Launch of Volume 20!!!

The new volume hot off the press.

The long-awaited Volume 20 of the Victoria County History: Chippenham and its environs has arrived in big red book form. As well as being the first volume to be published for 15 years it is also the first volume to be published totally funded by charitable donations.

The official publication date and launch on Thursday, 9th July, was kindly hosted by the Chippenham Museum, whose curator, Melissa Barnett, is a Wiltshire VCH trustee. Invited guests, including Trustees, researchers and supporters, enjoyed wine and canapes in an evening which included a chance to see the Museum’s incredible John Aubrey exhibition, and those who had preordered Volume 20 were able to collect their copy.

Marc Allum and Chippenham Town Council CEO, Mark Smith.

As well as Chippenham Town Council CEO Mark Smith, who is a great supporter of the town’s heritage, speakers included the BBC’s Mark Allum, who is a Chippenham resident and local history advocate and Adam Chapman, the General Editor of VCH at the Institute of Historical Research in London.

Congratulations were expressed to the researchers for their hard work and tenacity in bringing the project to its conclusion. John Chandler, Louise-Ryland Epton, Mark Forrest and Rosalind Johnson were all at the event, and without them this milestone would not have been achieved.

The contributors behind the volume.

Copies of Volume 20 are from the publisher at 25% off the £95rrp until August 31 2026, with the code BB132, and can be purchased from the publisher’s website.

The John Aubrey exhibition is on until September 19th and is free.