In 1887, John Bartholomew's Gazetteer of the British Isles described Melksham like this:
Melksham.-- market town, par., and township, Wilts, on river Avon, 6¼ miles S. of Chippenham and 96 miles W. of London by rail - par., 12,572 ac., pop. 5331; township, pop. 4412; town, 413 ac., pop. 2178; P.O., T.O., 2 Banks. Market-day, Tuesday. In Saxon times this place had some importance, and at the Domesday survey it was held as a royal demesne. ...
The Wilts and Berks Canal passes E. of the town. Saline and chalybeate springs are in the vicinity, but although much has been done to give it attraction the town has never gained special note as a watering-place. Woollen goods, cordage, cocoa fibre, and haircloths form its mfrs.; malting also is carried on to some extent.
Melksham through time
Melksham is now part of West Wiltshire district. Click here for graphs and data of how West Wiltshire has changed over two centuries. For statistics about Melksham itself, go to Units and Statistics.
GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, History of Melksham in West Wiltshire | Map and description, A Vision of Britain through Time.
URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/1007
Date accessed: 23rd April 2024
Not where you were looking for?
Click here for more detailed advice on finding places within A Vision of Britain through Time, and maybe some references to other places called "Melksham".