Great Western Coffee Shop

Sideshoots - associated subjects => The West - but NOT trains in the West => Topic started by: grahame on December 27, 2018, 18:40:53



Title: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: grahame on December 27, 2018, 18:40:53
I did a Google search - What is there to do in Melksham? - and here is what it told me ...

Quote
Things To Do & Days Out In Melksham

Boomerang Play Centre. Melksham. ...
The Lacock Spy Mission Treasure Trail. Chippenham. ...
Lacock Abbey. Lacock. ...
Trowbridge Sports Centre. Trowbridge. ...
ODEON Trowbridge. Trowbridge. ...
Chippenham Museum and Heritage Centre. Chippenham. ...
Trowbridge Museum. Trowbridge. ...
The Chippenham Treasure Hunt Trail.

Me thinks ... we may have an image issue ... anyone who's been here, please feel free to make some constructive comments!


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: johnneyw on December 27, 2018, 19:56:39
I had a brief recce visit there before Christmas. Too short a time to check it all out but took note to look again. Springtime in Melksham? And why not? A town not done properly on foot is a town not explored.


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: grahame on December 27, 2018, 20:05:30
I had a brief recce visit there before Christmas. Too short a time to check it all out but took note to look again. Springtime in Melksham? And why not? A town not done properly on foot is a town not explored.

Would be delighted to show you around some of the many things which are not on the Google list!


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: rogerw on December 27, 2018, 20:27:20
Long wait for the Trowbridge museum to open


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: TaplowGreen on December 27, 2018, 22:12:53
I did a Google search - What is there to do in Melksham? - and here is what it told me ...

Quote
Things To Do & Days Out In Melksham

Boomerang Play Centre. Melksham. ...
The Lacock Spy Mission Treasure Trail. Chippenham. ...
Lacock Abbey. Lacock. ...
Trowbridge Sports Centre. Trowbridge. ...
ODEON Trowbridge. Trowbridge. ...
Chippenham Museum and Heritage Centre. Chippenham. ...
Trowbridge Museum. Trowbridge. ...
The Chippenham Treasure Hunt Trail.

Me thinks ... we may have an image issue ... anyone who's been here, please feel free to make some constructive comments!

Don't tell me the Casino's closed down?.........the Absinthe bar? And what about the legendary tribute to the Paris nightclub, the "Melksham Rouge"? 🙂


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: JayMac on December 27, 2018, 23:11:21
One thing it's possible to do in Melksham more easily these days is take the train to somewhere else.  :P


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: grahame on December 28, 2018, 02:32:33
One thing it's possible to do in Melksham more easily these days is take the train to somewhere else.  :P

Hasn't been a single one since last Saturday ...


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: grahame on December 28, 2018, 02:38:09
Don't tell me the Casino's closed down?.........the Absinthe bar? And what about the legendary tribute to the Paris nightclub, the "Melksham Rouge"? 🙂

Many a true word written in jest ... you may be closer to the truth than you think, except not closed down and rather too niche to generate a lot of traffic.


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: bradshaw on December 28, 2018, 08:20:10
There is always this (from 2017) -p18

http://www.localauthoritypublishing.co.uk/flip_guides/melkshamguide/index.html


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: froome on December 28, 2018, 10:15:17
I did a Google search - What is there to do in Melksham? - and here is what it told me ...

Quote
Things To Do & Days Out In Melksham

Boomerang Play Centre. Melksham. ...
The Lacock Spy Mission Treasure Trail. Chippenham. ...
Lacock Abbey. Lacock. ...
Trowbridge Sports Centre. Trowbridge. ...
ODEON Trowbridge. Trowbridge. ...
Chippenham Museum and Heritage Centre. Chippenham. ...
Trowbridge Museum. Trowbridge. ...
The Chippenham Treasure Hunt Trail.

Me thinks ... we may have an image issue ... anyone who's been here, please feel free to make some constructive comments!

That appears to be a list of things to do NOT in Melksham. Only the first could lay any claim to being in Melksham, and even there it is in Bowerhill rather than the town itself.

I've probably only visited Melksham less than a handful of times but it always struck me as a pleasant little town to spend a bit of time wandering around.


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: grahame on December 28, 2018, 11:27:33
There is always this (from 2017) -p18

http://www.localauthoritypublishing.co.uk/flip_guides/melkshamguide/index.html

That is interesting thank you - I have added it to my "work in progress" page at http://www.mrug.org.uk/town.html

I did a Google search - What is there to do in Melksham? - and here is what it told me ...

