Isn’t it a pity that no funding can be found to produce the 20th volume of the Victoria County History of Wiltshire, which would have explored in detail the history of Chippenham and neighbouring villages?
Wiltshire has such a proud history of VCH (the greatest publishing project in English local history) research, having covered more of its history in this way than any other county; Oxfordshire alone approaches this achievement, with 17 VCH volumes so far.
While it is understandable in the present financial climate that, with priority local demands of health, transport and education services, councils no longer have money to spare for such projects.
It seems sad that no private individual is sufficiently blessed, both financially and with enthusiasm for the history of the county in which they live, to fund the skilled academic research needed to produce the Chippenham volume.
Complementing the fantastic and popular resources of our enviable new History Centre, it would be of lasting value to the many people interested in discovering the history of their locality and a permanent monument to the enlightened generosity of the donor.
Margaret Parrott, Maur Close, Chippenham.
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