Chippenham

For other uses, see Chippenham (disambiguation).
Chippenham

The River Avon at the back of old Nestles on Bath Road
Chippenham
 Chippenham shown within Wiltshire
Area  158.42 km2 (61.17 sq mi)
Population 45,337 [1]
   – density  286/km2 (740/sq mi)
OS grid referenceST919733
   – London  101 mi (163 km) 
Unitary authorityWiltshire
Ceremonial countyWiltshire
RegionSouth West
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post town CHIPPENHAM
Postcode district SN14, SN15
Dialling code 01249
EU Parliament South West England
UK ParliamentChippenham
Websitewww.chippenham.gov.uk
List of places
UK
England
Wiltshire

Coordinates: 51°27′31″N 2°06′57″W / 51.4585°N 2.1158°W

Chippenham is a market town situated in Wiltshire, England, which lies 13 miles (21 km) east of Bath and 96 miles (154 km) west of London.[2] In the 27 March 2011 census, the town's population was recorded at 45,337,[1] superseding Salisbury as Wiltshire's second-largest settlement (and the largest proper as Swindon is a separate unitary authority).

The town was established on a crossing of the River Avon and is believed to have existed as some form of settlement since before Roman times. It was a royal vill, and probably a royal hunting lodge,[3] under Alfred the Great. The primary school, King's Lodge School, gets its name from this tradition.

The town continued to grow when the Great Western Railway arrived in 1841, and while historically a market town the economy has changed to that of a commuter town.

Chippenham is twinned with La Flèche in France and Friedberg in Germany.

The town's motto is Unity and Loyalty.

Geography

Situation

Chippenham is situated in western Wiltshire, set on a prominent crossing of the River Avon and lies between the Marlborough Downs to the east, the southern Cotswolds to the north and west and Salisbury Plain to the southeast.

The town is surrounded by sparse countryside and there are several woodlands in or in close proximity to the town, for example, Bird's Marsh, Vincients Wood and Briars Wood.

Suburbs

Suburbs include Cepen Park (North & South), Hardenhuish, Monkton, Lowden, Pewsham, Primrose Hill, Englands, Frogwell, Derriads, The Folly, Redland, Queens Crescent, Lackham, Fenway Park, and Hill Rise, loosely corresponding to local government wards.

Transport

British Railways "totem" sign for Chippenham station.
Brunel's railway viaduct with High Street to rear

Chippenham lies 4 miles south of the M4 motorway, which links the town to Bristol, Swindon, South Wales and London. The A4 former coach road, A420 and B4069 provide further road links to Bath, Bristol and Oxford. The town is bypassed to the west by the A350, which links the M4 motorway with Chippenham and nearby towns to the south, such as Melksham, Warminster and Trowbridge. The A4 national route crosses the southern part of the town, linking Chippenham to nearby Corsham, Calne, and Bath. Local councillors have called for an eastern extension linking the A4 to the A350 north of Cepen Park although this has been opposed by many residents.[4] Dualling work on a 2 mile / 3 km stretch of the A350 eastern bypass commenced in January 2015 from Cepen Park North through to the A4, which is scheduled for completion in 2017. Two shorter single carriageway sections of the A350 from just south of the Plough crossroads to Cepen Park North were both converted to dual carriageway between October 2014 and March 2015.

Chippenham has a bus station with several routes and companies serving it. These Include Stagecoach with the route 55 to Swindon, First group with the 232 to Bath and 234 to Frome. Faresaver with the X31 to Bath and X34 to Trowbridge as well as several other local routes, Andybus with the 92 to Malmesbury. APLtravel with the 33 to Devizes.

Chippenham railway station is on the Great Western Main Line and is served by services between London Paddington and the West Country via Bristol Temple Meads or Swindon, and is famous for its railway arches and other buildings engineered by Isambard Kingdom Brunel as part of the Great Western Railway development. It is served by main line services and a smaller service to Southampton Central via Melksham, Westbury and Salisbury. It is being electrified to make train times faster from London to the West Country. National Express Coach services connect at Chippenham to London, Wales, South West England, the Midlands and East Anglia. Bus services connect the town to Bath, Calne, Devizes, Trowbridge, Swindon and nearby villages.