Quote
Things To Do & Days Out In Melksham

Me thinks ... we may have an image issue ... anyone who's been here, please feel free to make some constructive comments!

That appears to be a list of things to do NOT in Melksham. Only the first could lay any claim to being in Melksham, and even there it is in Bowerhill rather than the town itself.

I've probably only visited Melksham less than a handful of times but it always struck me as a pleasant little town to spend a bit of time wandering around.

Exactly ... I've taken and rewritten a potted history of the town and marked all the places mention in my condensed history on a map ... add other section ... very much work in progress but there ARE quite a lot of things to look at - none to keep you attention for an extended period (we don't have a theme park - yet!) but all adding up to an interesting day. http://www.mrug.org.uk/town.html and it WILL go in the main menu at some point.


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: Dispatch Box on December 28, 2018, 12:27:45
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.


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: grahame on December 28, 2018, 12:51:41
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.

Err ... no shoe shops as such left.   One bank left.  Waitrose, Sainsbury, Asda, Lidl and Aldi, 2 co-ops and a Tesco express.  What we do have - and I have a note of it to work into the town page in more detail - is a cluster of antique / nicknack shops which we should be using to encourage inbound traffic, and plenty of places for teas, coffees, or something a little more substantial and/or intoxicating - all within about 15 to 20 minutes walk of the station.   And there's a number of rather interesting individual shops too.   At the time my wife and I were very active in the Chamber of Commerce, we helped research and Lisa did a town map - but it gets out of date very quickly.   Realistically there are things to encourage people to make a trip to Melksham, but shoe / clothes shopping ain't one of them.


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: TaplowGreen on December 28, 2018, 13:02:08
I note that Melksham was also home to Henry Moule, "pioneer of the earth closet", surely that alone deserves to put the town on the map?



Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: patch38 on December 28, 2018, 13:09:47
I note that Melksham was also home to Henry Moule, "pioneer of the earth closet", surely that alone deserves to put the town on the map?


How come you are privy to that information?


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: RA on December 28, 2018, 13:34:44
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!  :D


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: Dispatch Box on December 28, 2018, 13:42:41
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!  :D

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.


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: froome on December 28, 2018, 13:52:27
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?


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: Dispatch Box on December 28, 2018, 13:56:12
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?.


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: Red Squirrel on December 28, 2018, 14:09:21
...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...


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: grahame on December 28, 2018, 14:10:14
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


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: grahame on December 28, 2018, 14:12:21
...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!


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: Dispatch Box on December 28, 2018, 14:26:50
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.


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: grahame on December 28, 2018, 14:27:36
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.


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: bradshaw on December 28, 2018, 14:40:28
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.


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: grahame on December 28, 2018, 14:41:42
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.


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: Dispatch Box on December 28, 2018, 14:52:34
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.


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: IndustryInsider on December 28, 2018, 15:15:24
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.  :-\


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: grahame on December 28, 2018, 16:06:48
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".




Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: TaplowGreen on December 28, 2018, 16:19:11
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?


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: Dispatch Box on December 28, 2018, 17:01:47
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".




So to sum up, It is a great town, not like Lydney where I once lived, seems to have died.


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: grahame on December 28, 2018, 17:50:49
... although others of course lack the proud earth closet history alluded to earlier, which should surely be put front and centre and exploited?

<center>(http://www.wellho.net/pix/dryearth.jpg)</center>

Yep, that's the plan. Bit more distinctive that an JJB Sport shop.

In all seriousness, the Dry Earth Closet though very simple is said to have saved tens of thousands of lives because of the health improvements it brought to the environment, especially in third world countries.  Sadly, humanity is marred by self-inflicted life styles / choices which are not realised to kill people in large numbers.   Look back to the open sewers (or no sewers) many hundreds of years ago, to the London smogs, to smoking, and at the numbers who are dying unnecessarily to this day because of dirty air.


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: Red Squirrel on December 28, 2018, 18:00:02
..although others of course lack the proud earth closet history alluded to earlier, which should surely be put front and centre and exploited?

Perhaps they should sell them at the Spar shop? It is, after all, a convenience store.


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: Dispatch Box on December 28, 2018, 18:46:05
[quote author=TaplowGreen link=topic=20876.msg255359#msg255359 date=1546013951
..although others of course lack the proud earth closet history alluded to earlier, which should surely be put front and centre and exploited?

Well that sums it up, Wonder what happened to persons business when they pulled that handel.



Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: bobm on December 29, 2018, 02:31:23
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".


