We welcomed Terry Bracher from the Swindon and Wiltshire History Society who gave an informative, humorous and at times, disturbing look into Wiltshire’s past. We learned that the very first case of tuberculosis was recorded in Wiltshire based on the evidence seen on skeletal remains from over 3,000 years ago.
For hundreds of years local people were responsible for maintaining law and order and if judgement was needed from a higher court it could take years for the travelling court to reach Wiltshire for the trial and verdict.
We also had a taste of women-related history through the defence of Wardour castle during the Civil War and the Talbot family's remedy recipe book from Lacock. For some reason mice and moles were often involved.
We took a journey through crime, punishments, illness and bizarre cures throughout the ages all supported by copies of original documents held at the centre. Finally we heard that Chippenham folk of yore have been quite feisty, with many a riot here through the centuries!
Our meeting minutes also form part of the 11 miles of archive held at the Centre here in Chippenham. I wonder what conclusions the historians of the future will glean from our antics?
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