Landmarks

The Buttercross today

The original Buttercross, a stone structure, was erected in c. 1570 and stood in the current location of Barclays Bank, where it served as the centre of the Shambles. The Buttercross was used for the sale of meat and dairy products. In 1889, Mr E.C. Lowndes bought the Buttercross for £6 and re-erected it as a gazebo in the kitchen garden of the Castle Combe Manor House, where it subsequently fell into disrepair. The Buttercross was re-erected in 1995 by the Chippenham Civic Society with funding provided by a wide range of local individuals and organisations.[5] It currently stands as the centre-piece of the pedestrianised area of the town centre, where a market is held each Friday and Saturday.

The Yelde Hall is one of very few remaining medieval timber framed buildings in the town. It was originally divided up internally for use as a market hall. Both the hall and its meeting room upstairs were used by the burgess and bailiff for a variety of meetings and trials as well as for Council meetings. The space under the Council Chamber was used as the town gaol. After the Council and Burgess (now Mayor) moved to the Town Hall, on the High Street, in 1841, the hall had various uses:

Town arms from 1776 on the Yelde Hall

Bird's Marsh

Bird's Marsh is a large woodland, approximately 24 hectares (59 acres) in size, to the north of the town. It is home to many kinds of wildlife, and a popular place for walkers, due to its fairly large size and surrounding countryside. One entrance into Bird's Marsh can be found through a field close to the Morrisons supermarket, just south of the roundabout on the A350 Malmesbury Road. There are also access points off Hill Corner Road (via fields) and Jacksom's Lane. Although not technically a marsh, the ground can be very boggy off the well-marked paths, a feature which has protected this area from housing development.

In 2008, developers made a planning enquiry about building 800 homes around the Bird's Marsh area.

In 2012, developers won the right to build on this area despite fierce opposition from resident groups.[8][9]

In 2013, after nearly five years of campaigning, the protesters achieved partial success.[10]

Climate

Lyneham climate: Average maximum and minimum temperatures, and average rainfall recorded between 1971 and 2000 by the Met Office.
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average max. temperature °C (°F) 6.6
(43.9)		 6.9
(44.4)		 9.4
(48.9)		 12.0
(53.6)		 15.7
(60.3)		 18.5
(65.3)		 21.2
(70.2)		 20.7
(69.3)		 17.7
(63.9)		 13.6
(56.5)		 9.6
(49.3)		 7.4
(45.3)		 13.3
(52.9)
Average min. temperature
°C (°F)		 1.2
(34.2)		 1.0
(33.8)		 2.6
(36.7)		 3.7
(38.7)		 6.7
(44.1)		 9.7
(49.5)		 11.9
(53.4)		 11.8
(53.2)		 9.8
(49.6)		 6.8
(44.2)		 3.7
(38.7)		 2.1
(35.8)		 6.0
(42.8)
Rainfall
mm (inches)		 70.1
(2.8)		 50.6
(2.0)		 58.3
(2.3)		 47.7
(1.9)		 51.8
(2.0)		 58.5
(2.3)		 47.2
(1.9)		 56.1
(2.2)		 63.9
(2.5)		 70.4
(2.8)		 66.9
(2.6)		 77.4
(3.0)		 719.0
(28.3)
Ave. Precipitation (Days) 17 15 13 13 13 14 15 14 14 15 17 17 177
Ave. Sunshine (Hours) 31 56 93 130 186 180 186 150 120 93 60 31 1316
Source: Met Office[11]

Population and demographics

Changes in population 1801–2001

Chippenham's population has grown rapidly in recent years to 28,065 (2001 census), an increase of 11% from the 1991 figure of 25,376.[12] This rapid expansion can be attributed to the development of large housing estates (indeed, entirely new suburbs) such as the vast Cepen Park district to the west of the town, and the Pewsham development to the east (Pewsham is also the name of a small village just to the east of Chippenham). By 2007 the figure had reached 34,820.[13] Further housing developments also progressed, though on a smaller scale. Council projections for 2009 estimated a population of 42,060,[14] the actual figure was 43,880.[15] Projections for 2012 estimated a population of 44,820, and would have made Chippenham the highest town population in Wiltshire, with the exception of Swindon (which is no longer within Wiltshire proper). The 2011 census revealed this figure to also have been exceeded,[1] the census also predicts, using a trend-based projection, by 2026, a total mid-year population of 49,340.[16][17]

History

There are believed to have been settlements in the Chippenham region since before Roman times. Remains of Romano-British settlements are visible in the wall behind the former magistrates court and recent redevelopments of the town have shown up other evidence of the earliest settlements.[18]

Toponymy

The town proper was believed to have been founded by Anglo Saxons around 600. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records the town as Cippanhamme and this could refer to Cippa who had his Hamm, an enclosure in a river meadow. An alternative theory suggests that the name is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word Ceap, meaning market.[19][20] The name is recorded variously as Cippanhamm (878), Cepen (1042), Cheppeham (1155), Chippenham (1227), Shippenham (1319) and Chippyngham (1541).[21] On John Speed's map of Wiltshire (1611), the name is spelt both Chippenham (for the hundred) and Chipnam (for the town itself). (There is another Chippenham, Cambridgeshire and Cippenham, Berkshire near Slough).

