Corsham

About

From starring on the small screen in Poldark to exotic peacocks and acres of beautiful countryside to explore, Corsham is a hidden gem.

Quintessentially English - historic buildings and acres of glorious countryside on the doorstep. Slightly exotic - flamboyant, and loud, peacocks regally wander the streets. And a starring role as an historic Cornish town - Ross Poldark brooded his way around here for the hit BBC series... The Wiltshire market town of Corsham is something of a hidden treasure. It’s also one of the Top 10 places to live in the South West, according to The Sunday Times’ annual poll. 

Just 20 minutes from Bath, Corsham sits on the edge of the Cotswolds. Its history is linked to wool and stone: the wool from the Flemish weavers who based themselves in the town; the stone from the famous Bath Stone, quarried locally and used in many of the town’s buildings. 

Of those buildings, Nikolaus Pevsner, the architectural historian, once wrote, “Corsham has no match in Wiltshire for wealth of good houses”, and a star among them is Corsham Court – a Saxon royal manor house and home to a collection of celebrated paintings housed in a picture gallery designed by Capability Brown, who also designed the gardens. The glorious parkland that surrounds the Court is perfect for an early-morning autumn walk.

A short, tree-lined stroll from Corsham Court takes you towards more contemporary art at The Pound, Corsham’s gallery, theatre, cinema and cafe bar, with a great programme of events coming up for the last part of the year, including November’s Magic and Mayhem Festival. Or you can head off for some retail therapy and early Christmas shopping: Corsham has a great range of independent shops offering everything from collectible comics to vintage wares, antiques and gloriously different gifts, plus The Table Gallery, owned by Paul Martin, of TV’s Flog It fame. You’ll also find great places to warm up in front of a roaring fire as you stop for a drink and something to eat including the award-winning Methuen Arms.

And if you visit Corsham you’ll be stepping on to a film and TV set. Poldark and The Suspicions of Mr Whicher have been filmed here, as have The Remains of the Day, Barry Lyndon and, most recently, Sky One’s Agatha Raisin has captured Corsham on camera.

Come and discover Corsham for yourself this autumn. Take a look at corsham.gov.uk/visit or Corsham Town Council’s Facebook page for the latest news on events and activities in the town.