As we bring our Then and Now feature on Melksham to a close we look at a once famous part of the town, The Spa.

The medical properties of the Melksham Chalybeate springs were first discovered in around 1813.

The first spring, said to have been discovered in a search for coal, was off Chalybeate waters (containing iron) and two years later a saline aperient spring was found.

The two springs were about half a mile from the town and the Chalybeate Well was recommended by doctors at that time for bilious complaints, among other ills.

During 1814, a proposal was made to purchase four acres of land surrounding the two wells and build ten large dwelling houses, at a cost of £1,000 per house.

The full amount proved difficult to raise and in the end 7,000 guineas were raised and the Melksham Spa company was formed.

Six semi-detached lodging houses in the form of a crescent, a spa, a pump room and hot and cold private baths were built.

From 1815 to 1822, the Melksham Spa enjoyed a brief prosperity until inland spas were no longer deemed fashionable.

Even Bath itself became unfashionable as the Prince Regent and his friends turned to Brighton and sea bathing was substituted for taking water at an inland spa.

Despite this, the spa water continued to be bottled and sold. In the 1850s it was being advertised as a cure for many skin diseases.

Attempts to revive the Spa failed and all the lodging houses became private residences and they stand alone beside the Devizes Road, a memoriam to the days when Melksham hoped to compete with fashionable Bath.