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Melksham in Wilts County England History and GeographyMELKSHAM, a market town and parish in the hundred of MELKSHAM, county of WILTS, 28 miles (N.W.) from Salisbury, and 95 (W. by S.) from London, containing, with the chapelry of Seend, 5776 inhabitants. The name is supposed to be derived from Milch, or Melch, milk, and Haur, a dwelling, the adjacent land being chiefly occupied as dairy farms. During the Saxon era this was a place of some importance: at the period of the Norman survey, and for several subsequent reigns, it was held in royal demesne, and gave name to an extensive forest: in the reign of Henry VIII. it had fallen into decay, but during the last century experienced a revival from its cloth manufacture. The town, situated on the great road from London through Devizes to Bath, and on the banks of the Avon, consists principally of one street nearly a mile in length, which is paved and lighted with gas: the houses are in general good, and built of freestone, and the inhabitants are well supplied with water. Two mineral springs, one saline and the other chalybeate, were discovered in the vicinity, some years ago; and, in 1816, a new saline spa was formed, by boring to a depth of more than three hundred and fifty feet, to which a pump-room, and hot and cold baths, with every requisite accommodation, have been added: these buildings form the centre of a handsome crescent, with a viranda in front, and near them is an agreeable promenade: the surrounding country abounds with diversified and pleasing prospects. The chalybeate spring, which is contiguous to the old spa, yields about eight hundred gallons per day, and is in its qualities similar to the waters of Tonbridge and Bath. The saline apcrient is highly recommended, both for external and internal use, in scrofulous and scorbutic diseases. There is a convenient reading-room, also a circulating library. The business of the town formerly consisted in the manufacture of broad cloth and kerseymere, of which it was once the principal seat, but this is now on the decline: there is some business done in malt and leather. The Wilts and Berks canal passes on the east, and about a mile and a half southward joins the Kennet and Avon canal. The river Avon passes through the town, and is crossed by a handsome stone bridge of four arches, with light and elegant balustrades: adjoining it is one of the largest corn-mills in the county, and contiguous are an extensive factory and dye-houses. The market is held every alternate Monday, for cattle, sheep, pigs, &c.; and there is a cattle fair on the 27th of July. The county magistrates hold here a petty session for the division, on the last Wednesday in every month; a court leet is held half-yearly by the joint lords of the manor; and a court of requests, under an act of the 47th of George III., for the recovery of debts not exceeding £5, is held once in three weeks, on Tuesday, alternately with Bradford and Trowbridge. The living is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Salisbury, rated in the king's books at £38. 9. 4½., and in the patronage of the Dean and Chapter of Salisbury. The church, dedicated to St. Michael, is a spacious cruciform structure of freestone, with a handsome tower rising from the intersection: part of the building is of the period of the twelfth century, and the whole is crowned with battlements and pinnacles; in the interior, on the south side, are two chantry chapels. There are places of worship for Baptists, the Society of Friends, Independents, and Wesleyan Methodists. In 1750, the Rev. Bohun Fox bequeathed £135 for instructing and partly clothing poor children. A Lancasterian school, established in 1829, is supported by voluntary contributions: about two hundred and forty children of both sexes are instructed. From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England 1831, courtesy of Databases 4 Sale |
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