The way of the Prioress - Melksham history pictured today
Archive - Originally posted on "The Horse's Mouth" - 2012-03-09 17:55:35 - Graham Ellis
I have often wondered about the series of walkways, roads and paths that lead from the centre of Melksham through the 'burbs and out into the fields to Redstocks and beyond, and Gypsy and I took the opportunity today to accompany Verity-Jane who "is commissioned to make a moving image work that looks at the new development site and it’s relationship to Melksham" on that walk - see [here] on her blog.
Starting our from the centre of Melksham ... (where else does "2 buses an hour" mean 2 buses together then nothing for an hour?), we took Stratton's walk and carried on through Thackaray Crescent and Pembroke Road, past the Co-op. This all sounds vert contorted, but I learned from Verity-Jane that it's an old pathway / trackway that used to be know as "The Prioress' Way", leading from Melksham all the way to Avebury. And that ancient history makes a very great deal of sense - jigsaw pieces coming together. I'm also told there's more to find at the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre on this, but I will probably not let myself be tempted into giving the time to that project!
I'm afraid I'm a sucker for silly signs. Very clearly, there's no-one on the crossing on Queensway, and it's not in use. I think they mean that it's not yet commissioned as a zebra crossing; the beacons are covered, and no light is coming through the wrappers on them. This is, though, very much a crossing to be welcomed - it's in the main flow along the Prioress' way out from the town, to Berkeshire Green, Dorset Crescent, and Daisy Drive and beyond and it's a natural crossing point for walkers any cyclists. We carried on, through those roads, commenting how the historic names on roads gave way to counties and flowers. And indeed in the newer area we have Blueberry Road and Thyme Road, and we found ourselves wondering if there have ever been any blueberries there on what was the middle of a field just a year ago.
I'm holding back on posting pictures of the new housing - we've now walked past the houses under construction and to the fields beyond. Although the walk was supposed to stop here, both Odo and Gypsy wanted to go a little further, and we carried on. The path from here onwards used to be hard to find - a trace of a style leading into a field of crop which the map showed bisected by the public right of way. But it's a little easier now, with a smart new style-gate, a crop of grass, and a few more people walking that way, presumably because their old haunts have been built on. You can see the new houses in the background.
Another field on, and Odo (walking with us) has arrived at the next style. Gypsy, Odo (and myself) had a look just beyond too, but as plans (and the rest of the group) were headed back to Melksham, we turned back at this point and we've left exploration for another day.
On Saturday, 17th March Verity-Jane will be walking again, this time from "The Spa", northward through the east side of the area, including the section that's up for another 400 houses to the East of Spa Road (see [here], email me for a copy of the exhibition slides which the developers sent up). The walk should be starting - I think - on the footpath just beside our home at 404, The Spa (the last of the big Georgian Spa Houses), and if the timing's the same it will be 11:00 for 11:30, with 1 way and 2 way walks possible and doggies, kiddies and mummies welcome as well as daddies and the rest. Details available from Sunday - [here]. There's parking in the street, but please feel free to come up our driveway (into the gate and bear right) as we've plenty more parking up by the house, and a side gate straight onto the footpath.
Starting our from the centre of Melksham ... (where else does "2 buses an hour" mean 2 buses together then nothing for an hour?), we took Stratton's walk and carried on through Thackaray Crescent and Pembroke Road, past the Co-op. This all sounds vert contorted, but I learned from Verity-Jane that it's an old pathway / trackway that used to be know as "The Prioress' Way", leading from Melksham all the way to Avebury. And that ancient history makes a very great deal of sense - jigsaw pieces coming together. I'm also told there's more to find at the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre on this, but I will probably not let myself be tempted into giving the time to that project!
I'm afraid I'm a sucker for silly signs. Very clearly, there's no-one on the crossing on Queensway, and it's not in use. I think they mean that it's not yet commissioned as a zebra crossing; the beacons are covered, and no light is coming through the wrappers on them. This is, though, very much a crossing to be welcomed - it's in the main flow along the Prioress' way out from the town, to Berkeshire Green, Dorset Crescent, and Daisy Drive and beyond and it's a natural crossing point for walkers any cyclists. We carried on, through those roads, commenting how the historic names on roads gave way to counties and flowers. And indeed in the newer area we have Blueberry Road and Thyme Road, and we found ourselves wondering if there have ever been any blueberries there on what was the middle of a field just a year ago.
I'm holding back on posting pictures of the new housing - we've now walked past the houses under construction and to the fields beyond. Although the walk was supposed to stop here, both Odo and Gypsy wanted to go a little further, and we carried on. The path from here onwards used to be hard to find - a trace of a style leading into a field of crop which the map showed bisected by the public right of way. But it's a little easier now, with a smart new style-gate, a crop of grass, and a few more people walking that way, presumably because their old haunts have been built on. You can see the new houses in the background.
Another field on, and Odo (walking with us) has arrived at the next style. Gypsy, Odo (and myself) had a look just beyond too, but as plans (and the rest of the group) were headed back to Melksham, we turned back at this point and we've left exploration for another day.