Early Medieval

In AD 853, Ethelswitha (sister to Alfred the Great) married the King of Mercia in Chippenham. Alfred was then a boy of four and the wedding was held on the site of St. Andrew's church. According to Bishop Asser's Life of King Alfred Chippenham was, under Alfred's reign, a royal vill;[22] historians have also argued, from its proximity to the royal forests at Melksham and Barden, that it was probably a hunting lodge.[3] Alfred's daughter was also married in Chippenham.[23]

Danish Vikings successfully besieged Chippenham in 878, though Alfred escaped. Later that year Alfred decisively defeated the Danes at the Battle of Ethandun, whose forces then surrendered to Alfred at Chippenham (ushering in the establishment of the Danelaw).[20]

In 1042 the Royal holding in Chippenham makes mention of a church.[20] The Domesday Book listed Chippenham as Cepen, with a population of 600 to 700 people in 1086.

High and Late Medieval

In Norman times the Royal properties were separated into the manors of Sheldon, Rowden and Lowden. Records show that the town expanded into Langstret (now the Causeway) from 1245 onwards and in 1406 onwards the town pushed into Le Newstret (now the New Road) area of town. Throughout this period Chippenham continued to have a thriving market in the town centre.

A map of Chippenham from 1773

The A4 that runs through Chippenham incorporates parts of the 14th century medieval road network that linked London to Bristol. This was an important road for the English cloth trade and its upkeep was funded in part by cloth merchants from Bristol due to its importance to the trade.[23]

Chippenham was represented in the Parliament of England from 1295 onwards and Queen Mary granted the town a Charter of Incorporation in 1554.

Analysis of the wood used to build the Yelde Hall indicates that the market hall was built after 1458. The Shambles and Buttercross were built after 1570.[18] The Shambles were destroyed in a fire in 1856 and the Yelde Hall survived.

The parish of Chippenham Without encompasses the deserted medieval village of Sheldon, devastated by plague; all that remains today is Sheldon Manor, Wiltshire's oldest inhabited manor house, dating from 1282.

16th to 18th centuries

The wool industry took off in the 16th century due, in part, to the river. The plague hit the town hard in 1611 and 1636. This, a recession in the woollen industry, and a drop in corn production in 1622 and 1623, caused massive hardship for the town's population. The trade in cloth faced further problems during the English Civil War due to a Royalist proclamation that prohibited the sale of cloth to the Parliamentarian controlled London.

In 1747 a bribery and corruption scandal (involving two members of parliament for Chippenham) led to the downfall of Sir Robert Walpole's government.

An OS map of Chippenham from 1896

19th and 20th centuries

A spur off the Wilts & Berks Canal was built to Chippenham in 1798 with a wharf at the current site of the bus station (Timber Street) with the main commodity traded being coal. Pewsham Way now follows the line of the old canal. The Great Western Railway arrived in Chippenham in 1841 which in turn attracted many new businesses to Chippenham. The arrival of these businesses required new housing which led to the expansion of Chippenham into the land north of the railway line, which in turn led to the growth of further industries to support the building work.

The arrival of the railway promoted the growth of industrial agricultural businesses. In the middle of the 19th century Chippenham was a major centre for the production of dairy and ham products; this led, later, to Nestle and Matteson's to have factories in the town centre. The railway also led to the growth of railway engineering works in Chippenham. The first of these was Roland Brotherhood in 1842.

An OS map of Chippenham from 1946

A variety of companies then took over part or all of the business on the site until in 1935 Westinghouse Brake and Signal Company Ltd took over the business site fully.[18] The signalling side of the business remains at the Chippenham site and is now owned by Siemens Rail Automation Group; the brakes business was taken over by the German company Knorr-Bremse,[24] and is based at a site in nearby Melksham.

On 17 April 1960, American singers Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent, and songwriter Sharon Sheeley were involved in a car crash in Chippenham at Rowden Hill. Cochran died as a result of his injuries and a memorial plaque was erected near the site. Each year Chippenham hosts an Eddie Cochran festival (see below).

