Councillor Work: 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟏𝟎𝟔 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 - Update

Calne is unique in that it has a working group to ensure that local views are taken into account when dealing with Section 106 agreements, which are legal agreements such as those between a planning authority and a developer.

I have been a part of this Working Group since I joined Calne Town Council and have seen the high level of skill and knowledge that the Wiltshire Council Officers bring when discussing proposed or future plans. Recent projects include the Abberd Lane pathway way and lights improvements, as well as the replacement of the bus shelter and construction of the pedestrian build out at Oxford Road.

More recently, we have dealt with upgrading part of the path along the Abberd Brook. This entailed the conversion of the path to shared use to allow cyclists to legally use the route, along with resurfacing this section (including dropped kerb and corduroy paving) and improving the area with additional signing and lining.

Improvements to the pavement along the Abberd Brook, along with tree planting.

Railings have been erected in some areas, to increase the safety of pedestrians and cyclists along the route. These are mainly an extension to railings already in place by the footbridges, where the riverbank is steeper.

While two sycamore trees needed to be removed, they have been replaced by four new trees in more suitable places.

Plan of Works for the Abberd Brook path.

𝐀𝐬 𝐚 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩, 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐛𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐝 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡.

Place names of Calne: Ernle Road

Ernle Road

Ernle Road is a short street of mainly semi-detached brick houses, clad with hanging tiles on the first floor, built c. 1960s.

It is likely named after Sir John Ernle (c. 1620-97) of the old Calne family of Ernles that came to hold Whetham manor when Michael Ernle married Mary, the daughter of Roger Fynamore in the 1500s.

During the 1600s, we have two Sir John Ernle's, father and son. Sir John Ernle (1647-86), was MP for Calne during 1685 to 1686, but died and was probably not an active member of parliament[2].

So, it is much more likely his father is the inspiration for this street name as not only was a school said to have been founded by Ernle for 5 boys, which lasted until c. 1829[3], but he also laid the foundation in 1695 for a widow's charity in Calne[4].

The charity consisted of several premises in Calne given to benefit the poor widows of Calne. The vicar would receive the yearly rents and profits, then nominate beneficiaries among the poor, who were not already receiving poor relief. This was likely cash in the 18th and 19th century[5]. When Marsh writes of this charity, he states that 'The property now consists of houses and cottages in Calne, a piece of land near Fisher's Brook, and £2042.13 invested in Consols in the names of trustees.'[6]

A 1922 advert for the charity placed by the solicitor, C.O. Gough, states that poor widows hoping to fill the vacancies in the charity must have lived in Calne for at least five years, have not received Poor Law Relief in that period and are unable to maintain themselves due to age, ill-health, accident or infirmity. There may have been an expectation of many applicants as it is also made clear that preference will be given to those with the longest residency in the Parish[7]. Between 1924 and 1978, the Enrle charity was regulated with the almshouses and other charities. In 1978, it was unified with other charities as Calne Relief in Need, which still exists and is managed as Calne Welfare Charities. It's astonishing to think that around 325 years later, Erlne's charitable act is still providing benefits to the people of Calne.



References:
[1] Calne: Manors and other estates | British History Online. 2019. Calne: Manors and other estates | British History Online. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/wilts/vol17/pp64-79. [Accessed 20 September 2019].
[2] ERNLE, Sir John (1647-86), of Whetham House, Calne, Wilts. and The Homme, Much Marcle, Herefs. | History of Parliament Online. 2019. ERNLE, Sir John (1647-86), of Whetham House, Calne, Wilts. and The Homme, Much Marcle, Herefs. | History of Parliament Online. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1660-1690/member/ernle-sir-john-1647-86. [Accessed 20 September 2019]. 
[3] Calne: Education | British History Online. 2019. Calne: Education | British History Online. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/wilts/vol17/pp111-114. [Accessed 20 September 2019].
[4] ERNLE, Sir John (c.1620-97), of Bury Blunsdon and Whetham House, Calne, Wilts. | History of Parliament Online. 2019. ERNLE, Sir John (c.1620-97), of Bury Blunsdon and Whetham House, Calne, Wilts. | History of Parliament Online. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1690-1715/member/ernle-sir-john-1620-97. [Accessed 20 September 2019]. 
[5] Calne: Charities for the poor | British History Online. 2019. Calne: Charities for the poor | British History Online. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/wilts/vol17/pp114-116. [Accessed 20 September 2019]. 
[6] Marsh, A., 1903. A HISTORY OF THE BOROUGH AND TOWN OF CALNE. 1st ed. London: HAZELL, WATSON AND VINEY, LTD.
[7] 'Ernle Charity, Calne'  Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, Saturday 21 January 1922 [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001557/19220121/144/0006 [Accessed: 20 September 2019]

Councillor Work: Stokes Croft Tree Planting

Sustainable Calne had been developing a project to plant trees at Stokes Croft. Unfortunately, this project came to a standstill when an agreement on various items could not be agreed.

