Upcoming Book: Calne Curiosities

For the last couple of years, I've been working on a new book: Calne Curiosities.

Here is a draft of the cover and synopsis:

Welcome, curious reader, to a journey through the hidden corners and perplexing tales of Calne. This book invites you to explore the lesser-known incidents, remarkable lives, and enigmatic events that lie beneath the familiar surface of our town’s history.

Prepare to delve into mysteries and unravel historical puzzles: deadly dramas, scandalous trials, and legends that still echo through local folklore.

From the fatal brew in Poison in the Pot to the unexpected twist in Beyond the Arsenic, each story reveals the fragile line between fact and speculation.

You’ll meet controversial figures like Dr Pownall: The Mayor that Murdered, and revisit the haunting legacy of The Morgan’s Hill Hanging.

Tales of deception and illusion unfold in The Heiress Who Never Was, while community resilience shines through in The Flooding of Mannings Hill and the curious Dart in the Tower.

Yet this collection is more than drama and intrigue: it’s a celebration of Calne’s character. Discover the lives of those connected to Calne’s story: The King of the Gypsies, Australia’s First Postmaster, and Thomas Large Henly, whose entrepreneurial spirit rose and fell with the tides of fortune.

We’ll even journey back to Calne and St. Dunstan, where faith and power converged in Anglo-Saxon England.

Though these stories only scratch the surface of Calne’s rich heritage, they offer a glimpse into its enduring spirit—woven from resilience, eccentricity, and the quiet determination of its people. Whether you’re a lifelong resident or a

curious newcomer, this book invites you to see Calne anew, through the lens of its most captivating curiosities.

So settle in, open your mind to the unexpected, and prepare to be surprised by the local legends and true tales that continue to shape Calne’s legacy.