business. The canal struggled on, but was formally abandonded by Act of Parliament in 1914, although traffic had ceased by 1906.

While the canal didn't obtain its Act of Parliament to build until 1795, there were thoughts on a canal running through Calne back to at least 1788. A letter to Salisbury and Winchester Journal in August 1788 repeatedly mentioned how such a canal would be for the 'good of that public' and 'would be of the greatest advantage at all times', clearly someone thought the canal would be a good idea, but who? The letter is signed by 'Amicus', simply the Latin for 'friend'[1].

The Calne branch began at Stanley, heading through Hazeland and Studley before reaching the wharf at Calne, always close to the River Marden. The part of the canal below the top lock at Chaveywell Wharf was restored in 1989, is part of Castlefields park within the Calne Conservation Area, and since 2011 has been owned by Calne Town Council. This area is very well managed by the Castlefields Canal and River Park association.



References:
[1] 'To the Printer etc.'  Salisbury and Winchester Journal, Monday 18 August 1788 [ONLINE] Available at https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000361/17880818/014/0004 [Accessed 24 September 2019]