About Corsham
Corsham is a fabulous town, and we're not just saying that because Helen is a town councillor!
Corsham - the Town
Corsham dates from Anglo-Saxon times and was one of the rich, medieval wool towns. After the wool trade declined in the 14th century, Corsham maintained its prosperity through local Bath stone mines - many of the buildings in the area are built using this warm, honey-coloured and easily shapeable stone which is still mined nearby. Corsham Court, rebuilt in the 16th and 17th centuries, is very close to the town centre and is home of the Lords Methuen and a small family of noisy peacocks who roam the streets with impunity. The town continued to flourish during the 18th and 19th centuries, when many of the town centre's imposing Georgian buildings were built.
Nowadays Corsham is home to a number of creative and artistic industries, together with continuation of the mining operations and a large Ministry of Defence site on the outskirts of the town. It is constantly referred to as one of Wiltshire's hidden gems with a thriving High Street containing nationally recognised and award-winning shops and pubs. Big enough to have a variety of outlets, yet small enough to feel cosy, Corsham is truly a relaxing town with a magnificent history and prospects.
Corsham has had its fair share of celebrities too. Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason currently lives on the northern edge of the town, in a house once owned by HRH Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, now wife of the Prince of Wales. Famed composer Sir Michael Tippett (1905-1998) lived in the town in the 1960s with his partner.
But these are all dwarfed by the noisy peacocks who roam freely without regard for traffic or pedestrians around the streets and gardens at the north end of the town centre. Townsfolk are incredibly proud of these colourful birds, who should be treated with care. Early in 2020 a peahen was run over and killed - which caused huge uproar across the town.
Corsham - the Area
Corsham is on the south-western edge of the Cotswolds Area of National Beauty. Many of the local buildings are built from the locally quarried Bath stone, which gives them a warm and homely glow. As well as the visually stunning town centre, there are many visually attractive villages within a short distance.
Biddestone, to the north of Corsham, is a small village which has a duck pond (and many ducks) as its centrepiece on the side of the village green.
Bradford-on-Avon, to the south-west of Corsham, is a small town which has stunning views and many historic buildings as well as a medieval bridge. One of the bases of the rubber industry which grew up on the sides of the River Avon, it is, like Corsham, the home of many creative and artistic businesses. It is where the Avon gorge, which runs to Bath, begins, and there are many amazing views from the sides of the steep hills.
Lacock, to the east of Corsham, is a small village with a large abbey. Most of the village and the abbey is owned by the National Trust, and the village is very popular with visitors who appreciate the wonderful buildings as well as the photographic history - William Fox-Talbot, one of the very early pioneers of photography, lived in the village. It has an annual Lacock at War festival reminding us of what life was like during World War II.
Chippenham, to the east of Corsham, is our nearest major shopping centre, and home to our nearest train station - the campaign to re-open Corsham's station, closed in the 1960s, has been going on for many years. Chippenham has a historic centre and many wonderful views around the River Avon.
Finally Bath, 8 miles to the west of Corsham town centre, has a worldwide reputation for beauty. Extensively redesigned as a spa town in the 18th century, many of the buildings are built from the same Bath stone used in Corsham. Bath has many specialist shops, and is a short bus ride away.
Corsham - Highlights
Because of its timeless beauty, Corsham and the surrounding villages are often used as backdrops for films and television programmes. Ranging from 1970s sci-fi drama Blakes 7 being filmed in then-disused quarry tunnels in Eastlays (just south of town on the road to Melksham), through to (most famously) BBC's Poldark using Corsham town centre as the backdrop, the area is a magnet for film and television producers. Corsham Post Office, in the town centre, sells a number of bits of Poldark memorabilia.
Further afield, Lacock was used as the backdrop for various parts of the Harry Potter film franchise, as well as for Pride and Prejudice, Cranford and Downton Abbey. There's a webpage dedicated to Harry Potter's use of Lacock - a village well worth exploring in its own right. If you're lucky, you can see filming in action.
Corsham has a thriving community with arts, food and fitness events throughout the year. The town hosts a half-marathon each April. June sees an annual walking festival, with a variety of walks for people of all ages and abilities. The autumn sees a Storyville season, where story tellers and creative writers host a variety of talks. Each year sees a Peacock trail around the various art galleries and artists residences across the town. And there is an annual food and drink festival in the town centre each September. The Pound Arts centre attracts many big names to its theatre, and exhibits local artists in its art gallery, as well as hosting a vegan cafe.
