MANY landmark buildings were razed for commercial reasons.
An exception to this was at Lowbourne; traffic was always snarled at the junction of Bank and High streets. Traffic safety was another issue because of the narrowness of the road, the blind spot created at the junction and the activity of children. In the early 1900s, they were unaccustomed to motor cars and freely played on the large, flat surface. Automobiles back then were also less responsive, especially when driven by newcomers to that form of transportation.
Lowbourne House
The earliest mention of a “Lowbourne House” in the newspapers is 1803 when it was a private school for girls. From 1859, it was the home and surgery of Dr Rumboll and other doctors after him. The building may have been rebuilt in 1868. In the 1950s it was subdivided into flats. Although the property was part of the Lowbourne road-widening scheme in the 1960s that took out the George Hotel, many argued that Lowbourne House itself didn’t have to be demolished. It was anyway. Replacing it and the grounds surrounding, are the now-closed Chinese restaurant, the now-closed Melksham library and Lowbourne car park.
Maxime Cinema
This was not the original building on this site. Linden House, occupied by the Flooks family, was demolished in 1912 to make room for the 585-seat cinema, then called the Picture Hall. One of the home’s namesake linden trees remained in the front of the building for years. Max Corne renamed it Maxime in 1946. It closed in 1964 and was demolished; the space replaced by the shops at Avon Place, now anchored by Iceland.
Martigny House
If you were asked to put a pin on a Melksham map where Martigny House was located, you’d need at least four pins. The one I am referring to was built for grocer Edwin Lee as his Spa Road residence in the 1910s; he sold it in 1934 to West Wilts Electric Light & Power Co. Ltd. SSE now occupies the frontage of the property; the house behind having been demolished roughly 10 years ago.
Apology
I owe the residents of Giffords a massive apology for causing offence by referring to their facility as a “nursing home” in the last issue. I have lived in England for almost 30 years and I am still trying to learn the language.
