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]