Melksham is Great

Monday 5th May 2025

It was a beautiful sunny bank holiday weekend to kick off May and I decided to finally complete the Melksham is Great trail around the town of Melksham, in Wiltshire. This walk has been on my Wiltshire walking list for a while now and is a great casual trail for an afternoon stroll. Having little cast metal treasures to look out for along the way makes it a fun way to spend an hour or so wandering around parts of a town you would probably not normally visit.

The suggested route starts in Church Street, just up from the Post Office and Tourist Information, with the first installation, Feathers, and the project information board. The board reads:

“MELKSHAM IS GREAT is a project by artist Verity-Jane Keefe for and about the town of Melksham. A Series of sculptures have been made and installed, on a route developed from ancient pathways, connecting the historic town centre, with the new development to the east and back round again. Made at Novacast Foundry in Melksham, a gem within the twn, continuing a long established tradition of metal casting.

The works have been developed following a four year period, looking closely, researching and talking to residents, revealing the everyday brilliance of Melksham. The sculptures are in celebration of the industries and local phenomena that have defined and shaped the town, and made it great. Follow the route or keep your eyes peeled as you’re going about your everyday travels. Melksham is Great.”

There is plenty of parking in Melksham, some of it free for long enough to do the walk and a quick look around the shops (depending on your walking speed) and there are lots of places to eat and drink, as well as a water refill station in Market Place.

Feathers

The first sculpture is of a handful of feathers and is very easy to spot on the toilet block wall. Across the road you will see the well known Melksham Roundhouse and a small public courtyard in front of some of the Church Street cottages. Further up the road is Canon Square and the war memorial, the beautiful cottages of Church Street and Church Lane and St Michael & All Angels Church and cemetery. In the warmer weather, when the flowers are in bloom and the grass is tall, the church grounds make for a peaceful spot to relax and enjoy some time out of the day.

The suggested route takes you up Church Street back to the main town and across the High Street up to Strattons Walk.

_{From the board: “Melksham was once full of feathers. The Sawtells feather purifying factory processed feathers in the town centre from 1892 – 1960’s. The feathers are installed on the side of the public toilet block on Church Street and on the kerb; floating to the ground as if being delivered on the wagons from the station to the works.”}

Walking

The next sculpture is at the start of the new developments to the eastern part of Melksham. The route takes you from the town centre through the residential areas of Thackeray Crescent and Pembroke Road, across Queensway and onto the public footpath through Dorset Crescent, past the play area and onto Heather Avenue. Once on Heather Avenue, it heads up to Snowberry Lane that snakes around (and now through) the eastern developments of the town. Heading north on Snowberry Lane, the next sculpture, Walking, can be found just before the roundabout.

_{From the board: “A monument to walking, a huge part of everyday life in Melksham. The concrete marker was used to mark an historic right of way, which was re-routed for the new development. A cast copy of the original, installed on the grass verge off Snowberry Lane, just after Heather Avenue. Clean your boots and get walking.”}

Weaving

Continuing on Snowberry Lane, using the dedicated dual use path for walkers and cyclists, the route follows the road off the roundabout to the junction for Hawthorn Avenue. Personally I would continue on and turn onto the dual use path a little further up, especially if you’re likely to get lost around the houses. The suggested route takes you through Hawthorn Avenue to Blueberry Road and up onto the same duel use path that cuts through the estate. As you walk along the path, the route takes you off to the right and through the grass to the old cattle bridge. Although not paved, this route is usually marked by the cutting of a grass path through the green.

_{From the board: “Melksham was a busy weaving town from the mid 14th Century through to 1888. From weaving and spinning to riots with yarn thrown into the Avon! A very important era of social history and workers rights within the town. A weavers shuttle and bobbins can be found on the old cattle bridge within the new development. Sit and soak up the view whilst listening to Clackers Brook bubbling underneath.”}

Rope & Dogs

In the green around Clackers Brook there is lots of space to walk around and this area is popular with dog walkers and children playing. In the warmer months its a lovely peaceful spot between the developments and you can shortcut through the green to the local shops and pub. The suggested route takes you back onto the paved path and up to the next development. From here, follow the path past the play area and round the right behind the school fields, then a quick left turn towards Snarlton Lane and the Narnia gap for the next installation.

