Melksham and District Historical Association held their first meeting of 2016 at Melksham Assembly Hall on 21st January.
Association President, Tony Fivash, gave a packed hall a slide presentation titled ‘Melksham Celebrates’.
This started with some of the earliest photographs taken in Melksham, including one taken in 1863.
It seemed that the town knew how to celebrate back then with fairs, banners etc displayed all over the town.
After a short intermission, for coffee and biscuits, Tony continued with the slides and a very informative narrative of old Melksham.
Melksham Town Football Club started in 1876 and moved to its present location in 1926 and of course, they will move to the new site at Bowerhill soon.
The town was granted a Market and Michaelmas fair in 1219 and we saw early photos of celebrations in the Market place and High street right up to the present time.
Our next meeting will be held on Thursday 18th February at the Assembly Hall and will be a presentation by Mike Stone, titled ‘The Brunel Brotherhood’- Early Railway engineering.
All welcome, members free, guests £3. If you have an interest in the history of Melksham and surrounding area, why not come along and join the association.