On 13 February 1998, two unexploded bombs from World War II were discovered in the field behind Hardens Mead during preparations for the building of Abbeyfield School. About 1,100 residents living in the east of Chippenham had to be evacuated for two nights to friends and relatives or emergency accommodation until the Army carried out a controlled explosion. The Army initially attempted to defuse the larger 750 kg (1,650 lb) device but it was decided that owing to the bomb's orientation in the ground it would be too dangerous.[25]

Governance

Chippenham coat of arms

The offices of North Wiltshire District Council were based in the town until 2009, when the council was merged with four other Wiltshire local authorities. The offices in Monkton Park were adopted by the replacement unitary Wiltshire Council, which is based in Trowbridge.

The office of Town Mayor was established in 1835, prior to which Chippenham was governed by a Bailiff supported by Burgesses. Currently elected annually by the Town Council, the Mayor is generally appointed to office in May of each year, at the "Mayor Making" ceremony. As part of their duties as the first citizen of a town, the Mayor visits organisations, charities and groups representing all parts of the local community, acting as a figurehead to promote goodwill, cultural exchange, trade and commerce. The Mayor also gives the name of a specific charity which they will support throughout their year of office. Other tasks throughout the year include presiding over Town council meetings and acting as President for a variety of local organisations, such as the Twinning Association, and Sea Cadets.[6] In 2013, Councillor Sylvia Gibson became the 30th Mayor of Chippenham.[26]

In 1812, Sir Robert Peel, the creator of the modern police force, served as MP for Chippenham.

Until 2010, the town of Chippenham was within the parliamentary constituency of North Wiltshire, traditionally a Tory stronghold, although in the 19th century some Liberal members elected. Boundary changes for the 2010 general election saw (Liberal Democrat) candidate, Duncan Hames, become the new Member of Parliament for Chippenham, a newly created constituency formed from parts of three neighbouring constituencies, while James Gray (Conservative) held the North Wiltshire constituency.

Economy

Chippenham High Street featured a co-operative department store (now Wilkinson, left foreground)

Historically a market town, Chippenham's economy has since changed to that of a commuter town with residents travelling to workplaces in Bath, Bristol, Swindon and even London (almost 100 miles to the east).

Several large businesses have been located in the region, with the biggest former employer being Westinghouse, now owned by Siemens, whose factory complex lies next to the railway station. The company undertakes railway signalling contracts for Network Rail, London Underground as well as railway operators is other parts of the world, e.g. Beijing Subway, Oslo Public Transport Administration, SMRT Corporation, Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation, MTR Corporation and many others. Parts of the Westinghouse site are occupied by a range of companies. There are a number of other industrial sites around the town, Bumpers Farm being the largest.

In 2005, Europe's second largest logistics organisation, Wincanton PLC, consolidated its head office operations and moved to the newly developed Methuen Park office development in west Chippenham, where it employs around 350 people.

Market

Chippenham is a market town, with street markets taking place most Fridays and Saturdays around Market Place and along the pedestrianised High Street. A Farmers' Market for the sale of fresh, locally produced foodstuffs is also held here once a fortnight.[27] The original Cattle Market, which closed in 2004, is now being redeveloped by Linden Homes Western Limited as one of the UK's largest eco-housing projects.

Shopping

Chippenham's major retail area surrounds the pedestrianised High Street and Market Place, which consists of numerous shops of various categories. Two shopping centres lie on either side of the High Street; the enclosed Emery Gate Shopping Centre and the open air Borough Parade Shopping Centre. Of all the shops in the High Street and nearby alleys there are very few independent stores as franchises dominate, however some independent stores (E- cigarette shop, Nail Bars, Florists, Bridal Gowns, Hairdressers) are located along The Causeway and the Upper Market Place.

Retail parks, such as the Hathaway Retail Park, are located on the edge of town containing larger superstores and fast-food outlets.

The Chippenham Co-operative Society was founded in 1890. Over the years it played an increasing role in the local economy, becoming deeply involved in agriculture and dairy farming, and for most of the 20th century, its department store dominated the lower end of the High Street. However, by the 1960s the co-operative was facing increasing competition and found it necessary to join forces with other co-operatives, first locally, then nationally, forming The Co-operative Group. In the 80s, this flagship store was sold and became a Wilkinson store, but the Co-operative Group diversified into other areas, such as insurance and funeral services, they still operate through many local branches.[28]

Tourism

Surrounding the town are a number of stone-built villages, including Lacock (National Trust), Biddestone, Bremhill, and Castle Combe. The great house and art treasures of Longleat, Bowood House, Lacock Abbey, Sheldon Manor and Corsham Court are within easy reach. Chippenham Museum and Heritage Centre is in the town centre and tells the story of the market town.

