Deputy Mayor Update: June 2025 - A Focus on Governance, Community, and Advocacy

June began with the first Governance, Policy and Resources Committee of the new term, which as Deputy Mayor, I chair for the year. During this meeting, I welcomed Cllr Pearce-Kearney, who was elected as Vice Chair. 

Key Decisions and Committee Outcomes

Other outcomes from the agenda included:

➡️ Cllrs Fisher, Pearce-Kearney, and Percy were recommended for the Personnel Sub-Committee.
➡️ Standards: Members recommended re-adopting the Code of Conduct to Full Council, emphasising expected councillor behaviour.
➡️ Civility: The committee endorsed re-signing the Civility and Respect Pledge, committing to respectful interactions with all. A training session on the Code of Conduct also took place after the meeting.
➡️ Finances: The Annual Investment Strategy for 2025–2026 was approved, with the 2024–2025 report showing £77,624.30 interest was received which contributes towards the annual budget.
➡️  Working Groups: Membership of working groups was agreed to recommend to Full Council.
➡️ Commitment: Councillors signed the "Positive Conduct equals Positive Democracy Charter," pledging high standards in public life.

Building Bridges and Supporting Growth

Along with other meetings, I also attended meetings on exploring opportunities for economic growth in the town with Wiltshire Council, after a transition meeting with previous Town Mayor, Jon Fisher. In addition, I chaired public participation for Town and Community Matters, which was extremely busy, being the first meeting of the term and many wonderful organisations and groups explaining their requests for funding. Cllr Green took over on his election to chair of that committee. The Deputy Mayor is also the Town Council representative to the Calne Area Board, and as such I attended their meeting on 24 June to deliver an update. This included updates on the progress for the phase 1 improvements at The Rec, which include a Ninja Trail (currently going through the planning process), requests for volunteers at Calneval, and welcoming Cllr Celia Stevens as the new co-opted member on the Town Council for Calne South ward.

Strengthening Community Connections and Understanding Local Needs

I had the pleasure of being invited to the Reconnecting Group. This is a community initiative focused on combating social isolation among older adults. It provides weekly activities and a supportive environment for individuals aged 65 and over, helping them to make new friends and build connections. The group is coordinated by Calne's Older People and Carers Champion, Diane Gooch, with funding from Calne Area Board and Calne Town Council. During this session, I was able to hear from residents and feedback to Diane regarding some issues raised. We also enjoyed HerStories with Louise Jordan, a concert of songs written by Louise about extraordinary women from smugglers to suffragettes and nurses to political campaigners.

Calne Good Bank pig

Attending this event, led to an invitation by Kevin Wells to visit Calne Food Bank. My wife and I were glad to spend time with Kevin and some of the team and learn about how the food bank works. Up to May 2025, they have have issued 1,150 parcels to families, couples, and single individuals. We heard how simple it is to sign up to receive food parcels, which removes any barriers for service users to get the food they need. It's important to note that donations can be given as food or as monetary donations. Please see their website for more information on how make a financial contribution. 

Honouring Tradition and Armed Forces Day Reflections

Tidworth Brass Band Ensemble

My wife, a treasurer of Calne Town Football Club, and I were honoured to be invited by Lieutenant Colonel Mick Green to attend the Beating Retreat at REME Lyneham, ais a traditional military ceremony held at the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers' base in Lyneham, Wiltshire. This impressive spectacle showcases a military band and precision drill, symbolically marking the end of the day and honouring long-standing British Army traditions.. Our sincere thanks to everyone involved in organizing this wonderful event.

I was also glad to document on film the raising of the flag for Armed Forces Day, and I just want to take a moment to say thank you—to all those who serve, have served, and to the families who stand alongside them. Your courage, commitment, and sacrifices don’t go unnoticed.

I’m proud to live in Calne, a town that honours this commitment not just in words but in action. 

By signing the Armed Forces Covenant, we’ve pledged as a town to stand up for those who’ve stood up for us—making sure they're treated fairly and supported in civilian life.

For more information or support head to the Calne Royal British Legion group.