Not only does Melksham have a Post Office but it is the only one in the SN postcode area still run directly by Post Office Counters Ltd (a Crown Office).   Trowbridge and Bath just over the border in the BA area also have them.   Elsewhere they have moved into other shops, most notably W H Smiths.


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: TaplowGreen on December 29, 2018, 07:47:25
[quote author=TaplowGreen link=topic=20876.msg255359#msg255359 date=1546013951
..although others of course lack the proud earth closet history alluded to earlier, which should surely be put front and centre and exploited?

Well that sums it up, Wonder what happened to persons business when they pulled that handel.



.......have you ever asked yourself how Swindon was created? 😉


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: bobm on December 29, 2018, 08:17:31
Would that be old Swindon or new Swindon?  ;)


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: chuffed on December 29, 2018, 11:51:47
[quote author=TaplowGreen link=topic=20876.msg255359#msg255359 date=1546013951
..although others of course lack the proud earth closet history alluded to earlier, which should surely be put front and centre and exploited?

Well that sums it up, Wonder what happened to persons business when they pulled that handel.



Hallelujah ! Flushed with success !


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: Red Squirrel on December 29, 2018, 12:45:54
My father advised me to follow him into the sewage industry... plenty of opportunities for an ambitious young man, he said; always lots of big jobs floating around.


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: Dispatch Box on December 29, 2018, 13:04:57
My father advised me to follow him into the sewage industry... plenty of opportunities for an ambitious young man, he said; always lots of big jobs floating around.

Bet you refused and decided on a burger king or somewhere else. Even the railway.


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: JayMac on December 29, 2018, 13:46:30
My father advised me to follow him into the sewage industry... plenty of opportunities for an ambitious young man, he said; always lots of big jobs floating around.

Thing is though, once in the job, you'd have found yourself just going through the motions.


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: chuffed on December 29, 2018, 13:57:03
Doesn't take much for these forum members to get the runs on scatological puns !


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: Dispatch Box on December 29, 2018, 14:19:51
[quote author=TaplowGreen link=topic=20876.msg255359#msg255359 date=1546013951
..although others of course lack the proud earth closet history alluded to earlier, which should surely be put front and centre and exploited?

Well that sums it up, Wonder what happened to persons business when they pulled that handel.



Hallelujah ! Flushed with success !

And do you remember - success on a plate!, Those findus adverts.


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: johnneyw on December 29, 2018, 16:03:41
Was the inventor born in Looe?


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: Dispatch Box on December 31, 2018, 18:41:13
One of my new year resolutions is to visit Melksham and see what it is like?


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: Dispatch Box on December 31, 2018, 18:48:05
Was the inventor born in Looe?


Not known, but believe it was sir john Harrington in 1596, But the bog was built by Thomas Crapper, I suppose that is where the saying, -- WHAT A LOAD OF CRAP -- Came from.


EDIT: Wrong name.


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: 4064ReadingAbbey on January 02, 2019, 11:43:02
Many years ago I read a slim monograph on the life of Thomas Crapper. It was entitled "Flushed with Pride"...

Added a a few seconds later having googled the title...

...I see that a second, updated, edition has just been published <https://www.polperropress.co.uk/page/book/flushed_with_pride/>


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: Dispatch Box on January 02, 2019, 12:18:26
Start up a shoe and trainer shop, looks as though it needs one.


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: grahame on January 02, 2019, 12:21:50
Start up a shoe and trainer shop, looks as though it needs one.

On recent history that might need to be "third time lucky".  Mind you, I can (with the benefit of hindsight) clearly see the weaknesses in the business models of the previous two.   Certain stores do work well in Melksham as a local shopfront and as a pretty major national online supply point too; you would be amazed what comes from Melksham!


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: Dispatch Box on January 02, 2019, 13:07:32
Start up a shoe and trainer shop, looks as though it needs one.

On recent history that might need to be "third time lucky".  Mind you, I can (with the benefit of hindsight) clearly see the weaknesses in the business models of the previous two.   Certain stores do work well in Melksham as a local shopfront and as a pretty major national online supply point too; you would be amazed what comes from Melksham!


So you need a -- FREEMAN-HARDY-WILLIS- Now.


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: stuving on January 02, 2019, 14:29:54
So you need a -- FREEMAN-HARDY-WILLIS- Now.

Funnily enough, it had never occurred to me that the forum needed a thread (or a board) on heritage shoe retailers ...


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: JayMac on January 02, 2019, 14:48:58
The fun to be had with FHW's name above the shop.

