 |
Arms of the Guild and Stewards of Calne,
from The Visitation of Wiltshire 1623. |
Having lived in Wiltshire for close to two decades, I've
come to appreciate the often-surprising ways local place names are pronounced.
Let's explore a fundamental part of Calne's fabric: the town's name itself –
its ancient roots, its historical spellings, and the ongoing discussion around
how we say it today.
Our earliest written record of Calne dates to the 10th
century, specifically the Will of the Saxon King Edred (c. 923 – 955), grandson
of Alfred the Great. In this document from 955, King Edred bequeathed the
estates of Downton, Damerham, and Calne to the Old Minster at Winchester,
indicating Calne's royal ownership and significance even in those early times.
 |
| Saxon King Edred |
Yet, the name "Calne" is even older than this
first written mention. Linguistic analysis suggests a pre-English origin, with
A
Dictionary of British Place Names confirming its antiquity. One leading
theory, supported by the linguist Ekblom (1917), points to a Celtic origin,
potentially linking it to "Colne" in Lancashire, a name that itself
was once recorded as "Calna" – a spelling also used for Calne in
1091. The prevailing explanation connects "Calne" to the river of the
same name, derived from the Celtic "Col-aun," meaning "meeting
or current of waters," likely referring to the confluence of streams
feeding the River Marden and Abberd Brook in the town's heart. Intriguingly,
the Norman scribes of the Domesday Book in 1086 referred to the town as
"Cauna" or "Caune," further solidifying the early
establishment of the name.
The Evolving Written Form of Calne
Like many place names (and indeed, surnames), the spelling
of Calne has been far from static over the centuries. Within Wiltshire alone,
we see examples like Cherhill (once "Ciriel" and
"Chirieli") and Yatesbury (formerly "Getesbir") undergoing
significant transformations in their written forms. Even places like East and
West Kennett have seen a return to older spellings.
Drawing upon The Place Names of Wiltshire by Gover,
Mawer, and Stenton, we can trace at least ten documented variations in the
spelling of Calne since its first written appearance. It's crucial to remember
that this record only captures spellings that were written down, survived the
passage of time, and have since been discovered; the spoken variations may have
been even more numerous.
Here is a timeline of the documented spellings of Calne:
|
Variant
|
Earliest
Date
|
Source
|
|
Calne
|
955
|
Cartularium
Saxonicum, ed. W. de Gray Birch
|
|
æt Cálne
|
978
|
Anglo Saxon
Chronicle
|
|
et Calnæ
|
997
|
Codex
Diplomaticus Aevi Saxonici, ed. J. M. Kemble
|
|
Cauna, Caune
|
1086
|
Domesday Book
|
|
Calna
|
1091
|
Vetus
registrum Sarisberiense alias dictum Registrum S. Osmundi, Episcopi
|
|
Kalne
|
1158
|
Report on
Manuscripts in Various Collections (Historical Manuscripts Commission)
|
|
Calne
|
1198
|
Placitorum
Abbrevatio (Record Commission)
|
|
Kaune
|
1236
|
Calendar of
Close Rolls Preserved in the Public Record Office
|
|
Calle al.
Calne
|
1460
|
Calendar of
Patent Rolls (Public Record Office)
|
|
Cawne
|
1556
|
Feet of
Fines, 1273-1760 (unpublished) in the Public Record Office
|
|
Cawen
|
t. Eliz
(1558-1603)
|
Calendar of
Proceedings in Chancery in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, ed. J. Bayley
|
|
Caln
|
1588
|
Wiltshire
Notes and Queries
|
|
Cawlne
|
1588
|
MS
Collections of John Sadler in Wiltshire Museum at Devizes
|
|
Cane
|
1672
|
Admission to
the College of St John the Evangelist
|
|
Caln and
Calne
|
1753
|
Britannia
Depicta road atlas
|
This historical overview reveals a fascinating trend: while the spelling of
Calne has indeed fluctuated, there's a strong tendency to revert to the
"Calne" form. Considering its over 1000 years of written history, the
core spelling has shown remarkable resilience. The 16th century stands out with
a cluster of variations like "Cawne," "Cawen,"
"Caln," and "Cawlne," even appearing concurrently. The
subsequent standardization of English spelling likely cemented
"Calne" as the dominant written form, although it's intriguing to
note that our Town Twin in Pennsylvania still uses the "Caln"
variant, perhaps echoing one of these earlier spellings.