Championing Calne in Parliament

Former cllr, Jon Fisher
(Calne Town Mayor 2024-25) and myself

I also took the opportunity to head to London with previous Calne Mayor, Jon Fisher visit to Parliament to watch Prime Ministers Questions and to meet MP Sarah Gibson's office and return a paper mache pig from the 2024 Calne Music and Arts Festival home to Calne. Sadly, Sarah is undergoing treatment for an autoimmune condition and I wish her all the best. While Sarah wasn't able to meet with us, we spent the day with her team and took the opportunity to raise the profile of Calne, discussing the town's need for additional healthcare provision and build a personal connection to facilitate further communication and collaboration. As part of this engagement, the team are looking to produce detailed town summaries for the constituency, which should assist in understanding priorities.

Entrance to The Recreation Ground with Pride Flags

Celebrating Inclusion

Finally, I attended Calne Pride in a personal capacity, along with my family and want to take this opportunity to thank the Calne Pride committee for their hard work, not just at putting the event together, but handling the terrible weather in a professional manner! I was also heartened to hear from a local teenager that he attended the event as an ally, to learn more about ongoing struggles for the community, so he could support his friends.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐬𝐚𝐩𝐩 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥

As a trial, I have created a Whatsapp Channel as another medium of connecting with residents and providing updates.

You can follow the channel by scanning the QR Code with your camera or Google Lens, alternatively here is the link: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb641llAjPXHqqy1LO2Y

It would be great if you could share, particularly with those that don't use Facebook, but do use Whatsapp.

Place names of Calne: Castlefields, Castlefields House, Castlefields Canal and River Park

Castlefields Field
The earliest mention of Castlefield is in 1552 in the church register[1], which was a common field, however after the enclosures of the early 1800s, 33 acres was converted into a park for Castlefields House.

A 1728 map shows the area of Castlefields to be strips of land, which one field called 'Little Castle Field'. However, by 1828, Henry Alworth Merewether (See Castlefields House) owned most of what was still known as Castlefields, with the Marquis of Lansdowne and the Society of Friends owning small parcels.

At least some of the land was still being used for farming in the 1920s, as a photograph showing freely ranging chickens and a thatched rick at the area of Chaveywell shows[2].

Between the 1960s and 1980s, the northern part of Castlefields was developed as the Curzon Park bulgalow estate.

Castlefields Canal and River Park

The southern area, which includes the canal and the river Marden, has been turned into Castlefields Canal and River Park and has been well managed and improved by Castlefields Canal and River Park association since 2001 when it was still owned by Wiltshire Council[3].
A short history:
In 2000 North Wiltshire District Council established the North Wilts River Route, which leads through and out of Castlefields to Chippenham, a 16 km cycle and pedestrian route
In 2010 there was an archaeological dig by Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society in the park to identify the site of Calne's castle. It was discovered that a fortified tower house was locate din the area (see Castle entry).
In 2011 Hills Homes funded the restoration of the former lock and the replica narrow boat, known as the Jubilee Queen, which was completed in 2012.
In 2012 the area was transferred to Calne Town Council as a community asset for the fee of £1. The same year a ring of trees was planted to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, these surround an inner circle of Scots Pines, which commemorate the Diamond Jubiliee of Queen Victoria in 1897. Upper Castlefields park also contains an outline of Calne castle made of cotoneaster.
January 2013 saw Castlefields become a 2 hectare Fields in Trust site with Queen Elizabeth II fields protection, which protects parks and green spaces throughout the UK in perpetuity.
In 2015, it was agreed that the Section 106 agreement for the Station Meadow development would be used to repair the historic wall, which is a complex project including the removal of trees, demolition and partial removal of some of the wall, along with re-building and stabilisation of the wall.
2016 saw the improvements of sports equipment and fitness trail in the park, initially completed in 2005.
In 2017 came the lovely mosaic for the art festival.
In August 2018 Jubiliee Queen was restored and painted and re-stickered, while in 2019 4000 crocus bulbs were planted by volunteers as part of the Rotary Club's 'End Polio Now' campaign.


