Melksham Times Past

A column about days gone by in Melksham by local historian Lisa Ellis

Semington Road Commotions

I moved to Melksham before Semington Road was closed to through automobile traffic.

The road now is in stark contrast to the amount of vehicular use that road had back when I had several occasions to eat at the Waney Edge (they always ran out of cauliflower cheese before I got there!) It closed due to fewer passing trade.

However, back more than 160 years to the 1860s, Semington had not been this peaceful little community, according to news reports I keep stumbling across.

Shouting, screaming, hair-pulling — whatever the arguments were — the women of Semington Road were quite vocal and physical with each other.

Much of the fighting seemed to revolve around Elizabeth Gum, who was in her late 30s. In 1862 she charged that Ann Taylor and Elizabeth Spires assaulted her in her home.

The following year in June, Hannah Spires accused Elizabeth Gum of assaulting her and using violent and indecent language. And it hadn’t been the first time. “We are in fear of our lives,” stated Hannah when referring to the abuse that Mrs Gum spread through the neighbourhood. Mrs Gum was later sent to the lunatic asylum.

That same year in October, Frances Oram was summoned for assaulting Rachel King, both residents of Semington Road. Mrs Oram entered Mrs King’s home wanting an explanation to something that was said about her. Not being satisfied with the answer, Oram took King by the throat. But Oram explained this was in defence to King taking her by the hair and pulling it.

Had all these commotions drawn the attention of the “Semington Ghost” being seen several times along the path? Described as having “wi gurt viery eyes”, it was later discovered to be an old white horse with a penchant for partially peeping through the hedge.