New Book - Chippenham and the Wilts & Berks Canal

Chippenham Museum & Heritage Centre is delighted to announce the publication of a new book, 'Chippenham and the Wilts & Berks Canal', written by Ray Alder. The book is the second in the Chippenham Studies series, published by Chippenham Town Council.

For over 2 years Mr Alder, a volunteer warden at the Museum & Heritage Centre, has been delving into the forgotten history of the Canal.  The fruits of his research have now been publicised in Mr Alder's first book, which details the often turbulent story of the canal in Chippenham, how it affected the town and surrounding villages; from its building in the canal craze of the 18^th century, to its decay and abandonment in the 20^th century.

Opened in 1800 the Chippenham Branch brought working boats to the centre of Chippenham and linked the town with the rapidly forming industrial world. For several decades it was a source of wealth and prosperity for many in the town until the coming of the railway in 1840, which brought with it an inevitable decline and slow deterioration in the later 19^th century before closing finally in 1912.

For many years the abandoned canal lay derelict and forgotten with its main use being the town tip. It hardly merited a mention in the history books of Chippenham and today the name "Canal Road" on Pewsham housing estate is the only obvious reminder of its previous existence. It was only when the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust started to restore the canal as a leisure facility that a new enthusiasm developed and people realised that an important industrial relic was re-awakening.

The book tells the fascinating story of the canal through the lives of some of its characters. Such as the political magnates and financiers who somehow changed the route of the 'Western Canal' to miss the town, to the benefit of Devizes. Then later the controversy over where it should end in Chippenham that led to litigation and the construction of the 'Wood Lane Tunnel'.

Ironically one of the most prosperous periods for the canal was during the 1830's and 1840's, transporting stone and materials to build bridges and buildings for the Great Western Railway Company. Much of the stone for the railway village and locomotive works in Swindon was moved from Bath using the Wilts & Berks Canal. 

The book is now on sale from Chippenham Museum & Heritage Centre price £6.95.