People & Places

Explore the stories behind some of Corsham’s historic buildings and the people who lived there…

CAPTAIN REGINALD YOUNGHUSBAND

CAPTAIN REGINALD YOUNGHUSBAND

Reginald Younghusband was born in Bath in 1844, to Captain Thomas Younghusband and his wife Pascoa Baretto. His connection with Corsham is that – like Richard Bethel (Lord Westbury), he spent some of his informative years being educated in the town, but this time at...

Thomas Tropnell

Thomas Tropnell

The Thomas Tropnell of the 15th century owned Great Chalfield Manor, and many other pieces of land close to Corsham – including land at Gastard and at Monks. In the second half of the century he bought 150 acres of land to create Neston Park. Thomas died about 1490...

John Hanning Speke

John Hanning Speke

On the edge of a field by a dry stone wall on the Neston estate is an epitaph to John Hanning Speke. He was among the greatest British explorers of the Victorian era, whose greatest achievement was the discovery of the source of the White Nile – the holy grail of...

Rev. George Newnham

Rev. George Newnham

Every generation has its alcohol related problems. In Victorian/ Edwardian times temperance movements emerged with the enthusiasm of religious crusades. Organisations such as the ‘Recabites’ urged Corsham people to “sign the pledge” for a life committed to abstinence....

Septimus Kinnier

Septimus Kinnier

S.P. Kinnier (“Sep”) was born in Pickwick in 1871. A left-handed batsman, he played for Corsham during the ‘golden’ Spackman years, scoring 4919 runs and hitting five centuries. Septimus was the first of two Corsham born and trained cricketers who eventually played...

Sir Edward Hungerford

Sir Edward Hungerford

The Hungerford family owned Farleigh Hungerford Castle, on the borders of Wiltshire and Somerset, for some 300 years. Monuments at the castle show the family’s occupation from 1369. Their position at the Royal court fluctuated with each new monarch, as was the norm....

Arthur Hobbs

Arthur Hobbs

AJ Hobbs was born at North Bradley and for 60 years ran a saddlers, and later a cycle repair business, from his premises in the High Street (now the dental surgery opposite Alexander House). In those days it was a dark little shop, a complete clutter of old cycle...

MRS CHARLOTTE HEDWORTH WILLIAMSON

MRS CHARLOTTE HEDWORTH WILLIAMSON

Charlotte was born in Suffolk in 1861, daughter of Alexander Robert Campbell-Johnstone, a Foreign Office Diplomat. She was married in 1886 to Captain Cecil Hedworth Williamson of the 4th Dragoon Guards. Cecil retired in 1891 after which the family, Charlotte, Cecil...

SIR CHRISTOPHER HATTON

SIR CHRISTOPHER HATTON

Sir Christopher Hatton was a favourite courtier of Elizabeth I, and who she called ‘Lids’ in their private and confidential letters. Sir Christopher, when expressing devotion and affection for his beloved queen, always signed his letters with a hat drawn over the word...