Melksham
This town has a population of 2,452; consists of one long street the buildings of which are mostly of freestone. Celebrated for its mineral springs.
Chippenham to Frome, Yeovil, Dorchester, and Weymouth
Wilts, Somerset and Weymouth Railway
Devizes Branch
Melksham to Devizes
Trowbridge
This town is the largest in the county, with the exception of Salisbury. It has a population of 9,626, and is situated on the river Ware.
A short branch here turns of at
Bradford
A town that “stondeth by clooth making,” said Leland, three centuries ago, and the same may be said of it now. The Avon is crossed by two bridges, one a very ancient one, with a chapel over one of t…
This line continues its course, via Freshford, Limpley Stoke, and Bathampton to
Bath
Not only renowned for its antiquity and waters, but Bath is one of the best built cities in the United Kingdom.
a distance of 12½ miles from Trowbridge.
From Trowbridge we continue by the Valley of the Avon, with the grounds of Rowed Ashton and Heywood House on the left, and arrive at
Westbury
This is an ancient borough, with a malting and broad cloth trade. Bryan Edwards, the historian, was a native.
We now bear to the left, leaving the Weymouth line, on the
Salisbury Branch
Westbury to Salisbury
Westbury to Dorchester and Weymouth
Crossing the borders of the county from Westbury we soon arrive at
Frome
Is agreeably situated on the north-east declivity of several hills contiguous to Selwood Forest. It has considerable manufactures of woollen cloth, and an excellent grammar school, founded by Edward VI.
Witham Junction, near which is Witham Park.
East Somerset Railway
Frome to Wells
Bruton, situated on the banks of the Brue; has a fine old English perpendicular church, an endowed hospital founded by Saxey, auditor to Queen Elizabeth, and a free grammar school by Edward VI.
Sparkford
Near it on the left, is Cadbury Castle, one of the most stupendous fortifications in the kingdom, belonging to the days gone by, whose everyday life is but legendary and mythical. A part of the ruins is called King …
Passing Marston station, we cross the river Yeo and stop at the station at
Yeovil
An ancient town, the seat of a considerable glove trade.
From Yeovil a branch line to the right, of nearly 20 miles in length, joins the Bristol and Exeter line. We proceed southward, and passing the ancient village of Bradford Abbas and the stations of Yetminster and Evershot (near which are Woolcombe House and Melbury House at Redlynch, the seat of the Earl of Ilchester, from the grounds of which a view may be had of an immeasurable tract of country), we arrive at Maiden Newton, from which a branch to the right takes us to Bridport.
Maiden Newton and Bridport Branch
Maiden Newton to Bridport
Leaving Maiden Newton and passing along the Valley of the Frome, by the station of Grimstone, we arrive at
Dorchester
A small parliamentary borough, and the capital of Dorsetshire, in a pretty part of the South Downs, at the termination of the South Western railway, 141 miles from London.
Weymouth
Nothing can be more striking and picturesque than the situation of this delightful watering-place.
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