Lost Waterway of Melksham: A Canal's Ghostly Return

For over a century, narrowboats traversed Melksham's canals, crucial for transporting various goods. However, by 1914, railway competition led to their abandonment and infill, leaving little trace in the modern town. Writer Peter Williams has compiled a free book, 'The Lost Waterway of Melksham,' uncovering this rich history.

Williams spent 30 years researching, discovering that homes now stand where narrowboats once travelled. He highlights local memories of skating on frozen canals and summer boat outings. The book details the canal's route, including wharves and former factory sites.

Subtle clues of the canals' past existence remain in Melksham, such as a hump on Spa Road marking a former bridge and a bridge parapet on Lowbourne Road. Parts of the towpath are still public rights of way. An impressive embankment constructed in 1795 over Clackers Brook was a significant engineering feat.

Inspired by volunteering with the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust, Williams's work supports the charity's ambition to reconnect Melksham's waterways with the Kennet & Avon Canal. The trust awaits planning permission from Wiltshire Council and the Environment Agency for this 'Melksham Link' project.