An Ancient Settlement and a Site of Significance
The long history suggested by the name's origins and
spelling is further confirmed by archaeological evidence. Excavations in
Castlefields in 2010 unearthed artifacts from the Iron Age, Roman, Saxon, and
Medieval periods, firmly establishing Calne as a very ancient settlement. Its
historical significance is also highlighted by the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle's
record of a crucial meeting of the Witan, the King's chief advisors, held in
Calne in 978.
From Wool to Bacon: Shaping Calne's Identity
 |
| 'Two Pigs' sculpture in Calne: A tribute to the town's historic bacon industry. |
Over the centuries, Calne's fortunes have been shaped by
various industries and events. From the 12th to the 19th centuries, the woollen
industry brought considerable prosperity, leaving its mark on many of the
town's older buildings around The Green. However, the decline of this industry
in the early 1800s brought hardship. An unexpected resurgence came with the
rise of the Harris family and their revolutionary bacon curing methods, established
by the purchase of weak Irish pigs that would not survive their journey to
London from their overnight stop Black Dog Hill. The Harris business grew to
dominate Calne both economically and physically in the 20th century,
unfortunately leading to the demolition of some historic buildings for factory
expansion. Other notable industries included the Maundrell Foundry, which
supported the Harris operations.
Notable Figures and Lasting Legacies
Calne has also been associated with prominent figures
throughout history. The 5th Marquess of Lansdowne of nearby Bowood House played
a significant role in national politics, while middle-distance runner Walter
Goodall George, also from Calne, held the world mile record for over three
decades. The town was also the rectory of Edmund Rich, who later became
Archbishop of Canterbury and was canonized. Briefly, John Pym, a key figure
leading up to the English Civil War, served as the town's MP.
Nearby Bowood House was a hub of scientific discovery, with Jan Ingenhousz,
polymath and discoverer of photosynthesis a friend and guest, along with Joseph
Priestley's identification of oxygen taking place at the Grade I listed
Georgian country house surrounded by the landscaped parkland designed by
Capability Brown . Priestley also conducted experiments at the Old Vicarage in
Mill Street, Calne, where he lived for a time. The impressive St. Mary's Church
stands as a legacy of the medieval wealth generated by the woollen trade.
Connecting with the World: Canal, Railway, and
Regeneration
Calne's connections to the wider world evolved with the
extension of the Wilts and Berks Canal in 1802 and the arrival of the Calne
Branch Railway in 1863. While the canal eventually closed, the railway too fell
victim to the Beeching cuts in 1965. More recently, the closure of C&T
Harris in 1982 and the subsequent demolition of their factory buildings have
paved the way for the regeneration of the town, particularly along the River
Marden and Beach Terrace.
The Ongoing Question of Pronunciation
Given this rich and evolving history, and as the varying
historical spellings subtly suggest, the pronunciation of Calne remains a point
of local interest. Research into written sources reveals several possibilities:
- Canon
Jackson, in his 1888 history, noted the contemporary pronunciation as
"Calne (Carn)".
- The
Pronunciation of 10,000 Proper Names (1909) suggested "kôn,"
which corresponds with a pronunciation of ‘Kawn’.
- The
Place-Names of Wiltshire (1939) recorded the local pronunciation phonetically
as "Kɑːn, vulgo
(commonly known as) Kan," aligning with 'Kahn'.
My own experience living here suggests the most common
pronunciations are "Karn" and "Caln", with the emphasis on
the ‘l’, with "Calen" being less frequent in the UK but used by our
friends in Caln Township. It's fascinating to observe how attached people are
to their preferred pronunciation, often citing long family histories in the
area.
Whatever your perspective, it can be seen that from its royal connections in
Saxon times and its significance as a meeting place of the Witan, through the
prosperity of the wool trade and the transformative era of the Harris bacon
industry, Calne has continually adapted and evolved.
The very name of the town, with its ancient Celtic roots and its varied
spellings across centuries, serves as a tangible link to this enduring past.
Today, as residents and newcomers alike navigate the subtle nuances of its
pronunciation, they become part of this ongoing story. Calne's identity is not
fixed but rather a tapestry woven from its ancient heritage, its periods of
industry and innovation, and the collective memory of its people – a town that
respects its deep roots while embracing the present.
In the end, perhaps the most important aspect is mutual understanding. While we
might all have our preferred way of saying "Calne," the fact that we
recognize the town being referred to speaks to the dynamic and accommodating
nature of language and of the wonderful people that live in this historic town.
