Chippenham, Wiltshire

Chippenham is a market town in Wiltshire, England located at .

Location

Chippenham is set on a prominent crossing of the River Avon and lies between the Marlborough Downs to the East, the Cotswolds to the North and West and Salisbury Plain to the South. Surrounding the Town are a number of stone-built villages, including Lacock (National Trust), Biddestone and Castle Combe. The great house and art treasures of Longleat, Bowood House, Lacock Abbey, Sheldon Manor and Corsham Court are within easy reach.

The town is 7 km (4 miles) south of the M4 motorway, giving easy access to Bristol, Swindon, South Wales and London. The A4 coach road from London provides an alternative route to Bristol via Bath, and the A420 and B4069 bring you to Bristol and Oxford.

Chippenham is on the main line rail route from London Paddington to the West Country and is famous for its railway arches and other buildings created by Isambard Kingdom Brunel when he built the Great Western Railway. Bus services to Bath, Calne, Devizes, Trowbridge and Swindon are available.

National Coach services connect at Chippenham to London, Wales, the South West, Midlands and East Anglia. Cross town mini bus services plus additional local services linking neighbouring villages to the town are provided by a number of private operators.

Early history

The town was believed to have been founded by Saxons around 600. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records the town as Cippanhamme and this could refer to Cippa, who settled here with his folk, or Cheppeham (the Saxon for trading and a market). Hamme is a piece of low ground enclosed in a bend of a river.

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. Andrews Church. Alfred spent much time at Chippenham, and had a hunting lodge there.

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

The Domesday Book listed Chippenham as Cepen, with a population of 600-700 people.

Chippenham encompasses the deserted medieval village of Sheldon, devasted by plague. All that remains today is Sheldon Manor, Wiltshire's oldest inhabited manor house (dating from 1282).

In 1812 Sir Robert Peel became the Member of Parliament for Chippenham.

Eddie Cochran Festival

In 1960 the Rock musician Eddie Cochran was killed in Chippenham in a car accident. An annual festival is now held in the town to remember him.

Chippenham today

Its population has grown rapidly in recent years to 33,189 (2001 census), an increase of 28% from the 1991 figure of 25,961. This rapid expansion can be attributed to the development of large housing developments (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), and further housing developments are currently progressing. Chippenham's population in 2006 was estimated at approximately 35,000 inhabitants. The town is within the North Wiltshire local government district and parliamentary constituency in Wiltshire, England. North Wiltshire District Council is based here.

The River Avon runs through Chippenham, going near the centre of the Town, spanned by a modern bridge with aqua-coloured modern railings.

The largest employer in the town appears to be a part of Westinghouse, now a part of Invensys, who are quite busy with railway signalling work, as they have been for many years. Parts of their site are now occupied by a diverse range of other companies. There are a number of other industrial sites around the town. 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.

The main street in town is pedestrianised by day, and car parking is available at several sites around the centre. Short-term parking is free in car parks around the town centre. There are several pleasant cafes and other eating establishments, and several riverside walks. There is also a nightlife scene, with the New Inn, The Rose and Crown and Buds 2000 being late-night venues, although many people travel to Bath, 21 km (13 miles) to the west. The South Wales border at Chepstow is only around 35 - 40 minutes drive away on a clear run.

The Severn and Thames cycle route (part of Route 4) of the Sustrans National Cycle Network passes through the town. Chippenham 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.

There is not much tourist accommodation actually in Chippenham, but some within a few miles, particularly along the A4 Bath Road through Corsham and Box, or on several local farms.

The town's coat of arms includes the motto Unity and Loyalty.

Shopping and Commercial life

The pedestrianised High Street and Market Place contain a number of important nationals, including Wilkinsons, Boots The Chemist, W.H. Smith, Birthdays, Woolworths, Superdrug, Burton Menswear, Millets, Currys, Rosebys and Vodafone.