 

Castlefields House

Castlefields House
Castlefields house was built c. 1828 for Henry Alworth Merewether (1780-1864), serjeant-at-law, king's counsel, and Town Clerk for the City of London between 1842 and 1859. In 1835, along with Archibald John Stephens, he wrote his principal work, 'The History of the Boroughs and Municipal Corporations of the United Kingdom'. This three volume work detailed the history from the earliest British Period, through the Roman and Saxon period, to his present time.

For a time, it seems that the house, which sat in a 33 acre piece of land and gardens, may have been known at The Hermitage. Certainly there was an area called The Hermitage on Curzon Street that consisted of a barn, stable, and cart house, as well as a later addition of the Hermitage Cottages, on what was most likely land owned by Stanley Abbey. Perhaps it gained The Hermitage as an informal name due to proximity.

The Grade II listed house is built in Tudor Revival Style and uses crenellation on the porch and cornices, perhaps to make a connection with the romantic idea of how a castle would have looked.

The house became a residential care home between 1983 - 2000 and has since been converted into a seven bedroom, four bathroom holiday rental costing between £700-£1500 per night.

26 Castle Street, a Grade II listed building, was the lodge to Castlefields House. The gate piers for Castlefield House also still exist and mark the entrance to the Castlefield housing estate.

Castlefields

Castlefields
Castlefields is a small development of bungalows on land, at one time, held by Castlefields House. They were likely built by George Hazell's firm c. 1962, who had acquired a large part of the Castlefields House estate, with Ron Sutton aquiring the northern part of the estate, the drive of which lead to Curzon Street by the lodge (see also, Curzon Park Estate, Lodge Close)[4].


References:
[1] Marsh, A., 1903. A HISTORY OF THE BOROUGH AND TOWN OF CALNE. 1st ed. London: HAZELL, WATSON AND VINEY, LTD. 
[2] Treloar, P. (1999). Calne Revisited. 1st ed. Calne Town Council.
[3] Welcome To CARP. 2019. Welcome To CARP. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.calne-castlefieldspark.co.uk. [Accessed 10 October 2019]. 
[4] Calne in Photographs public group | Facebook. 2019. Calne in Photographs public group | Facebook. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CalnePhotographs/permalink/474667803123217/. [Accessed 13 October 2019].

Place names of Calne: The Gardens

The Gardens, Calne

The Gardens is a name well used for streets that are built upon or next to allotment gardens. Which would make sense with The Gardens, which borders what was a large allotments, these days it is much smaller. However, in this case the name, which was decided in 2013[1], was chosen because this development is quite literally built in the back gardens of four different properties.


The Gardens, a collection of 2 and 3 bedroom properties, was built by Hannick Homes, a company based in Swindon. After the demolition of a single dwelling on Lickhill Road, ten houses with access were given planning permission in 2007. An additional application was granted in 2012 to allow two additional houses to be built, increasing the development to twelve dwellings[2].


References:
[1] CALNE TOWN COUNCIL TOWN DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING COMMITTEE, 10 September 2013.
[2] Planning application N/07/00871/FUL

Deputy Mayor Update: May 2025 - Civic Spotlight

This has been a busy month, which began with an invite to Bowood by Dr Lizzie Rogers, the archivist and curator at the house. This invite came off the back of the Priestley 250 work that I took part in during 2024 as a member of the Steering Group, primarily providing services on behalf of Calne Heritage Centre.

This visit, which took place on 1 May 2025, provided an opportunity to see Lizzie's work in providing an exhibit showing the context of Dr Joseph Priestley's experiments with various gases, including oxygen, which came to fruition at Bowood in August 1774 when he discovered "dephlogisticated air". Antoine Lavoisier disproved the phlogiston theory and renamed the gas oxygen, recognizing its role in combustion and respiration. The visit also led to Calne Men's Shed being enlisted to provide a stand, which I noticed was missing from the setup - many thanks to Lizzie for accommodating us and for providing the Men's Shed with the additional work.

Sue Peskett and John Boaler, two of Calne's wonderful community volunteers,
with myself and Dr Lizzie Rogers to the right.

Priestley exhibit at Bowood House, featuring
wooden stand provided by Calne Men's Shed.