_{From the board: “For the dogs of Melksham and the history of rope making. Rope was made in Melksham from 1803 to the 1960’s. A functional, necessary and useful industry producing rope, twine, coir matting, and later tarpaulins. A cast rope dog lead and bowl are located by the Narnia gap on Snarlton Lane, as it crosses to the development. Pause and let your dog drink from the bowl if it’s been raining.”}

Milk

Carrying on through the Narnia gap onto the next housing development, follow the road around onto Skylark Road and then down towards the junction for Goldfinch Road. Follow Goldfinch Road down to the right and the next installation, Milk, is against the side of one of the houses.

_{From the Board: “Melksham literally means Milk Village: meok, Old English for milk, and ham, a village. The milk bottles of Melksham were once a very familiar sight. An original Melksham bottle has been cast, and installed as a pair left against a wall on Goldfinch Road. Look out for the local cats who survey the area.”}

Housing

As you come back out of Goldfinch Road (there is a walkway you can cut through to save walking the road way) back onto Skylark Road, the suggested route takes you towards the roundabout for the development and Eastern Way. As you head down Eastern Way towards the pedestrian junction for Snarlton Lane, the next installation, Housing, is nestled on the grassy bank next to the path.

_{From the board: “Regeneration, building and expansion: housing has become an industry in it’s own right in Melksham. You can trace the rings of regeneration from the town centre out to the east. A model showhome marks the eastern boundary of the town in 2017 and can be found on the grass verge of Snowberry lane, just beyond Snarlton Lane.”}

Christmas

The next installation takes you from the eastern developments of Melksham up to Melksham Forest. The suggested route takes you up Snarlton Lane to the Narnia gap and back onto the green, from here follow the path up out of the green and onto Ingram Road. Follow Ingram Road onto Blackmore Road and then access the zebra crossing into Church Lane. You can also just follow Snarlton Lane all the way up to the garage and across the road in Church Lane, however there is no pedestrian path and the garage can be quite busy with traffic. Follow Church Lane down to Forest Road and, as you walk along Forest Road, look up at the lamp posts for the next installations, Christmas, of two hanging decorations.

Tyres

From Forest Road, Murray Walk takes you on a pedestrian path, over the bridge and down towards the river. A popular walking route and shortcut, Murray Walk offers access to the Millennium Riverside Walk just before it heads over the Avon. Just past this junction, as the Millennium Riverside Walk bends around the left to run parallel with the river the last installation, Tyres, can be found hiding in the grass underfoot.

_{From the board: “From the Avon India Rubber Company, to Avon Tyres to Cooper Avon Tyres. Tyres and rubber have put Melksham on the industrial map. Tyres, gas masks and the first ever tennis ball – all made in Melksham. A cast car skid, using an Avon Tyre, is installed within sight of the factory chimneys. Feel it underfoot on Millennium Riverside Walk, near the junction with Murray Walk.”}

Final Thoughts

From the Tyres installation, you can follow the path along the river past Wiltshire Youth Canoe Club, skate park and King George V park back into town. The trail takes around an hour and a half or so, depending on your walking speed and how quickly you can find the installations, and offers some interesting insights into Melksham, its history and community. It’s an easy trail with nearly all the pathway paved or graveled with only a small area going over grass (although here you can remain on the paved path to continue the route) so would suit pushchairs and mobility scooters.

I had a beautiful sunny Spring day when I completed this trail and was able to find all the installations without too much difficulty – although some of them were hiding away a little! Nature was very much awake with trees, hedgerows and gardens all in full Spring bloom which all added to a lovely and uplifting afternoon walk.