Maud Heath

"I am Maud Heath. My husband, John Heath, having gone to meet his maker, I have placed in the hands of lawyers the writing of a charter in which I intend to gift my lands and tenements to the Parish of Chippenham. The benefits of these lands and tenements are to be used for the construction of a causeway from Wick Hill to Chippenham Clift. Here I tell of my life as it is.

It is the year of Our Lord 1474, King Edward IV has been on the throne now for 14 years. Life for us all is spent in keeping the lands and tenements in good order, that I and the villagers may live comfortably and serve Our Lord well on the Sabbath.

I live in Tytherton Kellaways, 3 miles to the north-east of Chippenham. The land around is close to the plain of the River Avon. In winter much of the land is flooded, but this brings fertile soil for planting in the spring, and early grass for our cattle and sheep, the swine forage in the forests surrounding. Most we need for is provided in the farmstead.

Since the death of John, I go to the market in Chippenham most Wednesdays with goods from the farm. Many of the villagers like to go to the St John Lateran market in May, the St Barnabas market in June, and the market fayres in October and December. In fair weather I walk, which takes an hour of the day in each direction. In foul I ride a horse, or take the cart, which is less tiring. There are times it would be foolhardy to attempt the journey as the land around is marsh-like and treacherous.

It is my wish that income from my land and tenements will be used to construct a causeway from Wick Hill to Chippenham Clift. My villagers will then be able to reach the Chippenham markets with all their goods to sell, and dry feet.

I will be your travelling companion, showing the route of my causeway and the fair market town of Chippenham."

Who was Maud Heath?

Maud Heath, a widow of considerable means, lived at Tytherton Kellaways during the latter part of the fifteenth century.

We would probably have no knowledge of Maud Heath if it were not for her gift, in 1474, of land and property in and around Chippenham to a trust which oversaw the construction of a causeway to allow people dry passage from Wick Hill to Chippenham.

The history of the causeway

The deed confirming the gift of land does not mention the purpose of the gift but it is generally assumed that this had been agreed in advance of the drawing up of the paperwork. The provision of the means to build a causeway or bridge was not a unique act but Maud Heath provided funds so that the causeway could be maintained in perpetuity, making her actions more exceptional.

In early accounts Maud Heath's Causeway is called a 'causey'. This may be a corruption of the French 'chausée', meaning a road with a laid surface, above the flood plain. There is evidence that the original Causeway was surfaced with a mixture of limestone brash and cobbling for much of its length, providing a dry walking surface rather than a raised walkway. Fragments of cobbling can still be found at the Causeway's start on Wick Hill, protruding from under the tarmac.

At Kellaways, the causeway has a raised section. This was rebuilt in 1811 over a series of sixty-four arches. Part of this was replaced with a road bridge in 1853 which was rebuilt in 1961.

Why was a causeway needed?

Roads as we know them today did not exist in the fifteenth century. Often they were little more than tracks which turned to thick mud in wet weather making travel difficult. The situation was worsened by the ruts made by cartwheels which would solidify into dusty ridges and dips in dry weather.

Carts frequently got stuck or lost wheels in the treacherous conditions but travellers on foot struggled most. The width of Maud Heath's Causeway indicates that it was intended to aid those travelling on foot.

The value local people placed on the Causeway has extended throughout its history. This is reflected in the monuments along its route. The dates of these commemorations and expressions of gratitude indicate that they do not celebrate anniversaries or improvement works but rather were built on the whim of the trustees.

The monuments along the causeway

A monument bearing the date 1698 can be seen at Kellaways beside the bridge over the river. The inscription on the monument reads:

'To the memory of Maud Heath of Langley Burrell, widow, who in the year of grace 1474 for the good travellers did in charity bestow in lands and houses about eight pounds a year for ever to be laid out on the Highway a causey leading from Wick Hill to Chippenham Clift. This piller [sic] was set up by the feoffees in 1698. Injure me not.'

Originally the text described Maud Heath as a spinster but after the discovery of her will and also the letter of gift in the nineteenth century as well as consideration of burial, alongside her husband, it became apparent that she was indeed a widow. To this end the text on the monument was altered. This monument has a sundial inscribed 'Tempus Volat' [time flies] on the eastern side and 'Dum tempus habemus operemur bonum' [While we have time let us do good] to the south, and on the west, 'Redibo -tu numquam' [I shall return -you shall not].

Since 1827 a marker has stood to one side of the road at Wick Hill identifying the start of the Causeway. Originally this had an inscription in Latin. This was subsequently replaced by a translation into English credited to the vicar of Bremhill, Rev. William Bowles.

The inscription reads:

From this Wick Hill begins the praise
Of Maud Heath's gift to these highways.

The English inscription was noted by John Britton in his book 'Beauties of Wiltshire', published in 1801. This throws doubt on Rev Bowles being the translator.

In 1838 the most impressive monument was built at the start of the Causeway on Wick Hill. This was commissioned by the local lord, Henry, Marquis of Lansdowne and the vicar of Bremhill, the Rev. William Bowles. The monument is a column with a statue of Maud Heath dressed as a market women on its plinth.

An inscription at eye-level reads:

Thou who didst pause on this aerial hight
Where Maud Heath's Pathway winds in shade or light
Christian wayfarer in a world of strife,
Be still and ponder on the Path of Life
W.L.B

Walking the causeway

The Ordnance Survey Sheets covering Maud Heath's Causeway are:

Explorer 156, Chippenham and Bradford on Avon

Landranger 174

On the A420, Langley Rd in Chippenham, opposite St Paul's Church, there is a plaque marking the start of the Causeway. Notice the elegant architecture of the church, designed by George Gilbert Scott and built in 1854-55.

Walk along the road travelling east then take the turning right onto the B4279 at Langley Burrell.

Continue on this road as far as a fork. Take the right hand road marked for Kellaways. Where the Causeway crosses the river its route is marked by the 1698 monument.

This road continues to East Tytherton. Along this section, at Kellaways, is the best preserved and well known section of the Causeway. A walkway on 64 brick arches runs along the roadside.

At the fork in the road in East Tytherton village take the right hand road to Bremhill Wick. Sections of the cobbled surface of the original surface are visible on the left side of the road on the way to the top. This road continues to the top of Wick Hill where the end of the Causeway is marked by a plaque at the roadside and a monument to Maud Heath which overlooks the valley below.