Take the Y off HARDY and put it in place of the second I in WILLIS.

Some scamp in Taunton did just that in the early 1990s. No, it wasn't me.

I was holding the ladder.


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: Dispatch Box on January 02, 2019, 18:11:39
The fun to be had with FHW's name above the shop.

Take the Y off HARDY and put it in place of the second I in WILLIS.

Some scamp in Taunton did just that in the early 1990s. No, it wasn't me.

I was holding the ladder.

Crikey, how rude!!.

Anyway we had a train the 17:54 from Gloucester today terminating at Melksham, Over the last two weeks we,ve had unusual places that I have never seen on our screens before, Trains to Chepstow and also today to Bradford-on-Avon. and now one that normally goes to Southampton central at Melksham.

Thought someone on this forum said trains cannot terminate in Melksham due to lack of signalling, did it in Chepstow no signal on upside.


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: grahame on January 02, 2019, 18:27:57
Thought someone on this forum said trains cannot terminate in Melksham due to lack of signalling, did it in Chepstow no signal on upside.

Trains cannot be turned back at Melksham but there is nothing to stop them terminating there.



Let me clarify that.  The first arrival at about 06:36 in the morning terminate at Melksham and carried on empty to Bradford Junction, where it can (and did) turn back, starting a new service at Melksham headed back up to Swindon and I think Cheltenham Spa.

This evening, train are terminating at Melksham and carrying on empty to Bradford Junction.  They turn back there up to Bradford-on-Avon from where they are forming services into Bristol.   The same is happening in reverse - two services in each direction?


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: Dispatch Box on January 02, 2019, 18:32:24
Thought someone on this forum said trains cannot terminate in Melksham due to lack of signalling, did it in Chepstow no signal on upside.

Trains cannot be turned back at Melksham but there is nothing to stop them terminating there.



Let me clarify that.  The first arrival at about 06:36 in the morning terminate at Melksham and carried on empty to Bradford Junction, where it can (and did) turn back, starting a new service at Melksham headed back up to Swindon and I think Cheltenham Spa.

This evening, train are terminating at Melksham and carrying on empty to Bradford Junction.  They turn back there up to Bradford-on-Avon from where they are forming services into Bristol.   The same is happening in reverse - two services in each direction?

Today as I said a lot of ours from Gloucester today seem to be going to Bradford-on-Avon, instead of terminating at Swindon, like they did over Christmas, how odd.


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: grahame on January 03, 2019, 20:35:55

Trains cannot be turned back at Melksham but there is nothing to stop them terminating there.


From this evening

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/mkmterm.jpg)

Nice to see a proper connection onwards too ... far too used to 40 minute waits at Chippenham ...


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: Red Squirrel on January 03, 2019, 23:55:53

Trains cannot be turned back at Melksham but there is nothing to stop them terminating there.


Ah, good to see Pratchett's Variant holding sway again.


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: Dispatch Box on January 10, 2019, 19:29:53
That's a funny looking monitor, where about's is this thing at Melksham.


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: Dispatch Box on January 10, 2019, 21:48:41
Looks like this Sunday, there will be no trains through Melksham, looks like buses according to GWR timetable.


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: grahame on January 10, 2019, 21:55:25
Looks like this Sunday, there will be no trains through Melksham, looks like buses according to GWR timetable.

Looks like Westbury is shut down again.

Wasn't the 12 days of Christmas long enough to do the works, or are there things to finish?  Rail Industry source from last November suggested only one more weaken stoppage in the first half of this year between Salisbury and Bath Spa, and that to be in the Spring.


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: grahame on January 10, 2019, 22:15:37
Looks like this Sunday, there will be no trains through Melksham, looks like buses according to GWR timetable.

Looks like Westbury is shut down again.

Wasn't the 12 days of Christmas long enough to do the works, or are there things to finish?  Rail Industry source from last November suggested only one more weaken stoppage in the first half of this year between Salisbury and Bath Spa, and that to be in the Spring.


Confused story for next few weeks.  GWR Engineering poster have REVISED flashes across the corners and talk of trains changed, not running, turning at Chippenham ... but GWR ticket engine offering tickets for the trains that the engineering posters say are revised .... I am not helped by being very tired at the end of the day, and the engineering posters having the dates at the top then you have to scroll down to see each day - denoted by the day of the week only and not with the day number in the month.   I think it's designed as an intelligence test, and I have used up my daily quota!


