A friendly way to explore the local area’s past together – no lectures, no stuffy rooms, just walking, talking, pub chats, and stories you won’t find in the guidebooks.
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• Up to four sessions a month (walks repeated, one weekday, one weekend), alternating walks and pub/cafe evenings.
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• Choose a membership, a flexi pass, or just drop in.
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• Fascinating tales, good company, and plenty of surprises.
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• Extensive information and/or notes received after each meeting
A friendly regular meet-up for curious locals who love stories from the past, hidden landmarks, and great company.
Next meetings​​
Tuesday 17 March 2026
Wine Monkey (Borough Parade, Chippenham), 7pm
Chippenham food memories
Together, we’ll explore favourite eateries of Chippenham's past, focusing on memories of delicious treats and foods that you couldn't live without, and look at where the line is drawn between nostalgia and history.
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Where was everyone's favourite cafe?
Who had restaurants before living memory?
Why do some food memories stick and others fly away?
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This friendly and interactive club session will explore the foods Chippenham loved over the past, focusing on memories and nostalgia, and how they feed into the wider business of history. It'll cover the town's eateries from the Victorian age until present day.
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£10pp members & first time attenders (no obligation to continue attending).
£14 drop-in (if you've been before & decided not to become a member)
Booking essential.
Contact Lucy Whitfield to book your spot.
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Tuesday 31 March 2026
Wine Monkey (Borough Parade, Chippenham), 7pm
Chippenham women on the edge
Together, we’ll explore the town's women who weren't exactly respectable in the eyes of society - witches, criminals, herbalists, prostitutes, and those who didn't conform to what a well-behaved person should have done.
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Who were some of Chippenham's disreputable characters?
Where was the first executed witch in England based?
What did the herbalist do to kill her patient?
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This friendly and interactive club session will explore the history of the town's women through the stories of those who didn't conform, or were caught up in events beyond their control to be branded "bad" by society at large, and how they fit into a larger national picture.​
£10pp members & first time attenders (no obligation to continue attending).
£14 drop-in (if you've been before & decided not to become a member)
Booking essential.
Contact Lucy Whitfield to book your spot.
Forthcoming meetings​​​
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Tuesday 28 April 2026.
Tuesday 12 May 2026.
Thursday 28 May 2026 (usual meeting moved due to Chippenham Folk Festival)
Tuesday 9 June 2026.
Tuesday 23 June 2026.
Tuesday 7 July 2026.
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Past topics include:​​​
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Are there secret tunnels under Chippenham?
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Just who were the Awdrys anyway?
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​Why did Chippenham have two riots?
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Chippenham myths and legends
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How much of Chippenham did John Provis build?
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What was life like at the steam laundry?
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Did women's suffrage reach Chippenham?
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Where are Chippenham's lost pubs?
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The many faces of the Grammar School
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What stories does Greenways have to tell?
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What was made in Chippenham?
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Chippenham's Greatest Hits​​
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Who lived at Rowden Hill House?
Prices
Taster meeting - £10pp (no obligation to continue attending).
Booking essential.
Contact Lucy Whitfield to book your spot.
1 meeting per month (walk or cafe) member - £10pp per month
Booking essential.
Contact Lucy Whitfield to book your spot.
2 meetings per month (walk or cafe) member - £20pp per month
Booking essential.
Contact Lucy Whitfield to book your spot.
3 meetings per month member - £30pp per month
Booking essential.
Contact Lucy Whitfield to book your spot.
Flexi pass member (six meetings of your choice, 6-month expiry) - £60pp
Booking essential.
Contact Lucy Whitfield to book your spot.
Drop-in meeting - £14pp (for previous attenders who have chosen not to become a member).
Booking essential.
Contact Lucy Whitfield to book your spot.
Members will also receive subject-themed materials after each meeting has concluded. It is possible to just receive the materials and not attend in person - please ask.
Lucy will provide payment information when booking is made.
It is also possible to pay in cash in person, on the day.​​
Accessibility
Walks will always go at the pace of the slowest attender. Wheelchairs and other mobility aids welcome.
Lucy is also happy to use assisted hearing devices, large and dyslexia-friendly fonts, and make other adaptions for inclusivity.
Going forward, it is hoped to offer online membership for those unable to attend in person - please stay tuned.