MELKSHAM, a market-town and parish in the
hundred of MELKSHAM, county of WILTS, 28 miles
(N.W.) from Salisbury, and 95 (W. byS.) from London,
containing, with the chapelry of Seend, 5776 inhabitants.
The name is supposed to be derived from Milch, or Melch,
milk, and Haur, a dwelling, the adjacent land being
chiefly occupied as dairy farms. During the Saxon era
this was a place of some importance: at the period of
the Norman survey, and for several subsequent reigns, it
was held in royal demesne, and gave name to an extensive,
forest: in the reign of Henry VIII. it had fallen
into decay, but during the last century experienced a
revival from its cloth manufacture. The town, situated
on the great road from London'through Devizes to
Bath, and on the banks of the Avon, consists principally
of one street nearly a mile in length, which is paved
and lighted with gas; the houses are in general good,
and built of freestone, and the inhabitants are well supplied
with water. Two mineral springs, one saline and
the other chalybeate, were discovered hi the vicinity,
some years ago; and, in. 1816, a new saline spa was
formed, by boring to a depth of more than three hundred
and fifty feet, to which a pump-room, and hot and cold
baths, with every requisite accommodation, have been
added: these buildings form the centre of a handsome
crescent, with a viranda in front, and near them is an
agreeable promenade: the surrounding country abounds
with diversified and pleasing prospects. The chalybeate
spring, which is contiguous to the old spa, yields about
eight hundred gallons per day, and is in its qualities
similar to the waters of Tonbridge and Bath. The saline
aperient is highly recommended, both for external
and internal use, in scrofulous and scorbutic diseases.
There is a convenient reading-room, also a circulating
library. The business of the town formerly consisted
in the manufacture of broad cloth and kerseymere, of
which it was once the principal seat, but this is now
on the decline: there is some business done in malt
and leather. The Wilts and Berks canal passes on
the east, and about a mile and a half southward joins
the Kennet and Avon canal. The river Avon passes
through the town, and is crossed by a handsome stone
bridge' of four arches, with light and elegant balustrades;
adjoining it is one of the largest corn-mills
in the county, and contiguous are an extensive factory
and dye-houses. The market is held every alternate
Monday, for cattle, sheep, pigs, &c. j and there is a
cattle fair on the 27th of July. The county magistrates
hold here a petty session for the division, on the
last Wednesday in every month -, a court leet is held
half-yearly by the joint lords of the manor; and a court
of requests, under an act of the 47th of George III.,
for the recovery of debts not exceeding £5, is held once
Jn three weeks, on Tuesday, alternately with Bradford
and Trowbridge. The living is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry
and diocese of Salisbxiry, rated in the king's
books at £38. 9. 4., and in the patronage of the Dean
and Chapter of Salisbury. The church, dedicated to
St. Michael, is a spacious cruciform structure of freestone,
with a handsome tower rising from the intersection;
part of the building is of the period of the twelfth
century, and the whole is crowned with battlements and
pinnacles j in the interior, on the south side, are two
chantry chapels. There are places of worship for Baptists,
the Society of Friends, Independents, and Wesleyan
Methodists. In 1750, the Rev. Bohun Fox bequeathed
£ 135 for instructing and partly clothing poor
children. A Lancasterian school, established in 1829,
is supported by voluntary contributions: about two
hundred and forty children of both sexes are instructed.