I was co-opted into the discussions between Calne Town Council and Sustainable Calne to agree a way forward, which was quickly agreed to. 

The grounds team have recently planted 1x 𝑨𝒄𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒆 ‘Elsrijk’ and 3x 𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒔 𝑩𝒆𝒕𝒖𝒍𝒖𝒔 ‘Frans Fontaine' allowing the best aesthetic appeal whilst making the most of the space available.

It has been great to work with Sustainable Calne to reach a consensus on the tree planting proposed by a local resident.

Thanks to all involved.

Councillor Work: 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐭 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠

Tree planting at Hillcroft.

Back in autumn 2022, I designed a draft planting scheme for Hillcroft, with an avenue and a memorial tree, commemorating Queen Elizabeth II.

Planting scheme

Photo of Tulip Tree in flower as an example of what is to come!

On 4 December 2023, the scheme was further developed further at the request of myself and fellow councillors.

The grounds team planted the trees recently to much support from members of the public.

Our memorial tree is a Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera), centered within an avenue of species such as Cherry ‘Royal Burgundy’, with orchard trees at the western entrance to Hillcroft.

Many thanks to all involved, particularly Cllr Michael Hudston, Calne Central Ward, who was outspoken in his support.

Place names of Calne: Guthrie Close

Guthrie Close

Guthrie Close was built c. late-1980s with detatched and semi-detatched 3 bedroom houses.

Guthrie Close named for Rev. Canon John Guthrie and his wife Caroline. It is located in the same area as what used to be Guthrie school, which then amalgamated with St. Dunstan's Primary School in 2002, which was renamed Marden Vale in 2015 when the school became part of the Diocese of Salisbury Academy Trust.

John Guthrie (1795-1865) was a first-class English cricketer. His record for Cambridge University as a batsman (2 games) was 32 runs during the 1819-20 season with a high score of 22[1]. Upon graduating Westminster School and Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1817, he became a priest for the Church of England. He was the vicar of Calne from 1835 until his death, from heart disease, in 1865. He, reportedly, died in his sleep at his home in Clifton[2].

The Guthrie's were a generous couple, both with their time and their money. Canon Guthrie paid £2000, which was half the cost for the restoration of St. Mary's Church, Calne in 1864, at this time the church was lighted by standards, which were very effected, and paid from a lady's fund collected by Mrs. Guthrie[3]. Holy Trinity church, Quemerford, was built largely at his own expense in 1852-53 on land donated by Lord Lansdowne[4].

Guthrie and the Marquess of Lansdowne were good friends, a relationship which likely began when Guthrie became chaplain to Lansdowne in 1834 and it was he that recommended Guthrie for the post of Canon of Bristol in 1858. Guthrie's dedication to Lansdowne is recorded in the History of Calne Baptist Church, which describes how Guthrie left his own sick bed to pray with his friend and how on the day of Lansdowne's funeral, Guthrie had the church bells tolled. The Baptist Church schoolroom is  memorial to Guthrie and his "devotion to the work of the Kingdom of God"[5].

Christ Church, Derry Hill, was built 1839-40 after Guthrie called for subscribers in 1838. The  subscribers list is a long one[6] and includes £10 from Mrs. Guthrie and £100 from Canon Guthrie. Guthrie had a wide range of interests and founded the Calne District Friendly Society and the Litererary Institution. He also left money in his will to train girls as domestic servants, in 1898 training 2 Calne girls cost £22.


Along with assisting her husband, Mrs. Guthrie was independently active and known for her strenuous benevolence.

She created a school for the training of female servants, which was built in Wood Street in 1854. This developed into a school for infants and older children and became known at Guthrie juvenile school[7]. It was an instant success, the Inspector in 1858 reported "Every exertion has been made by the managers to render this school really efficient, and all promises well"[13].

