Place names of Calne: Station Road, Station Meadows, Bowood View

Before the 1860s, the area that became Station Road were plots of land. Then it was decided that Calne would have branch line that would connect it to Chippenham.

The branch line saw the first train at Calne station on 29 October 1863, the same year that the original Station Road was built to link New Road to the railway station[1].

1840s tithe map (bottom), showing the fields,
while the First Edition OS map shows the station and road now present.

The Calne branch saw the last passenger train on 18 September 1965, with the tracks being lifted in 1967. These days, Station Road is home to a fire station and residential housing. Near the end of Station Road the estate is called Station Meadows and is fortunate to have directed access to the jewel that is Castlefields canal and river park, which is along the cycle route to Calne - which follows the old branch railway line.

Station Meadows was built by Hills Homes Developments, with the first houses available to buy in late 2014 and initially sold by Atwell Martin[2]. The road for this development was first proposed to be 'Station Approach', with the footpath being 'Black Dog Walk'[3]. When this was rejected by Wiltshire Council, Bowood View was chosen as the replacement[4].

Bowood View, leads toward the nearby Bowood Estate, owned by the Lansdowne family since 1754. A footpath leads down from Bowood View to Castlefields Park and the Calne to Chippenham cycle path. From here Black Dog Halt can be reached, which was the Lansdowne's private halt during the period when Calne had a branch railway. This halt was eventually placed on rail timetables, however didn't halt the decline of the branch line.

Houses on the Station Meadow development, Station Road, with Bowood View to the right.

Sources:
[1] Calne: The town in the 19th century | British History Online. 2018. Calne: The town in the 19th century | British History Online. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/wilts/vol17/pp41-44. [Accessed 27 October 2018].
[2] www.google.co.uk. 2018. No page title. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjQi6GKyKfeAhVMWywKHWS0BEYQFjACegQICBAC&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hills-homes.co.uk%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2014%2F07%2FThe-Wilton-Station-Meadows.pdf&usg=AOvVaw2CTaRBRQvziUKIi13Depkx. [Accessed 27 October 2018]. 
[3]  CALNE TOWN COUNCIL TOWN DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING COMMITTEE, 16 April 2013.
[4] CALNE TOWN COUNCIL TOWN DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING COMMITTEE, 28 May 2013.