CORSHAM Town Council is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year with a series of events and activities, including a look back at years gone by since its formation.

The council is using a new logo for the 125th anniversary year and has published a special, eight-page newsletter which gives residents some historical information on how the council came to be.

Sharon Thomas, head of Corsham Town Council community services, said: “We’ll be launching a ‘Corsham in 125 Years’ Time’ writing/painting competition for young people for the Easter holidays and having a display of entries/photos at the Town Hall. “We’re also looking at possibly commissioning a piece of public art to mark the occasion too.

“There may well be other events and opportunities to celebrate 125 years of the town council during the year as well.”

Local author and historian Giuliano (Julian) Carosi has provided a number of the photographs that he’s used in his Corsham Revealed and Corsham Revealed More books for the newsletter.

Mrs Thomas said: “A great shift in local democracy came about with the Local Government Act of 1894 which, for the first time, introduced elected councils at district and parish level.

“Parishes with a population of 300 or more were to have an elected parish council which now became the first tier of local government.

“Another significant outcome of the act was that it entitled women who owned property to vote in local elections, become poor law guardians, and act on school boards.”

A parish meeting was called in Corsham on Tuesday, December 4 1894 to elect the first 15 parish councillors from 30 candidates, all of them men. The candidates could be householders or residents.

The first full meeting of the council took place in Corsham Town Hall on January 5 1895, with Mr George Pargiter Fuller, of Neston Park, as the first chairman and Mr Charles Mayo as vice-chairman. Mr Fuller was a Liberal MP from 1885-1895.

The council set up various committees to cover footpaths, parish charities, lighting, the town’s fire engine, sanitation, and public baths and wash-houses.