This school outlived both Guthrie's, moved to William Street in 1964, and eventually taught 5-7 year olds, with 189 children on its roll in 1999. The school closed when it amalgamated, after a poor Ofsted inspection, with a St. Dunstan's school and created St. Dunstan Primary. The school had survived for 148 years[8].

Another of Mrs. Guthrie's projects was the establishment of a hospital for children, in Calne, which opened in 1858 at 61 The Pippin. To enable her to efficiently superintend the hospital, she attended a hospital in London and over the course of a few months aquianted herself with its management[9]. The hospital, a house belonging to the Marquis of Lansdowne, quickly increased from 4 beds to 12 with accomodation available for 4 more[10]. Unforuntately the school seems to have been closed by 1865, but was still being mentioned positively in lectures in 1864[11]. Perhaps her husband's death in 1865 is more than a coincidence?

After the death of Canon Guthrie, Mrs Guthrie gifted to Clifton College the Chapel, but sadly she had died before it was completed, however she is remembered each year on their commemoration day[12]. One final act of a life of benevolence saw a gift in Mrs. Guthries' will of the income of £1000 to the minister serving Holy Trinity[14].

One final note:
An interesting item of note is an 1843 letter from Canon Guthrie to his friend William Henry Fox Tablot, the inventor of calotype, in which he writes:
"Excuse my importunity in pressing on you the rightness of giving your name to your own invention. It is not too late – “Better late than never”"[15]
If Talbot had listened to his friends and family, the calotype would have been the Talbotype. It seems that Tablot was too humble to go down the same road as Louis Daguerre!


References:
[1] Cricket Archive. 2019. John Guthrie. [ONLINE] Available at: https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/36/36924/36924.html. [Accessed 20 September 2019]. 
[2] 'Death of the Rev. Canon Guthrie' Reading Mercury, Saturday 15 July 1865. Available at: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000369/18650715/055/0010 [Accessed on 20 September 2019]
[3] 'Calne' Dorset County Chronicle, Wednesday 30 November 1864. Available at: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000408/18641130/019/0008 [Accessed on 20 September 2019]
[4] About us - Calne: Holy Trinity - A Church Near You. 2019. About us - Calne: Holy Trinity - A Church Near You. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/9624/about-us/. [Accessed 20 September 2019]. 
[5] Dixon, G., 1995. The History of Calne Baptist Church. 1st ed. Avon: Calne Baptist Church.
[6] 'District Church'. Salisbury and Winchester Journal. Monday 17 December 1838. Available at: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000361/18381217/033/0003 [Accessed on 20 September 2019]
[7] Calne: Education | British History Online. 2019. Calne: Education | British History Online. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/wilts/vol17/pp111-114. [Accessed 20 September 2019].  
[8] The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald. 2019. End of an era as 148-year-old infants' school closes | The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/7345224.end-of-an-era-as-148-year-old-infants-school-closes/. [Accessed 20 September 2019]. 
[9] 'The new Canon of Bristol Cathedral'  Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette, Thursday 21 January 1858. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000360/18580121/013/0003 [Accessed on 20 September 2019]
[10] 'Calne schools'  Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette, Thursday 27 November 1856 [ONLINE] Available at https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000360/18561127/016/0003 [Accessed 20 September 2019]
[11] 'Weston-Super-Mare and East Somerset Hospital'  Somerset County Gazette, Saturday 31 December 1864 [ONLINE] Available from: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000314/18641231/063/0007 [Accessed 20 September 2019]
[12] Potentiality Online Communities. 2019. OCS Online Community. [ONLINE] Available at: https://oc-online.co.uk/ocd.aspx?action=printSnippet&menuItem=Clifton%27s%20First%20Buildings&snippet=15&printTemplate=on&code=. [Accessed 20 September 2019].  
[13] Wiltshire Community History. 2019. Calne - Guthrie School, Calne. [ONLINE] Available at: https://history.wiltshire.gov.uk/community/getschool.php?id=444. [Accessed 20 September 2019]. 
[14] Calne: Churches | British History Online. 2019. Calne: Churches | British History Online. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/wilts/vol17/pp101-109. [Accessed 20 September 2019].
[15] http://foxtalbot.dmu.ac.uk/letters/transcriptName.php?bcode=Guth-J&pageNumber=2&pageTotal=3&referringPage=0