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The Buttercross of Chippenham, West Sussex, England: Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Buttercross_-_geograph.org.uk_-_944299.jpgAuthor: Betty Longbottom
Chippenham is a market town in Wiltshire, England. It is located 163 km (101 mi) west of London and 21 km (13 mi) east of Bath. The town has a population of around 29,000 people (2012 estimate). It is located on the River Avon.
Chippenham began as a settlement even before the Roman period. After the withdrawal of the Romans, the Anglo Saxon rulers used it as a royal hunting lodge. The wedding of Ethelswitha, sister to the future King Alfred the Great, to the King of Mercia, was held in AD 853 in Chippenhelm. In 878, the town was invaded by Vikings, in which Alfred escaped and later that same year returned to defeat them in the Battle of Ethandun.
After the Norman Conquest, the Royal properties in Chippenham were divided into the manors of Cheldon, Rowden and Lowden. These were recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. The medieval road running through Chippenham, connecting London with Bristol, was laid in the 14th century, and today becomes part of the A4 trunk road.
Lacock, Wiltshire, England: Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lacock_UK-High_Street.jpegAuthor: Ettlz
The villagers of Chippenham had a tradition in weaving. This developed into a wool industry in the 16th century, helped by the improved river connection. However a period of hardship followed, from the 16th to the 18th century, brought about by plague, recession and the English Civil War.
In the late 18th century, Chippenham was connected by the Wilts & Berks Canal. This was followed in 1841 with the Great Western Railway. This helped spur the development of industrial agricultural businesses in the area. Today Chippenham is a small English town. It celebrates the Chippenham Folk Festival over the Whitsuntide weekend every year.
Castle Combe, Wiltshire, England: Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Castle_combe_river.jpgAuthor: Saffron Blaze
Visiting Chippenham
From London take the M4 motorway to Junction 17, then head south on the A350 road until you arrive in Chippenham.Places of Interest in Chippenham
- Biddestone: A small, picturesque Cotswold village in northwest Wiltshire.
- Bremhill: Village located between Calne and Chippenheim, noted for being the terminus of the Maud Heath's Causeway.
- Castle Combe: A small picturesque village noted for its tranquility and attractiveness.
- Lacock: Village that is today almost entirely owned by the National Trust. It is preserved for its unspoiled appearance.
- St Andrew's Church, Chippenham: Anglican parish church dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period. Present building dates to Norman times, around 1120.
- St Mary's Church, Chippenham: Roman Catholic church built in 1855.
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