Twinned towns

Chippenham is twinned with La Flèche in France[29] and Friedberg in Germany.

La Flèche lies on the banks of the Loir, 42 km (26 mi) from Le Mans and 72 km (45 mi) from Tours. Set amongst woods and farmland, La Flèche offers a wealth of recreational facilities including a zoological park. Le Prytane Militaire public school dates back to the time of the French King Henri IV and consequently La Flèche enjoys the status of a University Town. In 1630, people from La Flèche founded Montreal in Canada.

Friedberg is 64 km (40 mi) from Munich and the Bavarian Alps. Herzog Ludwig the severe and his nephew Conradin founded the town in 1264. The magnificent Town Hall follows the architectural style of Elias Holl's Town Hall, built in 1674, in neighbouring Augsburg. Friedberg is a walled town, renowned for its many sporting and cultural events such as the 17th century Street Festival.

Culture

Chippenham Folk festival

The Chippenham Folk Festival[30] takes place every year, usually over the Whitsuntide weekend.

The town holds an annual festival in remembrance of American rock and roll singer Eddie Cochran, who died on 17 April 1960 following a car accident shortly before midnight the previous day, while travelling through Chippenham on his way back to London during a British tour. Singer Gene Vincent and songwriter Sharon Sheeley survived the accident.

From 25 October 1963 until 1999, the Town Museum was housed in the Yelde Hall. It had, by this time, outgrown the site and moved to the former Magistrates' Court in the Market Place (opened on 23 March 2000).

The museum charts the history of the town from Neolithic times until today. By 2005, the museum had attracted over 90,000 visitors.[6]

Sport and leisure

Chippenham Sports Club Pavilion

Chippenham is well served with sports clubs and leisure facilities. The Olympiad Centre opened in 1989, after replacing an outdoor pool, which closed in 1984. It caters for a wide range of interests and has a variety of swimming pools and full gym facilities.[31] It also plays host to many events including the popular annual CAMRA Beer Festival.[32]

Chippenham Sports Club, located on the A420 Bristol Road, is a members sports club.[33] Its facilities include a two-storey pavilion that overlooks the six hard surface floodlit tennis courts[34] and the cricket square and field.[35] A recently built bowls pavilion accompanies the best bowling green in the county which plays host to the Wiltshire Middleton Cup Team.[36] The all weather hockey pitches support thriving Ladies' and Men's teams.

The Dome, an inflatable, all year round, indoor sports dome, provides much needed amenities including netball, cricket nets plus a 5-a-side football league.

Chippenham has two football clubs, Chippenham Town F.C., and Chippenham Park F.C.. Chippenham Town was formed in 1873, and are well known for playing in the FA Vase 2000 Final, where they lost 1–0 to Deal Town F.C., they currently play in the Southern Premier League. Chippenham Park F.C., are a football team that were formed in 2012 and currently play there games at Hardenhuish Park for the first team and Stanley Park for the Reserves. Both Park teams currently play in the Wiltshire Football League.

Chippenham United F.C., formed in 1905, played for twelve seasons in the Wiltshire Football League after World War II, before they folded in 1962.

Chippenham Rugby Club is on the western outskirts alongside the A350 bypass.[37] Chippenham Golf Club is situated on the A350 as it leads north from the town towards the M4.[38] The club, formed in 1896, has a new clubhouse and redeveloped course opened in 2012.

Chippenham has a small cinema, the Reel Astoria, on the A420 Marshfield Road, to the west of the town centre.

The Sustrans National Cycle Network Route 403 passes through the town.

There is a variety of nightlife in the town, including nightclubs, wine bars, and a mixture of modern and traditionally styled pubs.

Education

17th to 18th Century

In his will of 1661 a Richard Scott directed that his house in Cooke's Street should be used as a school, and William Woodruffe gave an annuity of £5 in 1664 for the teaching of ten poor boys. In 1713 it was re-opened with a benefaction of £10 per annum for 24 boys.[39]

Late 19th Century

From 1875 a private venture grammar school existed in Chippenham, conducted in St. Mary Street by a Mr. Wilson and from 1883 by a Mr. Cruikshank.[40]

In 1891, the Technical Instruction Acts (1889 & 1891) provided financial assistance[41] for evening classes in various science and arts subjects. Earlier voluntary classes that had existed were now coordinated, and this became the beginning of a national system of technical education. Subjects included Shorthand, Animal Physiology, Chemistry, Physics, Hygiene, Carpentry and Dressmaking.

