u3a
We are part of the international u3a movement offering Learn and Share activities covering a wide range of interests for all u3a members to get involved in, and are a branch of the national u3a www.u3a.org.uk
The u3a provides opportunities for people who are no longer working full-time to come together to learn, volunteer, continue their interests and take up new pursuits. The things that we enjoy doing as u3a members is 'positive ageing in action' and sends an important message to the wider community that later life is a time of possibility and growth.
As a movement made up of nearly 400,000 members, we want to put our powerful voice as older adults at the heart of the public perception and conversations around age. For example, we can and should encourage better design and more appropriate housing as well as challenging negative attitudes to older people.
Our u3a
North Wilts u3a includes the towns of Chippenham, Corsham and Calne, and surrounding villages. Chippenham is the largest of these and most of our meetings take place there. All three towns are near the 'Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty' and lie on the A4 between Bath and Swindon.
Chippenham is a market town in north-west Wiltshire, on the river Avon which flows through Bath to Bristol.
The Yelde Hall or Guildhall (pictured) was built in the 15th century, it is one of the oldest surviving buildings in Chippenham. It was the meeting place for the Council, as well as the town's public meeting room, courthouse and jail.
The Buttercross (pictured on our welcome page) is where milk and cheese were sold, the ancient Buttercross once stood at the centre of the Market place where today there are buildings arround the Shambles. In 1889 it was sold and moved to Castle Combe Monor House, where it was used as a garden gazebo. In 1995, the Buttercross was re-erected in the town by Chippenham Civic Society. It now stands as the centrepiece of the pedestrianised town centre where a market is held every Friday and Saturday.
A hidden gem, St Mary Street is one of the most historic streets in Chippenham, with houses dating back to the 16th Century. John Betjeman described it as ‘the most perfect unselfconscious bit of English country townscape one could hope to find’ and it even features in the opening credits of the Antiques Roadshow! (https://www.chippenham.gov.uk/discoverchippenham/)
Corsham is a historic market town and civil parish 4 miles southwest of Chippenham. It is known for the peacocks that stroll around the streets.They are said to be the vainest but most beautiful and also the loudest Corsham residents.
Its history is linked to wool and stone: the wool from the Flemish weavers who were based in the town; the stone from the locally quarried famous Bath Stone, which is also used in many of the town’s buildings.
Poldark and The Suspicions of Mr Whicher were filmed here and, most recently, Sky One’s Agatha Raisin has captured Corsham on camera. (https://visit-corsham.co.uk/)
Calne describes itslef as 'a modest town with a big heart', it is situated on the small river Marden, that rises 2 miles away in the Wessex Downs, and is the only town on that river.
In 978, Anglo-Saxon Calne was the site of a large two-storey building with a hall on the first floor. By 1086 it had become a small market town with 114 households and a church. During the Middle Ages the wool industry became the centre of the town's economy; there were 14 mills along the Marden. Today there are a number of listed buildings from that time.
The C&T Harris pork processing factory became the main industry in the 19th and 20th centuries. Suposedly originally taking over pigs which would not survive the journey from Bristol to London. They produced bacon, pies, sausages and cooked meats. The facory closed 1982 and was replaced with housing and the library. (https://www.calne.gov.uk/)
Pip (centre), Chair, with her husband Chris and committee members Sue, Anne and Tricia on Civic Sunday 14th July 2024 in Chippenham when Pip was presented with a Civic Award for her work with the u3a having been nominated by the committee members.
