Neighbourhood plan - elements for local heritage listing?
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Melksham has a long and illustrious history of connection with the railway, but it was snuffed out in 1966 with the closure of Melksham Station and demolition of the station buidings - or was it? Take a little look around and here and there you'll see things that point you back to the history.Standing on the platform, the wide bridge over the railway with space for two broad gaugae tracks. Across the station forecourt, the old goods shed which is now the Foundry of Novocast. The old rail connected factory across the tracks towards Trowbridge - the CWS creamery as was (can anyone confirm?). Fences with uprights made from old broad gauge rails dating from Victorian times. And the bridge over that railway in Dunch Lane with a very unusual metal wall and three out of the four stone topped pillars complete, the fourth shabbily botched up with a cheap lump of concrete when hit (and run) by a car a couple of years ago.
The station re-opened in 1985 and after a number of false starts with limited and unadvertised and unreliable services is now doing better. Part of an old platform is still part of the one new platform, but an extension for longer trains in recent years has hidden that infrastructure within the last few years.
Look above the shop front. Can you recognise the style? Can you recognise which shop each of these is above? Can you spot the odd two (out of the 15) out? Which are or local heritage interest?
In various places around Melksham, you'll find signs times gone by and how life has changed in blocked windows, doors and gateways - here are four pictures taken over the last few days. Do you know where they are? Why are they no longer in use? Some are no longer required through natural development, some were perhaps blocked to avoid the window tax, and others are "faux" - they were never windows at all but rather an architecture fashion.
What's worth while noting as local heritage in Melksham as we plan for the future? So much has already been swept away - The City, The George, the Maxime Cinema, the Labour Club. You may agree that those were "ripe" to be replaced, or you may regret their demise and be disappointed by what has replaced them.Vistas of Melksham - which rows of houses or shops are iconic of the town? Heritage you feel should be given consideration in future planning? There are many individual listed buildings around - though some surprising gaps, and there are conservation areas. But for the neighbourhood plan we (heritage subgroup of the Neighbourhood plan) are looking to generate a list of assets (buidings, vistas, street furniture) of local historic interest.
What is it about balls and other things on columns? Do they form a notable local heritage that should be kept in the future development of our town? The next neighbourhood plan team is asking YOU to suggest buildings, facets, street furniture, other things which are part of Melksham that you would like to be given special consideration in future planning and development. We (the heritage subgroup) are helping make up a "long list" for consideration at https://www.melkshamneighbourhoodplan.org/local-heritage-assets ... and you can see some of my other suggestions / ideas, added to daily, at http://grahamellis.uk/heritage.html If anyone can help me with a history of this form of gate decoration, I would be grateful. A Google search gave me just links to debutantes and to phallic architecture ...
Street Furniture - road signs, benches, lampposts, grates are all part of our heritage. The picture here shows three styles of street name signs seen on a walk around yesterday. Which (if any) do you feel are worthy of special consideration as local heritage items into the future? Please tell us via the heritage survey link at the top of this page, or send me a message.
Are these street scenes part of Melksham's heritage? Which of them should be given special consideration in future development of our town and the surrounding area? For the next edition of the Neihbourhood Plan, the "heritage subgroup" which met last Wednesday is putting together a list of place of special character. Listed buildings are automatically there, but how about consideration for other special things and places - anything from pieces of street furniture up to whole areas of the town - be they of design or archirectural merit, or for fond memories of the history of the town and surrounding area.You can nominate Locally Valued Heritage Assets on the online map by adding a pin with a short description and a photo (if you have one). You can also support nominations already made (there are thumbs up and down buttons) or add your own thoughts about a nomination. See https://www.melkshamneighbourhoodplan.org/local-heritage-assets ... please do so. That way, we on the subgroup will know what you value ... or write to me, or to the clerk of Melksham Without or Melksham Town. And please let me know if you would like to help the subgroup too.