Chippenham

Chippenham is a market town in Wiltshire that has become a commuter town, with residents travelling to workplaces in Bath, Bristol, Swindon and even London (almost 100 miles to the east).

Understand
Chippenham is a market town in the south west of England, midway between the cities of Bath and Swindon. Its population has grown rapidly in the 21st century, and become Wiltshire's third largest town with 40,000 inhabitants.

The rapid expansion can be attributed to the development of the South West regional economy, and to the new housing estates developed in Chippenham such as the Cepen Park North and South areas to the west of the town and the earlier Pewsham estate to the east.

The town lies in the Avon Vale, the broad valley of the River Avon in the low lying claylands of north west Wiltshire. Chippenham is located at a convenient crossing point of the River Avon, within close proximity of the nearby towns of Corsham, Calne, Melksham and Malmesbury. Higher ground lies to the east of the town at the Marlborough Downs, to the north at the Cotswolds and to the south at Salisbury Plain.

History
The origins of Chippenham are believed to be from before Roman times, with remains of settlements from this time claimed to be in the wall behind the former magistrates court in the town today.

During Saxon times it emerged as an early settlement around 600 AD. There may also have been a royal forest and hunting lodge here that was used by Alfred the Great.

The name Chippenham may have been originated from Cyppa's Hamme, perhaps a Saxon chief called Cyppa, or from the word ce-ap meaning market, and Hamme meaning enclosed by the river or an enclosed water meadow. In its early years this was an area of small family farms, perhaps concentrating on dairy farming and cheese making.

The name is also claimed to be recorded as Cippanhamm, Cepen, Cheppeham, Shippenham and Chippyngham. The Domesday Book listed Chippenham as Cepen, with a population of 600-700 people in 1086. The town received a charter of incorporation in May 1554 by Queen Mary.

By road
Chippenham town centre is approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) from Junction 17 of the M4, linking to Swindon, Reading and London to the East and Bristol and South Wales to the West. It lies on the A4 (linking to Bath in the West) and the A350 (linking to Warminster and the South coast).

By bus
First Group operates the 231/232 route to Bath (via Corsham) and 234 to Frome.

Stagecoach operates the 55 to Swindon (via Calne and Royal Wootton Bassett).

AD Rains, Andybus, APL Travel, Badgerline, Coachstyle and Faresaver operate services to surrounding towns and villages. Details can be found on Travel Search (Chippenham) and Wiltshire Council.

National Express coach services call at Chippenham: Northampton to Bristol (302), Bath to London (403) and Penzance to London (404).

Get around
The town is small enough to get around on foot.

See
Surrounding the town are many ancient villages, including Lacock, Castle Combe, Langley Burrell, Kington Langley, Derry Hill, Kington St Michael, Colerne, Yatton Keynell and Biddestone.

There are also several manor houses and gardens nearby including Bowood Estate, Lacock Abbey, Sheldon Manor and Corsham Court, and the Castle Combe Circuit

World Heritage Site of Bath, Stonehenge and Longleat are popular day trips.

Restaurants
Chippenham has a small selection of fine local restaurants:



There is a selection of Indian and Chinese restaurants around the town, very few chain restaurants, with a Pizza Express in the town centre, Pizza Hut further out of town and McDonald's and Burger King around the town's bypass.

Go next

 * Swindon - Known for its history as the heart of the Great Western Railway, 15 minutes by train (or 30 minutes by car on the A350 dual carriageway and M4 motorway)
 * Bath - Easily accessible, this beautiful Roman City boasts magnificent architecture, parks and shopping as well as its world-famous Roman Baths. 15 miles WSW
 * Chipping Sodbury 20 miles to W.
 * Melksham 8 miles to S.
 * Avebury famous for its neolithic stone circle 14 miles to E.
 * Devizes 12 miles to SE.
 * Malmesbury southern Cotswold town, 11 miles to N.