Love this Andrew. On my Chippenham history walks I'd point out the pock marked buildings on St Mary's Street, one of Chippenham's oldest and much liked by John Betjeman. They weren't from shrapnel but pieces of gravestone broken up by a mob and thrown at the buildings to show their disgust at the result of the election of 1865. They blamed the gentry living in the street for returning two Tory MPs rather than a Liberal in place of one of the Torys. Rough lot in Chippenham!!
Next time I’m in Chippenham I will take a look. I think Robert Peel was an MP for Chippenham but after some quick research that was a few decades before.
Up until around 2001, the bomb crater in the centre of the Circus was still visible. Obviously been filled in. If only a designer had created a clever little circular seating space for all those tired Japanese tourists. Opportunity missed!
Love this Andrew. On my Chippenham history walks I'd point out the pock marked buildings on St Mary's Street, one of Chippenham's oldest and much liked by John Betjeman. They weren't from shrapnel but pieces of gravestone broken up by a mob and thrown at the buildings to show their disgust at the result of the election of 1865. They blamed the gentry living in the street for returning two Tory MPs rather than a Liberal in place of one of the Torys. Rough lot in Chippenham!!
Next time I’m in Chippenham I will take a look. I think Robert Peel was an MP for Chippenham but after some quick research that was a few decades before.
Up until around 2001, the bomb crater in the centre of the Circus was still visible. Obviously been filled in. If only a designer had created a clever little circular seating space for all those tired Japanese tourists. Opportunity missed!
Now that would have been a good idea !
Perfect spot for a photo-bomb. Sorry, couldn't resist!
That’s terrible!!
You're very welcome.