By Tim Lambert
Early Calne
Calne is a market town in Winchester. Its name is derived from the Celtic words Col-aun, meaning “meeting of the waters”. Calne was first mentioned in a document about 955. In 978, a council of powerful men called the Witan met in Calne. However, the upper floor of the hall they were in collapsed, killing some and injuring others.
At the time of the Domesday Book in 1086, it probably had a population of about 450. By the standards of the time, it was a large settlement. Calne had 9 watermills to grind grain into flour. During the Middle Ages, Calne was a market town. In 1273, it was also granted the right to hold annual fairs.
In 1638, the tower of St Mary’s Church collapsed, but it was rebuilt. The Tounson Almshouses were built in 1682. They were altered in 1973.
The great scientist Joseph Priestley lived in Calne in 1774 when he discovered oxygen.
For centuries, the town depended on wool manufacture. However, it declined rapidly in the early 19th century. It ceased by the middle of the century. In the late 18th century, Calne became an important stagecoaching town. However, the stagecoaches ended with the coming of the railways.
Modern Calne
From the late 19th century and through most of the 20th century, Calne was dominated by bacon curing. However, the bacon factory closed in 1982 and was demolished in 1985.
Meanwhile, amenities in the town improved. A canal was dug to the town in 1802. Calne gained gaslight in 1835. Calne railway station opened in 1863. However, it closed in 1965. A waterworks opened in 1881. Calne Town Hall was built in 1886.
The town continued to develop in the 20th century. The Old Bank House was built in 1901. A library opened in Calne in 1905. A new library opened in 2001. Meanwhile, the town first gained an electricity supply in 1926. A fire station was first built in Calne in the 19th century, but a new one was built in 1966. Calne Leisure Centre opened in 1976. The Two Pigs statue was unveiled in 1978.
In 1901, the population of Calne was 3,457. During the 19th century, it failed to grow. It was still only 3,767. However, it grew much larger in the 20th century.
In the 21st century, Calne is a thriving market town. The Calne bypass was built in 2000. The Head sculpture was unveiled in 2001. The Calne Heritage Centre opened in 2004. In 2025, the population of Calne was 19,000.
