Calne

Calne, an old-fashioned market-town of Wiltshire, 6 miles ESE. of Chippenham by a branch line (1863). It has a town-hall (1882), a free grammar-school (1660), and a large bacon-curing industry. From the 14th century till 1885 Calne was a parliamentary borough. At a synod held here by St Dunstan in 977, relative to the celibacy of the clergy, the floor of the room gave way, precipitating all but St Dunstan to the ground. Pop. of parish, 3495. Bowood, 2 miles south-west, the seat of the Marquis of Lansdowne, is an Italian edifice by Adam; at Cherhill, 3 miles east, is the spirited figure of a White Horse (q.v.), 129 feet long, cut out in the chalk in 1780, and visible 50 miles off.