The enclosed Emery Gate Shopping Centre and open air Borough Parade Shopping Centre lie on either side of the High Street and include Peacocks, Dixons, Somerfield Food Store, Dorothy Perkins, Select, Robert Dyas, Pink Planet, Argos, New Look, Evans, Specsavers, Ottakers, Thorntons @ Signature and The Bodyshop.

Hathaway Retail Park includes Homebase, Halfords, Powerhouse, Blockbuster Video and a Tesco Express store. The Causeway, New Road, Station Hill and the Upper Market Place offer a wealth of independent shops and businesses, such as The Cellar Gallery, Beauty For Everyone, The China Bowl, Noteworthy Music, Amelia Classics and Edward & Alan.

Larger superstores such as Sainsbury's, Morrisons, B&Q, Homebase, Halfords, Focus and Currys are located on the edge of town, as are McDonalds, Pizza Hut and Burger King.

Chippenham is also home to a large number of established Wiltshire businesses, as well as a full complement of banks, building societies, estate agents, travel agents, solicitors, accountants, doctors, dentists, opticians, garages, hotels, restaurants and pubs as would be expected in any thriving market town.

In recent times there has been a visible increase in shops closing down in the area, such as Littlewoods, many of these shops have been replaced by mobile phone stores and at present in the town centre you will find: Phones4u, Vodafone, Carphone Warehouse, O2, Communications Centre and T-Mobile. Of all the shops in the high street and nearby alleys there are very few independent stores as franchises dominate.

Chippenham as a market town

Chippenham’s vibrant and colourful street markets are held on Fridays and Saturdays in the Market Place. The market offers a wealth of traditional and modern stalls, offering a variety of items from locally grown produce, cheese, fresh meats, fish, olives, bread and cakes, plants and flowers through to stone ornaments, ladies fashions, underwear, cosmetics, shoes, Christian books, tapes and CD’s, mobile phones, new age items, jewellery, and clocks and watches.

The Chippenham Farmers’ Market is held fortnightly in the Market Place. Local growers and suppliers offer a variety of homegrown organic vegetables, fresh fish, a wide range of meats, homemade fruit pies, sweets, pastries, cheese, eggs, chutneys, pickles and preserves, fruit juices, wine and liquers. The Farmer’s Market offers local produce from local producers, with no factory farming or excessive packaging. The producers are on hand to answer your questions.

Sport and Leisure

Chippenham is well served with sports clubs and leisure facilities. The Olympiad Centre caters for a wide range of interests and has a variety of swimming pools andfull gym facilities. It also plays host to many evernt including the popular annual CAMRA beer festival. Chippenham Sports Club comprises, cricket, bowls, tennis and hockey sections and is situated on the Bristol Rd adjacent to Chippenham Town F.C.^*. Chippenham Rugby Club is on the western outskirts next to the A350 by-pass.

Chippenham Folk Festival

Chippenham Folk Festival takes place every year, usually from the 26th till the 30th of May. Although it has seen many changes since its beginnings in Lacock all those years ago, it still retains its 'village' atmosphere, providing three and a half days packed with song, dance, workshops and dance displays. Over 200 events take place within the town centre, turning the whole town into a giant party. The main ceilidh and concert events take place in the beautiful park alongside the river, while practically every pub and venue in the town is used for a vast range of sessions, workshops and smaller concerts and dances. There is also a full program of childrens events, a large craft marquee, catering facilities and an open air arena in the park. The High Street and historic Market Square are both pedestrianised, and are used throughout the weekend for busking, street theatre and processions. A huge street fair also takes place on the Monday.

Twinning

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

La Fleche lies on the banks of the River Loire, 42 km (26 miles) from Le Mans and 72km (45 miles) from Tours. Set amongst woods and farmland, La Fleche 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 Fleche enjoys the status of a University Town. In 1630 people from La Fleche founded Montreal in Canada.

Friedberg is 64 km (40 miles) from Munich and the Bavarian Alps. Herzog Ludwig the First and his nephew Konradin 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.

External links

Towns in Wiltshire | Busking venues

Cippanhamm | Chippenham, Wiltshire

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