Sandridge, Wiltshire Explained

Country:England
Static Image:Sandridge, Wiltshire.jpg
Static Image Caption:Former Church of England School
Coordinates:51.38°N -2.1°W
Official Name:Sandridge
Civil Parish:Melksham Without
Unitary England:Wiltshire
Lieutenancy England:Wiltshire
Region:South West England
Constituency Westminster:Chippenham
Post Town1:Melksham
Postcode District1:SN12
Postcode Area1:SN
Post Town2:Chippenham
Postcode District2:SN15
Postcode Area2:SN
Dial Code:01225
Os Grid Reference:ST9364

Sandridge is a dispersed rural community to the east of Melksham, Wiltshire, England. It is part of the civil parish of Melksham Without.

An Ordnance Survey map of 1961 names a settlement at Sandridge Hill, 2.5miles east of Melksham, and a hamlet of Sandridge, 0.25miles to the north;[1] as of 2015 these names are no longer in gazetteers and Sandridge refers to a wider area along the A3102, with Sandridge Common identified on road signs near Melksham.

A National School was built in 1873 at Sandridge Common, on land given by Ralph Ludlow Lopes[2] and educated children of all ages until 1953;[3] around that time it became known as Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School. In 2015, to cater for the eastward expansion of Melksham, the school moved to a new building on the outskirts of the town.[4]

Sandridge Park

Sandridge Park (not to be confused with Sandridge Park, Devon) is an ashlar-faced country house which stands in parkland north of the A3102, about 20NaN0 east of Melksham.[5] The two-storey house was built between 1856 and 1859 for Henry Lopes.[6] After being used for a time as a hotel, it was sold in 2018 as an eight-bedroom house for £2.8m.[7]

The former coach house and stables of the same date, now converted into a house, is Grade II listed. Further uphill on the other side of the road is Sandridge Tower, a former folly belonging to Sandridge Park, also now a house. Built in ashlar in the late 19th century, its four storeys are topped by a battlemented parapet.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 maps of Great Britain, sheet ST96. National Library of Scotland. 30 December 2015. 1961.
  2. Web site: Nostalgic memories for past and present pupils as Forest and Sandridge celebrates 140 years. Yilmaz. Tanya. 8 October 2015. Wiltshire Times. en. 14 February 2019.
  3. Web site: Wiltshire Community History. Forest & Sandridge C. of E. Primary School. Wiltshire Council. 30 December 2015.
  4. Web site: Top marks as new Melksham school opens its doors. Wiltshire Times. Tanya. Yilmaz. 23 September 2015. 30 December 2015.
  5. Book: Orbach . Julian . Wiltshire . Pevsner . Nikolaus . Cherry . Bridget . . 2021 . 978-0-300-25120-3 . The Buildings Of England . New Haven, US and London . 470 . 1201298091 . Nikolaus Pevsner . Bridget Cherry.
  6. Web site: Sandridge Common, Melksham, Wiltshire, SN12 8 bed detached house. Knight Frank. OnTheMarket. en. 14 February 2019.
  7. Web site: Property details for Sandridgre Park House. Zoopla. 14 February 2019.