In 1893, Mr. Edward Newall Tuck was appointed by the Education Committee of the Borough of Chippenham to organise technical classes in Chippenham and district. Classes were held in rented premises at No. 21 London Road and at the Jubilee Institute, as well as villages including Grittleton and Yatton Keynell. Teachers from elementary schools attended classes in a School of Art on Saturdays at the Jubilee Institute. Mr. Tuck, in addition, gave talks on Wiltshire history and nature study, he also served as town councillor and was Mayor of Chippenham from 1931 to 1932. In 1894, pupils were not admitted to classes until they reached the age of 11. Pupils from day schools were admitted free from aged 11 to 16. The fees at this time were fixed at 6d per month, the whole expenses of the school being met by fees and grants from the Science and Art Department and the County Council. Higher grade classes for boys, including Woodwork and Chemistry, were held at No. 21 London Road.

In 1896, under the provisions of the Technical and Industrial Institutions Act (1892), the Borough of Chippenham established the Chippenham and District County School,[42] subsequently known as the Chippenham County Secondary School for Boys and Girls, with Mr. Tuck as the first headmaster (He would remain in this post until 1939). The first Chair of Governors was former mayor Alderman John Coles.[43]

The premises were still located at No. 21 London Road and the Jubilee Institute. As the tenancy of the private venture school was to end on 25 March 1896, the Town Council paid Mr. Cruikshank £10 for the desks, books and goodwill of his school. Boys were drawn from three elementary schools in Chippenham, the British, National and St. Paul's Schools. In addition twelve boys had previously attended the private grammar school. Others were from other private schools in Chippenham, Corsham, Devizes, Calne and surrounding villages. 39 boys aged 11 to 16 were on the admission register from 13 April 1896. The curriculum included Latin, French, Science, History, Geography, Grammar, Book-keeping, Shorthand, Arithmetic, Writing, Geometry and Freehand Drawing.[40]

In September 1898, a girls' school was established, against some opposition, in the Temperance Hall, Foghamshire. 22 girls were admitted at opening, from the schools of Mrs. Parry (Market Place), Miss Alexander (Monkton Hill), Mrs. White (Marshfield Road), from private tuition and from local National and British schools.

20th Century

On 24 September 1900, the Chippenham District County School opened in Cocklebury Lane, now part of Wiltshire College (built on an acre of land purchased in 1896 by the County, Urban and Rural District Councils). The ceremony was attended by the Mayor and Aldermen of Chippenham. In addition to Mr. Edward Newall Tuck the headmaster, the staff included three masters and one mistress, there were 99 pupils. The total cost of the project was £6,000.[44] In addition to the buildings and playground, four acres of adjoining land were rented for playing fields. All day classes were consolidated here and pupil numbers increased rapidly.[40]

On 1 May 1901 the decision was taken by the Governors for the school to become a Science School. 4 scholarships were granted to 3 female and 1 male students. In July it was decided to establish a centre for pupil-teachers at the school. In 1902, local education authorities were established and Wiltshire County Council became responsible for education in Chippenham. Latin was omitted from the curriculum. By 1904 there were 101 pupils, 50 from urban and 51 from rural areas. In addition 49 pupil teachers were attending, 9 from urban and the remainder from rural schools, and the evening classes had 139 pupils. From 1905 girls from elementary schools attended Cookery classes at the Cocklebury Road site.

By October 1907 the school had 128 pupils, 64 boys and 64 girls. The age of admission was 9, and the leaving age 17 to 18. In addition to the yearly fees paid by pupils the school was financed by County and Government grants.[45] In 1908 the fees were £5 5s. 0d. a year, including books. However, there were a number of scholarships available and figures for the year show that of 115 pupils, 66 girls and 49 boys, 57 held scholarships, one a free place, and only 57 were fee-payers.

In 1922, the school received further County and Government grants.[46] In the interwar years, numbers of pupils on roll increased steadily, and by 1929 there were 262. The Junior department was reorganised as a Kindergarten and Preparatory Form, catering for 61 children aged 8 to 10. However, the number of pupils over the age of 16 was proportionally small in comparison with the average for Wiltshire Grammar Schools, consequently there was no discrete sixth form, although a small number of pupils did progress to University, some with the aid of County Scholarships.

