People & Places
Explore the stories behind some of Corsham’s historic buildings and the people who lived there…
Richard Bethel
Son of Dr Richard Bethel of Bradford on Avon, he is reputed to have been a boarder at the Hungerford Almshouse School, before gaining a scholarship to Wadham College in 1818. In 1823 he was called to the Bar, attaining Queens Counsel in 1840. He was responsible for...
Charles Bethel
Many generations of Corsham citizens have filled the comprehensive office of Town Crier/Ale Taster/Inspector of Weights & Measures. Whether Charles Bethel managed to contend with all these ‘strands’ is questionable, but there is no doubt that the bell and voice of...
The Batley Family
The Batley family probably came to Corsham in the early 1880’s. They were farmers, and John Batley, who originally came from Suffolk, had farmed at Sheldon Manor, Chippenham for many years, before coming to Corsham to take on a farm at Pockeridge. The 1881 census...
Richard Balch
Born in 1827, Richard Balch was married at the age of 24 and running the family business at no 11 High Street. Balch was an elected trustee of local charities, and a director of the troubled Gas and Water Companies of the day. He was appointed coroner for Corsham, an...
The Baines Family
The Baines family seemed to have settled in Corsham around 1870. John Baines, who had been born in Bradford on Avon, and his wife Maria and four children are recorded in the 1871 census as living in High Street. He was a chemist, stationer and bookseller, and he also...
Felix Aylmer
Corsham can proudly boast an actor of world renown with one of its Victorian sons, Felix Edward Aylmer Jones, born in Alexander House, Corsham on 21st February 1889. He was the second child in the family of five boys and one girl, fathered by Major, later Lieutenant...
William Arnold
William Arnold was a man of stature in Corsham, his business as a Clothier brought him much wealth, he was a member of the Corsham Wool Merchants Guild, and he owned considerable tracts of land in Corsham and the surrounding district. His family hailed from...
Richard Alexander
Corsham’s Alexander House (pictured) and Alexander Terrace have long been attributed to Richard Alexander a surgeon. There were two Richard Alexanders: Richard Hayward, and his son Richard Chandler. Richard H was baptised at All Cannings Church in 1778, and married...