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Question
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Can you tell me please, who owned Melksham House in Market Place, Melksham, prior to 1920.
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Question asked on
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04 July 2011
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Answer
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The known history of the Melksham House site to 1920 is as follows:
1608 Land and cottage known as The Grove sold by John Ward to Robert Jennings, wheelwright.
1682 R. Jennings, probably son of the above, sold the property to Richard Coxeter of Bampton.
1699 Richard Coxeter, having rebuilt or extended the house, sold to Sir Walter Long of Whaddon. Between 1699 and 1773 Melksham House was built on the site, probably in the early 18th century.
By 1806 the property was owned by John Fowler.
1829 Thomas Fowler was the owner
1833-46 Dr. George Kenrick bought the house and lived there.
1853 Kenrick sold to Christopher Beaven.
Nov. 1866 Beaven sold to Edward Barnwell.
5 Jan. 1895 Bought by Charles Awdry (d.1912). The Blathwayt family were tenants. The property was inherited by Charles Awdry.
1916 Property auctioned but failed to reach its reserve. Later that year it was in use as a Red Cross hospital.
1917 Charles Awdry missing in action, presumed dead.
14 June 1920 Gilbert Harding, bank manager bought Melksham House for £5,040 and on 22 June it was in the ownership of the Avon Rubber Co.
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Bibliography
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Melksham House (The Grove), 1608-1985, by T.B. Gregory and K.W. Merrett. 1985
