They are long-gone eras when the illiterate keepers of cows and a pig killer who was “scarcely able to write his name” numbered the ranks of the town’s magistrates and if you required a doctor all you had to do was leave a red cloth in the hedgerow during ‘rounds days’.

Historian Charles Vernon has delved into the archives of the Gazette & Herald and our predecessors the Wiltshire Gazette and the North Wilts Herald to create a new book – Malmesbury’s Past, People and Places.

Mr Vernon, who with wife Val provides guided tours of the town, has written several history books on Malmesbury, including two focusing on the town’s contribution to both world wars.

He said: “There are a number of works which describe our ancient and medieval history but the past two centuries are not well covered. This is the period that forms the main theme here.”

During the first half of the 19th century the administration of law in Malmesbury was a hit and miss affair, where magistrates were described as a “self-elected, irresponsible body”.

One alderman and chief magistrate was an illiterate pig farmer who was succeeded by a labouring plasterer “who could neither read nor write”. There was no police force at the time, while a lone constable appointed by magistrates was said to have had “about 200 ruffians to deal with”.

When a superintendent was eventually appointed his job included the position of “Inspector of Contagious Diseases (Animals)”.

In 1910 Malmesbury Fire Brigade boasted a spanking new Merryweather Gem steam pump named Alexandra after the Queen. When the alarm went, firemen often had to chase the horses around a field before hitching them to the fire engine.

On one occasion in 1925 they took two-and-a-half hours to respond to a major blaze at Sopworth House – and when they finally arrived they were embarrassed to discover the Chippenham brigade putting the fire out.

A subsequent enquiry blamed the telephonist at the Malmesbury Exchange, Reg Wakefield, who had fallen asleep.

In the early 20th century local doctors did ‘round days’ when they would drive around town visiting patients. Anyone in need of a doctor left a red flag or cloth in the hedgerow. “Woe betide a doctor who ignored this summons,” writes Mr Vernon.

The arrival of the motor car changed the face of Malmesbury, as it did everywhere else, and the town’s first fatal crash occurred on March 8, 1921, when Beatrice Fry, ten, jumped into the path of a lorry full of pigs at the Triangle.

Even in the 1920s parking was a problem, with angry farmers driving around in frustration on market days, looking for somewhere to park their lorries loaded with animals and produce.

Malmesbury’s Past, People and Places by Charles Vernon is published by Malmesbury Civic Trust, priced £7.99 or £9.50 including post and packing and is available from the trust at Chalcourt, Dark Lane, Malmesbury, SN16 OBB.