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: bradshaw on January 10, 2019, 22:21:51
The GWR website, planned engineering section, suggests that the Melksham service most Sundays will be altered; some slightly others Sundays have complete bus replacement.


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: grahame on January 12, 2019, 07:37:40
In answer to my own question "what is there to do in Melksham" - rather "what is there to see?"

Intended for those readers who know Melksham ... a quiz on the Melksham Rail User Group web site to see how many of the places around the town the residents themselves know. http://www.mrug.org.uk/quiz.html


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: Dispatch Box on January 16, 2019, 21:29:28
In answer to my own question "what is there to do in Melksham" - rather "what is there to see?"

Intended for those readers who know Melksham ... a quiz on the Melksham Rail User Group web site to see how many of the places around the town the residents themselves know. http://www.mrug.org.uk/quiz.html

What is there to do in Melksham? Well you could always pop round to grahams and have a cup of tea, and perhaps a couple of wagon wheels.


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: JayMac on January 17, 2019, 00:08:45
The fun to be had with FHW's name above the shop.

Take the Y off HARDY and put it in place of the second I in WILLIS.

Some scamp in Taunton did just that in the early 1990s. No, it wasn't me.

I was holding the ladder.

Apologies for quoting myself, and sorry to grahame that it's not about Melksham, but rereading this post reminded me of some local Taunton news this week. The town's longest trading store, The County Stores, is closing down this Saturday, 19th January 2019, after 183 years serving the people of Taunton.

I have two abiding memories of this store.

The smell of the coffee they roasted on the premises, which vented out the front of the shop above the window. Apparently, olfactory memories are the most persistent. It was a lovely heady aroma. I now associate the smell of freshly roasted coffee with Saturday childhood visits to town with Grandma. The County Stores stopped roasting their own coffee when the council insisted they install a flue to roof height.

The other abiding memory is of the time the first 'o' of the shop name above the door fell off...

https://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/17362600.pictures-a-look-back-at-county-stores-as-taunton-shop-prepares-to-close-after-186-years/


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: eXPassenger on January 17, 2019, 11:01:26

Apologies for quoting myself, and sorry to grahame that it's not about Melksham, but rereading this post reminded me of some local Taunton news this week. The town's longest trading store, The County Stores, is closing down this Saturday, 19th January 2019, after 183 years serving the people of Taunton.

….

I was only thinking about them last week.  In the 60s my father worked in Chard and we had a weekly grocery order phoned by my mother to the Chard branch of County Stores and delivered to my father who brought it home.


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: johnneyw on January 17, 2019, 11:06:37
In answer to my own question "what is there to do in Melksham" - rather "what is there to see?"

Intended for those readers who know Melksham ... a quiz on the Melksham Rail User Group web site to see how many of the places around the town the residents themselves know. http://www.mrug.org.uk/quiz.html

Unsurprisingly, living in Bristol, I only got 5 correct... and that was with some lucky guesses.


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: grahame on January 17, 2019, 13:16:39
Unsurprisingly, living in Bristol, I only got 5 correct... and that was with some lucky guesses.

I am very much ... Melkshamcentric at times.  It remains a 'special case' in terms of the need for general rail use promotion - horrendously under-utilised for the size of the town and a real need to promote general use.   That's I believe, how community rail was 20 years ago for so many places and has done so well.

Community rail in general has moved on - certainly in our neck of the woods it's more looking at brining benefit and help to local sectors of the population that aren't necessarily easy to reach and can especially benefit.  And the general Community Rail approach relates very much to longer term ensuring that the future of the line / area is planned for - that different CRP 'animal' tends to be populated by council and local government and to putting a lot of resource into those relationships, rather dropping back from the general community - original "job done" by Community Rail , and congratulations. But - due to our late start - not really done for Melksham yet,  thus the Melkshamcentric approach - see http://www.mrug.org.uk/forward2019.html

I am - impressed - that someone who's not familiar with Melksham got as many as 5  ;D


Title: Re: What is there to do in Melksham?
Post by: grahame on March 16, 2019, 08:01:12
I think this will be public visible even if you don't have a Facebook account.  It's The story of Melksham Spa (https://www.facebook.com/thewellhousecollection/photos/a.1465091983734013/2258102287766308/) (click on "See More" to read the full article after the "on this day" list). "Melksham Spa" - to join "Bath Spa", "Leamington Spa", "Droitwich Spa" and "Cheltenham Spa"?

These days, the properties are lovely homes (we lived there for 18 years) - see Rightmove (https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-60324330.html) for a modern outside shot and loads of internals.



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