By the early 1930s the buildings were presenting difficulties of overcrowding and by 1935 pupil numbers had reached 288, Hardenhuish Park was purchased from the Clutterbuck family by Wiltshire County Council in order to implement the educational requirements of the growing town. In 1938, the Secondary Grammar School moved from Cocklebury Road to new buildings (since demolished), erected on the east side of Hardenhuish House.[47] The old Manor House became the headmaster's room, the school library and some classrooms.[40] The new school extended over 40 acres of Hardenhuish Park, new buildings contained a hall, gymnasium, laboratories, classrooms, and cloakrooms. In 1939, the Preparatory department closed.

By 1940 there were 414 pupils, of whom 25 were evacuees, 10 percent were under the age of 11 and, still, only 2 percent over 16. The Cocklebury Road premises became Chippenham County Secondary Modern School, a senior mixed school taking children aged 11 and over from the primary schools of Chippenham and district.

Modern

The nearest university is the Bath campus at Claverton Down, situated 12 miles to the west of Chippenham.

Tertiary

The former Chippenham Technical College on Cocklebury Road is now part of the Wiltshire College initiative.

Secondary

Three secondary schools cater for students from age 11 through sixth form.

Primary

There are ten primary schools in the town:

Currently the oldest is Ivy Lane, after Westmead Junior School closed in 1989. Westmead having originally opened in 1858, some 50 years earlier than Ivy Lane.

Special schools

Wiltshire Council provide an online map of all the schools within the county.[52]

Religion

In the 2001 census, 73.2% of the population in Chippenham Parish defined themselves as Christian, 17.3% said they were of no religion and 8% did not state a religion.[53]

In the 2011 census, 59.6% of the population in Chippenham Parish defined themselves as Christian, 31.1% said they were of no religion and 7.3% did not state a religion.[54]

St Andrew's church, viewed from the Market Place.

Church of England

St Paul's church

Roman Catholic

Non-Conformist

London Road Cemetery gate
Closed churches

Notable people

(in alphabetical order)

