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
A Vision of Britain through Time includes a large library of local statistics for administrative units. For the best overall sense of how the area containing Melksham has changed, please see our redistricted information for the modern district of West Wiltshire. More detailed statistical data are available under Units and statistics, which includes both administrative units covering Melksham and units named after it.
GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, History of Melksham in West Wiltshire | Map and description, A Vision of Britain through Time.
URL: http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/1007
Date accessed: 19th June 2013
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