New Road Guest House

Friendly family run Bed & Breakfast in the heart of Chippenham

Chippenham

The original settlement was known Cyppa's Hamme, from Cyppa, the Saxon nobleman who lived here and Hamme, a piece of low ground lying in a bend of the river.  By the time of the Doomesday Book, Cyppa had became Cepen and eventually turned into Chippenham.

Chippenham today is a sizable modern town, but the old name is remembered through the out-of-town housing developments at Cepen Park. 

We have several “claims to fame”.  Brunel designed the large viaduct near the town centre to carry his Great Western Railway, and until Box Tunnel was built, Chippenham was the last station on the line from London.  Eddie Crochran died here when the Ford Consul taxi taking him from Bristol to London crashed on the A4 in 1960.  The annual festival preserves the memory of Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent and the legends of the 50's & 60's rock-n-roll eras and attracts fans and acts from all over the world.

King Alfred, he of the burning cakes, had a country retreat here and other famous residents include Robert Peel, founder of the Metropolitan Police, who was MP for Chippenham in 1812.

The River Avon runs through the town centre and there are walks along the river banks.  The town has a variety of building styles, from "black and white" houses, including the Yelde Hall in the market place, through to modern buildings. 

A full range of shops can be found in the town and the shopping centre, together with a leisure centre and cinema.