Melksham Times Past

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

Do you know your Melksham trivia?

For Art’s Sake

John Joseph Haze- land (1838-1889) was a brewer’s son who chose not to go into the family business at Shaw Brewery after his father died in 1848, but instead found himself travelling to Norway in 1857, where he later settled and worked as a language teacher. Hazeland died in 1889 in Kristiania, Norway and his funeral viewing was immortalised in a painting by a famous artist also from Kristiania (now Oslo). Do you know the name of this Norwegian artist and what painting he is famously noted for? (Have a good think, take yourself to King George playing field and enjoy an ice cream from Edy’s.)

Famously Unmarried

John Jeremiah Awdry (1766-1844) was the chair of the Melksham Spa committee and lived at Notton House. He was married to Jane Bigg. She had three sisters and a brother. Two of her sisters, Alethia and Catherine were childhood friends of a woman who later became a famous author. The sisters played matchmaker with this woman and their brother, Harris. He then went on to propose to his prospective fiancé. She held her decision for a week, but in the end, turned him down. She never married, and never received another proposal. Who was this woman who came to her Sensibility?

The Kindness of Women

One of the women that stands out in Melksham history for her generosity is Rachel Fowler (1797-1882) who amassed her fortune by investing in the building of the railways. She gave to Melksham in ways where her investments are still reaping benefits today. Her brother-in-law had a famous sister who appeared on the £5 note. Who was this prison reformer? (Coincidentally the woman mentioned in the first question is now on the £10!)

For the Love of Dogs

Henry Sawtell (1860-1944) was the managing Director of B Sawtell and Sons Ltd, a feather purifying company. He had a love of greyhounds, and of the town, and was quite a successful breeder of the racing variety, including one male that sired more winners that any other dog in the country during the 1930s. All of his dogs had the same first name. What was it?

If you walk along Spa Road toward town centre, just at the hump where the bridge used to cross the canal, look to the right at the retirement property, and don’t forget to say your “walkies!”. A detached home named “Withleigh” used to be there until Meadowsweet Place was opened in 2018. Between 1942 and 1944, Withleigh was the home of a doctor and his wife. He was practising in Melksham temporarily in the place of Dr Louis Jan Seton Campbell (1907-1985) who was serving in the war at the time. Who was the first-mentioned doctor’s wife that wrote several books on dog training?

Pictured: Who is this doggie woman?