As seen in Lizzie's exhibit, Priestley's setup included:

• An earthenware trough for holding water, along with thin flat stones placed under the surface.
• Cylindrical jars and a tall beer glass, which he used in experiments involving mice.
• A phial with a perforated cork and a bent glass tube, secured with cement.
• Pots or dishes to contain vessels of air.
• A receiver, constructed with perforated tin plates, a wooden frame, and paper lining, designed to allow airflow.
• Other key items included a wire stand, glass funnel, cylindrical glass vessel, waxed candle, and wire, highlighting how simple objects played a role in complex discoveries.

On 12 May 2025, at the Annual Meeting, I was elected as Deputy Mayor to Ian Thorn for the 2025-26 term—a role I am truly honoured to undertake. I look forward to working hard for the town and serving its people to the best of my ability.

On the 17 May, I took part in a meeting between the Calne Twinning group and their counterparts from Caln Township, Pennsylvania. This meeting reinvigorated relations and provided an opportunity to look towards the future as both groups pass over leadership.

Photo Credit: Derek Liversidge.

I was also invited to the 10th Anniversary Classic Car and Bike Run on 18 May. This event hosted by The Rotary Club of Chippenham raised over £4,500 for the The RISE Trust and local Rotary Charities.

Robing Ceremony for the New Mayor of Malmesbury, Councillor Stephen James

Finally, I represented Calne on behalf of the Town Mayor at the Malmesbury Mayor Inauguration and Robing. This type of engagement is helpful in strengthening relationships and also seeing how things are done differently in other towns. I discovered that Malmesbury has a thriving twinning group and may be able to provide some guidance to the new Calne twinning group. I have now passed on the contact details to Calne's group to make contact, if they so wish.

If you would like the Town Mayor, Deputy Town Mayor or a Town Councillor to attend your event please get in touch with us at calne@calne.gov.uk

𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐍𝐎𝐖 Calne Place Names - 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐃 𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

Kindle Edition: https://amzn.to/4iQcu8V

Paperback: https://amzn.to/44WoMJn

This book delves into the fascinating origins and evolution of over 400 street names, local places, and modern developments, revealing the surprising layers of history beneath this ancient market town. From Saxon and Anglo-Norman roots to the legacy of influential figures and the ever-expanding town boundaries, Calne's place names offer a unique journey through time. More than just a dictionary of names, this book weaves together historical records, local knowledge, and captivating anecdotes to bring Calne's past to life. Discover the intriguing connections and answer questions such as:

Uncover the mystery of where Tori Amos filmed her haunting "Jackie's Strength" music video.

Delve into Calne's surprising connection to the very air we breathe - the discovery of Oxygen.

Trace the journey of the first-class English cricketer who traded the pitch for the pulpit, becoming a Canon and saviour of St. Mary's Church.

Journey back to a time when Calne's streets echoed with the snorts and grunts of "Hog Street" and "Piggy Hill," revealing the town's deep-rooted bacon industry.

What are the enigmatic "Calne Fates" recently unearthed from the shadows of St. Mary's School, and what secrets do they hold?

Fully revised and updated, this edition expands upon the last by including numerous previously lost place names, reflecting the significant changes Calne has undergone in the past five years, and offering a glimpse into the town's proposed future developments.

This book is a tribute to the people, events, and industries that have shaped Calne, from its earliest days to its present-day vibrancy. It's a celebration of community, memory, and the enduring power of place.

Also available soon at Calne Heritage Centre

Calne Curiosities: Exploring Calne's History and How We Say the Name

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.

 

Place names of Calne: DeFroscia Close

DeFroscia Close is a private Hills Homes development built c. 2019 and managed by DeFroscia Close Management Company Ltd.

The name was suggested by Cllr Robert Merrick in 2018 while Deputy Mayor, and is to recognise the importance that Tom DeFroscia had in forging the connection between Calne and Caln, Pennsylvania. Tom, who sadly passed on February 13 2017, dedicated his life to Caln and its history and along with being an integral part of the Calne-Caln Twinning Society, he was a member of Caln TWP, Historic Commissioners and Old Caln Historical Society. In July 2019, Hills Homes welcomed Patty DeFroscia, who unveiled the new street name in honour of her husband during a Twinning visit, which serves as an extension of the High Penn Park development. 