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Chippenham Census 2011 Selected Statistics Profile" (PDF). Wiltshire Census 2011 results. intelligencenetwork.org.uk.
  2. ↑ OS Explorer Map 156, Chippenham and Bradford-on-Avon Scale: 1:25 000.Publisher: Ordnance Survey A2 edition (2007). ISBN 978-0319239438
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Michael Wood (1981). In Search of the Dark Ages. BBC. p. 111. ISBN 0-56-317835-3.
  4. ↑ Zoe Mills (19 January 2006). "Readers back call for a bypass". Gazette and Herald.
  5. ↑ From the inscription on the Buttercross itself.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Chippenham Town Council (1989). Emma King, ed. The Town Guide of Chippenham, Wiltshire. London: EJ Burrow.
  7. ↑ "Chippenham tourist centre to relocate". Gazette and Herald. 9 January 2012.
  8. ↑ "Protesters fight to save Chippenham beauty spot". Gazette and Herald. 1 January 2009.
  9. ↑ "Facebook campaign to save Birds Marsh Wood from development". Bristol Post. 2 January 2009.
  10. ↑ "Chippenham campaigners celebrate partial victory in Birds Marsh battle". Gazette and Herald. 20 June 2013.
  11. ↑ "High Mowthorpe 1971–2000 averages". The Met Office. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  12. ↑ "Chippenham Census Information". Wiltshire Council.
  13. ↑ "What do we already know about Chippenham community area?" (PDF). Wiltshire Council.
  14. ↑ "Childcare Sufficiency 2011–2014 Community Childcare Plan for Chippenham September 2011" (PDF). Wiltshire Council.
  15. ↑ "Chippenham Community Area Joint Strategic Needs Assessment" (PDF). Wiltshire Council.
  16. ↑ "Chippenham" (XLSX). Community Area Estimates and Projections 2001 to 2026: Trend-based. intelligencenetwork.org.uk.
  17. ↑ "Wiltshire Population 2011 report" (PDF). Wiltshire and Community Area Population Estimates and Projections 2001 to 2026: Trend-based. intelligencenetwork.org.uk.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 "Chippenham Timeline". Museum & Heritage. Chippenham Town Council.
  19. ↑ Joseph Archibald Chamberlain (1976). Chippenham: Some Notes on Its History. Charter Trustees. pp. 199pp. ISBN 0-95-054510-4. BRN0066062.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Arnold Platts (1946). The history of Chippenham, A.D. 853-1946. Wiltshire Gazette Printing Works. pp. 98pp. BRN0141031.
  21. ↑ Sally Jefferies (1987). A Chippenham Collection. Chippenham Civic Society. pp. 107pp. BRN0541107.
  22. ↑ "Antiquarian researches". The Gentleman's Magazine. 198-199: 415. 1855.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Chippenham". Wiltshire Community History. Wiltshire Council.
  24. ↑ "Westinghouse Brakes sold to Knorr-Bremse".
  25. ↑ "Army to detonate wartime bomb". BBC News UK. 14 February 1998.
  26. ↑ "The new Mayor is: Councillor Sylvia Gibson". The Mayor’s Office. Chippenham Town Council.
  27. ↑ "Town Markets". Chippenham Official Guide, Wiltshire. Local Authority Publishing.
  28. ↑ "Find a Store". The Co-Operative Group Online.
  29. ↑ "British towns twinned with French towns". Archant Community Media Ltd. Archived from the original on 5 July 2013. Archived at Wayback Machine
  30. ↑ "Chippenham Folk Festival homepage".
  31. ↑ "Olympiad Leisure Centre". D C Leisure Management.
  32. ↑ "Chippenham Beer Festival". North West Wiltshire branch. CAMRA.
  33. ↑ "Chippenham Sports Club".
  34. ↑ "Chippenham Tennis Club".
  35. ↑ "Chippenham Cricket Club".
  36. ↑ "Chippenham Town Bowls Club".
  37. ↑ "Chippenham Rugby Football Club".
  38. ↑ "Chippenham Golf Club".
  39. ↑ Rev. John Jeremiah Daniell; Canon Jackson (1894). The History of Chippenham. Paternoster Square, London: R.F. Houlston.
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 40.2 40.3 "Wiltshire Community History". Wiltshire County Council.
  41. ↑ "Chippenham District County School (S 8460): Sale of property - Order (Ref: ED 27/5268)". The National Archives.
  42. ↑ "Chippenham District County School (S 8460): Proposed appropriation of sum from… (Ref: ED 27/5269)". The National Archives.
  43. ↑ Staff reporter (30 April 2012). "Salute to the man behind Chippenham's John Coles park". Gazette and Herald.
  44. ↑ "Chippenham District County School (S 8460): Endowed Schools Scheme for administration of… (Ref: ED 27/5270)". The National Archives.
  45. ↑ "Chippenham District County School (S.8460): Scheme 14th July, 1909 (Ref: ED 35/2686)". The National Archives.
  46. ↑ "Chippenham District County School (S 8460): Charitable Trusts Scheme 1922 (Ref: ED 27/8728)". The National Archives.
  47. ↑ "Chippenham Secondary School (formerly Chippenham District County School) (S.8460) (Ref: ED 35/6392)". The National Archives.
  48. ↑ "Hardenhuish School, Chippenham". Wiltshire Council.
  49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 "History of Chippenham Grammar School". Wiltshire Council.
  50. ↑ "Sheldon School, Chippenham". Wiltshire Council.
  51. ↑ "Abbeyfield School, Chippenham". Wiltshire Council.
  52. ↑ "Wiltshire Schools Map". Wiltshire Council.
  53. ↑ "Religion". 2001 Census: Key Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
  54. ↑ "Religion". 2011 Census: Key Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
  55. ↑ "Saint Andrew's". Wiltshire Council.
  56. ↑ "Saint Nicholas". Wiltshire Council.
  57. ↑ "Saint Paul's". Wiltshire Council.
  58. ↑ "Saint Peter's". Wiltshire Council.
  59. ↑ "Saint Mary's". Wiltshire Council.
  60. ↑ "Monkton Hill Methodist Church". Wiltshire Council.
  61. ↑ "Christian Science Society Church". Wiltshire Council.
  62. ↑ "Elim Pentecostal Church". Wiltshire Council.
  63. ↑ "Ladyfield Evangelical Church". Wiltshire Council.
  64. ↑ "Oasis Church". Wiltshire Council.
  65. ↑ "Old Baptist Chapel". Wiltshire Council.
  66. ↑ "Salvation Army Citadel". Wiltshire Council.
  67. ↑ "Sheldon Road Methodist Church". Wiltshire Council.
  68. ↑ "Station Hill Baptist Chapel". Wiltshire Council.
  69. ↑ "Tabernacle United Reformed Church". Wiltshire Council.
  70. ↑ "Cepen Park Methodist Church". Wiltshire Council.
  71. ↑ "Primitive Methodist Chapel, The Causeway". Wiltshire Council.

External links

Media related to Chippenham at Wikimedia Commons

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