Melksham Times Past: Horses and Masonry Don't Mix

Melksham Times Past: Horses and Masonry Don’t Mix

A column by local historian Lisa Ellis

You won’t see either of these buildings still standing today. Although runaway horses made an impact on both, the advancement of time and progress eventually caused their demise.

As reported in the 11th August 1855 edition of Wiltshire Times:

“On Wednesday, Mr Bullock’s window, in the Market Place, was smashed by a horse and cart, coming furiously against it. It appears that Mr Barton’s horse had just been ready for carting bread, and while standing took fright, and ran across the Market Place against Mr Bullock’s window. Part of the masonry work is knocked in, and a great deal of glass together with the woodwork. The amount of loss or damage to the valuables within has not transpired.”

The Wiltshire Times on 22nd April 1882 recounted an event that had occurred the week prior:

“Mr Staples, of Queensfield, was on Saturday sitting in a conveyance outside Mr Taylor’s shop in Bank Street, when the pony took fright and bolted up the street. When it got to the corner near the George Inn, the animal attempted to turn down Lowbourne (its way home), but instead of doing so ran straight towards the premises of Mr Burgess, confectioner. There the pony’s head came with great force against a stone pillar supporting the front of the house and the animal was knocked down. Mr Staples had previously jumped out of the trap and received no worse injury than a slight sprain. The pony seemed none the worse for his violent attack on the pillar, which says much for the thickness of his skull. Had he been a few inches to the right or left he must have gone through the window.”

Pictured: Postmaster, clock and watchmaker shop – John Bullock’s shop window in Chapel Court was partially damaged. The building has since been demolished. The Rachel Fowler Centre can be seen on the left.

Pictured: a 1890 advert for Burgess’ Confectioners showing the front of his premises. This building no longer exists and was located near the corner of Lowbourne to the right of Savers