Chippenham

Chippenham is a market town in Wiltshire, England, located at grid reference ST919733, some 21 km (13 miles) east of Bath and 163 km (96 miles) west of London. In the 2001 census the population of the town was recorded as 28,065.

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The town was established on a crossing of the River Avon and is believed to have existed as some form of settlement since before Roman times. It was a royal villa, and probably a royal hunting lodge, under Alfred the Great. The town continued to grow when the Great Western Railway arrived in 1841, and while historically a market town the economy has changed to that of a commuter town.

Cultural festivals such as the Chippenham Folk Festival are hosted by the Chippenham Folk Festival Association & Organised by the Festival Team who are all volunteers.

Chippenham is twinned with La Fleche in France and Friedberg in Germany. The town motto is "Unity and Loyalty".