Place names of Calne: Off Stokes Croft (Chissell Brook, Ladydown, Lid Brook, The Were

Ladydown

In c. 2002-2003, GreenSquare Homes built around 54 properties off Stokes Croft. The roads for these new properties were named for water courses in Wiltshire, all of which join one of the two River Avons in Wiltshire:

Chissell Brook

Chissell Brook a short stream near Kellaways joining the Bristol Avon at the bridge next to the Maud Heath sundial.
Ladydown is an area of Trowbridge that the River Biss runs through. It is an old farming area reached via a road that crosses an island, which itself is home to Ladydown watermill. The River Biss joins the Bristol Avon in Widbrook Wood.
Lid Brook covers a large area between Colerne and Ditteridge and drains into the ByBrook near Drewetts Mill House. The ByBrook joins the Bristol Avon at Bathford.

The Were, a tributary and likely origin for the first part of the name of Warminster. Meaning 'to wander' The Were runs through Warminster and the Lake Pleasure Grounds, where it is also called Swan River. It joins the River Wylye in Warminster, which joins the River Nadder at Wilton and finally, as part of the Salisbury Avon, drains to sea at Christchurch.

𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐧𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭

With Calne Town Council's Amenities, Conservation & Sustainability Manager, Councillor Celia Stevens and I worked with Caitlin at Wiltshire Council's Grant Application and Planting Support (GAPS) team apply for funding to plant trees and hedgerows.

This was an exhaustive project taking place over many months including desktop surveys and creating location maps, along with onsite visits throughout Calne.

I am pleased to report that we have been successful in our grant application for substantial tree and hedgerow planting across Calne, which will result in close to 70 trees being planted at various locations in Calne and around 250 metres of hedgerow at Beversbrook Sports Facility.

The total fund which covers the initial purchase and planting of the trees as well as 15 years of future maintenance came to over £40,000.

Many thanks to all involved in this project.

Place Names of Calne: Victoria Terrace

Victoria Terrace is named for Alexandrina Victoria (24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901). Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death and Empress of India from 1 May 1876. Her reign lasted for 63 years, 216 days, second only to our current monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.

Queen Victoria reigned during a time of massive expansion for the British Emprire and the people of the Victorian Era were well known for their knowledge and daring in all things engineering, scientific, industrial, and military.

Providence Row, Victoria Terrace

Victoria married her cousin Prince Albert in 1840 and to reinforce the connection of this street name to Queen Victoria, the impressive Albert Villa (1 Victoria Terrace) sits on the corner of North Street and Victoria Terrace, completing the pair.

Victoria Terrace was built mostly by 1885, with one set of terraced housing, Providence Row built in 1870 by Mr. James Cleverley who acquired the land from the estate of George Shadforth Ogilvie. Victoria Terrace continued as a private road, at least until 1890, however it seems that there was resistance from the property owners at the time in passing the street over to the authorities, even when the authorities had paid for improved sewers in 1889[1]. However, in 1890, when they asked the council for a street lamp to be erected, the Clerk took no time in writing to them to advise that as long as the street remained private, the responsibility was theirs, and further to this, the authority was now calling upon the property owners to install a lamp![2] Unfortunately the saga does not appear to continue in the newspapers.

References:
[1]'Victoria Terrace Sewer'  Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette, Thursday 18 April 1889 [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000360/18890418/065/0007 [Accessed on 1 October 2019]
[2] 'Calne Urban Saniatary Authority and the Infectious Disease (Notification) Act'  Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette, Thursday 23 January 1890 [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000360/18900123/065/0008 [Accessed on 1 October 2019]

𝐀𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 / 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐄𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

 

The path is the only formal entrance to the North End Play Area from the Amberley Close side. Residents and other play area users who needed to access it via prams, mobility scooters, scooters, etc., had problems managing the rough surface of the path that had not been tarmacked. This path had deteriorated significantly over the past few years. During and after periods of rain, it became a series of puddles, leading users to avoid it and use the grass instead. For some, this entrance to our facility was not accessible at all.

