Melksham
|
|
Melksham is a medium-sized English town, lying on the River Avon (the Bristol Avon). It lies in the north of the district West Wiltshire, in the county of Wiltshire. The town of Melksham developed at a ford across the River Avon. The name is presumed to derive from MEOLC, the Old English for milk and from HAM, a village. It was a royal estate at the time of the Norman Conquest. It benefited from the 17th century textile industry.
It is sited between Trowbridge and Chippenham on the main A350 north-south road from the M4 Motorway to Poole. Melksham has many varied industries including the Avon, a general rubber factory and previous owner of the Cooper Avon Tyre plant in the town centre. Melksham will also be the home to Westinghouse Brakes who produce braking systems for use on the railways.
Melksham is well known locally for its range of Public Houses and food Take Aways, Although it does not have many High Street names, it is close to the retail centres of Bath and Bristol.
Web Links
- http://www.melkshamtown.co.uk
- Melksham Active Net (http://www.melksham.org.uk/)