What is there to do in Melksham?

[whole diary]

[RA]

I have never been there, but nobody yet has mentioned the shopping centre. Surely you have shoe shops and a couple of banks. And at least a nice supermarket.

There is a new Warrens Bakery in Melksham, their first venture into Moonraking country! 

[Dispatch Box]

I have never been there, but nobody yet has mentioned the shopping centre. Surely you have shoe shops and a couple of banks. And at least a nice supermarket.

There is a new Warrens Bakery in Melksham, their first venture into Moonraking country! 

I was going to ask you, if you had a bakery?. But why no shoe or clothes shops, where do townspeople get their clothes shoes or underwear from then? Is there any charity shops or estate agents.

[froome]

I've just had a quick read about the town's history on't web, which is certainly an attraction in its own right. I liked the fact that the King's Arms hotel used to have its own bus service to Melksham rail station until 1926.

I was aware of its short history as a spa town, set up as a minor rival to Bath in the 1810s. I assume there are no remains of the spa buildings, but presumably there are smart houses that would have developed around them?

[Dispatch Box]

I've just had a quick read about the town's history on't web, which is certainly an attraction in its own right. I liked the fact that the King's Arms hotel used to have its own bus service to Melksham rail station until 1926.

I was aware of its short history as a spa town, set up as a minor rival to Bath in the 1810s. I assume there are no remains of the spa buildings, but presumably there are smart houses that would have developed around them?

If that is the case, should,nt the train station be renamed MELKSHAM SPA, Sounds better. Has it always had a single platform, what was it like the 1950,s, Anyone got a picture, could not seem to find one on this forum?.

[Red Squirrel]

...I assume there are no remains of the spa buildings...

Here's your answer: https://www.spar.co.uk/store-locator/awl14162-spar-melksham

I note that it's even on Spar Road...

[grahame]

If that is the case, should,nt the train station be renamed MELKSHAM SPA, Sounds better. Has it always had a single platform, what was it like the 1950,s, Anyone got a picture, could not seem to find one on this forum?.

Take a look at http://www.mrug.org.uk/history.html

[grahame]

...I assume there are no remains of the spa buildings...

Here's your answer: https://www.spar.co.uk/store-locator/awl14162-spar-melksham

I note that it's even on Spar Road...

Spa Road - no. 54.   We're at no. 48 ... a highly convenient store!

[Dispatch Box]

If that is the case, should,nt the train station be renamed MELKSHAM SPA, Sounds better. Has it always had a single platform, what was it like the 1950,s, Anyone got a picture, could not seem to find one on this forum?.

Take a look at http://www.mrug.org.uk/history.html

WOW!!! Just did, could not believe my eyes?. Did not realise that it once looked like that even in Broad gauge days, The last picture made me feel sad, just platforms with the buildings just shaved off. I noted it previously had two tracks, so would be easy to replace, like the Filton bank was.

[grahame]

I was aware of its short history as a spa town, set up as a minor rival to Bath in the 1810s. I assume there are no remains of the spa buildings, but presumably there are smart houses that would have developed around them?

The well head is actually under the floor of no. 405 ... no.s 399 to 404 are Bath style blocks - 3 x pairs or semis; the old ballroom is still there as homes in the trees - think it's 408 and 408a.  Lots of other "a"s and "b"s around as infill has been built, but the main buildings are listed. No. 404 is presently up for sale - https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-76373387.html . Lisa and I bought it in 1999 as an uninhabitable wreck and did it up; lovely place to live, but as we get less mobile it's a lot of stairs and we're now closer in to town.  If anyone's interested in the history over the next couple of months, I could show you around.

[bradshaw]

A group, of which I am part, has recently put together a series of walks linking the industrial history of seven locations which were involved in the sailcloth, rope, net and twine industry. That might be a possibility for Melksham, more wool focussed clearly.
Trowbridge had a good A3 folded sheet on a walk around the town highlighting its woollen heritage.
I have a copy somewhere. Let me know if you would like a copy.

[grahame]

But why no shoe or clothes shops, where do townspeople get their clothes shoes or underwear from then? Is there any charity shops or estate agents.

Plenty of charity shops and estate agents, hairdressers, take aways, a handful of pound type shops, cafes, and some bookmakers.  Lots of hairdressers and barbers.   A couple of butchers but no greengrocers.  There's a handful of clothes shops - a Peacocks and a couple of independents, and a good choice of undertakers.  Specialist shops come and go - Second Hand Equestrian, Comic Book ... not necessarily going as in out of business, but moving and doing a lot of sales online; some stores are indeed small shopfronts to big online operations; some of those based at Bowerhill rather than in the centre.   If you know where to go, you can get just about anything.

The "we want a shoe shop" cry is oft heard, has been answered a couple of times, but there's been a difference between wanting a using.

[Dispatch Box]

But why no shoe or clothes shops, where do townspeople get their clothes shoes or underwear from then? Is there any charity shops or estate agents.

Plenty of charity shops and estate agents, hairdressers, take aways, a handful of pound type shops, cafes, and some bookmakers.  Lots of hairdressers and barbers.   A couple of butchers but no greengrocers.  There's a handful of clothes shops - a Peacocks and a couple of independents, and a good choice of undertakers.  Specialist shops come and go - Second Hand Equestrian, Comic Book ... not necessarily going as in out of business, but moving and doing a lot of sales online; some stores are indeed small shopfronts to big online operations; some of those based at Bowerhill rather than in the centre.   If you know where to go, you can get just about anything.

The "we want a shoe shop" cry is oft heard, has been answered a couple of times, but there's been a difference between wanting a using.

No mention of a Jewsons or a D.I.Y shop for paint and wallpaper, or a post office. police or fire stations.

[IndustryInsider]

Reminds me of a booklet I saw once extolling the attractions of Barrow-In-Furness, one of which was that it had a JJB Sports shop. 

[grahame]

No mention of a Jewsons or a D.I.Y shop for paint and wallpaper, or a post office. police or fire stations.

I fear I am in great danger of taking over roles that others could or should be doing ;-) - the above come under "you can get just about anything".

[TaplowGreen]

But why no shoe or clothes shops, where do townspeople get their clothes shoes or underwear from then? Is there any charity shops or estate agents.

Plenty of charity shops and estate agents, hairdressers, take aways, a handful of pound type shops, cafes, and some bookmakers.  Lots of hairdressers and barbers.   A couple of butchers but no greengrocers.  There's a handful of clothes shops - a Peacocks and a couple of independents, and a good choice of undertakers.  Specialist shops come and go - Second Hand Equestrian, Comic Book ... not necessarily going as in out of business, but moving and doing a lot of sales online; some stores are indeed small shopfronts to big online operations; some of those based at Bowerhill rather than in the centre.   If you know where to go, you can get just about anything.

The "we want a shoe shop" cry is oft heard, has been answered a couple of times, but there's been a difference between wanting a using.

Sounds like a photofit of pretty much any small dormitory town these days......although others of course lack the proud earth closet history alluded to earlier, which should surely be put front and centre and exploited?