19th Century Prison History : 19th Century Prison Search

Melksham Lock-up

Overview

Location   Market Place  Melksham

County   Wiltshire

Year Opened   unknown

Year Closed   1847

Century of Operation   1800-1899

Remarks   Later used as a weighbridge. Demolished in 1946-7.

Notes attached to photograph: 'A group of firemen using their hoses and brushes, appearing to be cleaning a set of hoses lined up on the ground next to the town pump in Market Place, with a bus parked on the right and the lockup cum weighbridge on the left, and houses beyond, includes onlookers and a street light in the foreground, Melksham, Wiltshire 1939-1946.'Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre: MODES Database WILTM:P53746 (with kind permission)

Further information can be found at
https://www.prisonhistory.org/lockup/melksham-lock-up/

Description

  • 'The lock-up in the Market Place at Melksham was demolished in 1946. It had been in use until 1847 when a police house and cells were built for the constable. It was a small octagonal building and the roof had similarities to the one at Castle Cary but with a huge finger signpost on top which in turn was topped with a gas lamp.'
    http://roys-roy.blogspot.com/2013/03/lock-ups-at-amesbury-and-great-bedwyn.html

Sources

  • Roy's Blog, 'WILTSHIRE. Lock-ups at Amesbury, Great Bedwyn, Ansty, Melksham and Wooton Bassett.' (25 March 2013)
    http://roys-roy.blogspot.com/2013/03/lock-ups-at-amesbury-and-great-bedwyn.html
  • 'Around Melksham in Old Photographs' by the Melksham & District Historical Association, 1989, p. 15, (Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre, Ref: MEL.771)