Descriptive Gazetteer Entry for Melksham

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.


(John Bartholomew, Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887))

Linked entities:
Feature Description: "market town, parish and township"   (ADL Feature Type: "cities")
Administrative units: Melksham AP/CP       Melksham Within CP       Wiltshire AncC
Place: Melksham

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