This path experienced high usage in the mornings and afternoons during term times, as parents and guardians took their children to Fynamore School.

Now that the work on the path is complete, I would like to share some background information on why this project took a while to reach its conclusion.

I first began working on this project about a year ago when I submitted a Highways Improvement Request. It was at this point that I discovered that from a Highways perspective, Wiltshire Council would not be taking this footpath into Highway Maintainable at Public Expense – even though this path is owned by Wiltshire Council. This was quite a surprise, as Google Maps showed the path in 2016 with the gravel in reasonable condition (at this point, I still don’t know who financed or installed this path).

I began working with Cllr MacNaughton on this issue, raising it with Streetscene Engineer Andrea Begent. Andrea put in a lot of work to see how this issue could be progressed, but unfortunately, Wiltshire Council would not accept this path as a highway and therefore would not release any funding for its improvement. Unfortunately, Streetscene was not able to fund this project either, as it was beyond the level of funding they could access, and no money was available from Facilities Management at Wiltshire Council.

During this period, I kept Calne Town Council Officers updated regarding this ongoing issue. I am grateful that our Director of Council Services took an interest and put it on the Amenities and Facilities Committee agenda for December 2024, with an options report from our Amenities, Conservation & Sustainability Manager. During that discussion, as a committee, we unanimously resolved to delegate this project to our Amenities, Conservation & Sustainability Manager, who wished to request Wiltshire Council to use any overspill from works at High Street for this project. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen, and funds were immediately released for this project from the Housing Income community benefit budget line.

It is wonderful to see this path completed. 𝐈 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐝, particularly my fellow Calne Town Councillors who agreed to release the funds for this path knowing that while it is Wiltshire Council land, it is our residents in Calne who will benefit from this more accessible path, which is a vital link to our play area at North End.

Place names of Calne: School Road

School Road connects Lickhill Road to Beversbrook Road, the northern distributor route. This was created as part of The Calne Consortium's Lansdowne Park development and is named as it runs alongside the Persimmon-built Fynamore Community Primary School. In the past, the land used to be part of Calne's North Field.

Calne Community Neighbourhood Plan: 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 (𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝐂𝐂𝐍𝐏𝟐)

Calne Community Neighbourhood Plan 2 (CCNP2) looks ahead to 2038 and seeks to protect 27 green spaces within the plan area.

This is in addition to the 14 green spaces protected in the first CCNP.

Let’s have a look at the proposed spaces...

LGS 2.1 The Green, Calne

LGS 2.2 Horsebrook Nature Trail, Calne

LGS 2.3 Wessington Park Play Area, Calne

LGS 2.4 Newbury Ave/Honeysuckle Close, Calne

LGS 2.5 Lansdowne Square, Calne

LGS 2.6 Calne Promenade, Calne

LGS 2.7 Holy Trinity Churchyard, Calne

LGS 2.8 Salmons Leap, Calne

LGS 2.9 Jubilee Copse Field, Calstone

LGS 2.10 Fynamore Gardens, Calne

LGS 2.11 West End of Station Road, Calne

LGS 2.12 Magnolia Rise, Calne

LGS 2.13 Lavender Drive, Calne

LGS 2.14 Marden Farm Allotments, Calne

LGS 2.15 Town Gardens, Calne

LGS 2.16 Castlefields Country Park, Calne

LGS 2.17 Woodland Copse, Derry Hill

LGS 2.19 Bremhill View, Calne

LGS 2.20 Lickhill Road, Calne

LGS 2.21 Newcroft Allotments, Calne

LGS 2.22 Bentley Woods & Quemerford Lodge Plantation, Calne

LGS 2.23 The Abberd Brook, Calne

LGS 2.24 Tench Road Mini Woods, Calne

LGS 2.25 Beversbrook Allotments, Calne

LGS 2.26 Woodsage Way, Calne

LGS 2.27 North End Play Area, Calne

LGS 2.28 Theobalds Green, Calstone

Note: LGS 2.18 (Pocket Park) was proposed for designation but did not pass examination tests and therefore is not included in this Plan.

Head to the Calne Community Neighbourhood Plan website for more information.