Place names of Calne: Dixon Way

Dixon Way

Dixon Way is a 1950s development by the Calne borough council and named for 4 time Calne mayor, Bernard Ivan Dixon. The street is made up of semi-detached housing with pebble dash and render to create an interesting effect.

Bernard Ivan Dixon, who had declined the honour of major previously, then became Calne mayor four consecutive times, elected between 1938 and 1941. By 1938, when he was unanimously elected as mayor, Cllr Dixon had been a member of the council for 19 years, along with work for the YMCA as well as the Band of Hope and was known for his good work as chairman of the Housing Committee[1].

Outside of council, Alderman Dixon had three sons, who were all in the RAF and was an outfitter at Dixon and Sons, a firm that was established by his father, W. C. Dixon.


References:
[1] 'Calne, New Mayor Takes Office'  Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, Saturday 12 November 1938 [ONLINE] Available at:  https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001557/19381112/118/0007 [Accessed on 15 October 2019]

Place names of Calne: Newcroft Road, Newcroft Close

Newcroft Road and Newcroft Close are part of a 1950s development built on the northern extent of what was Newcroft Farm. The housing is primarily terraced and on the Lickhill Road end, a set of terraces are run as businesses, with the longest running being the Dolphin Fish Bar.

Newcroft Road

The farm was built in the late 1800s with around 90 acres and used for dairy farming[1]. While many of the fields in this area were called New Croft in the 1840s, the field that Newcroft Road and Close was actually called Ridge Mead and may refer to a long hill or ridge, alternatively it may refer to a strip in a common fiel.

Shops at Newcroft Road.

The major development in the 1950s and 1960s was achieved by the borough council purchasing Newcroft Farm in two lots from C & T Harris, who had aquired the farm in 1918 from the marquess of Crewe.



References:
[1] British-history.ac.uk. (2019). Calne: Calne outside the town | British History Online. [online] Available at: https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/wilts/vol17/pp51-64 [Accessed 15 Oct. 2019].