Dickens Gate

Shopping

A supermarket is five minutes from Dickens Gate by car; a selection of high street and independent stores, in addition to casual eateries, can be found two miles away in Corsham town centre. In keeping with its heritage, Corsham holds regular markets offering shoppers the opportunity to buy fresh Wiltshire produce and handmade goods from local artisans – a general market takes place every Tuesday, and an arts and crafts market is on the first Saturday of each month.

Leisure

Recently used as a filming location for the BBC One drama series Poldark, the author Charles Dickens was said to have been inspired by Corsham for his book, The Pickwick Papers. This attractive town benefits from several well-preserved historical sites, including Corsham Court, a grand stately home known for its large art collection and freely-roaming peacocks. The Pound Arts Centre, housed in a former school, hosts movie screenings, theatre performances and exhibitions, and has a public café.

For days out from Corsham, the Cotswolds are a short drive away and offer an abundance of walking trails, and charming limestone villages, churches and monuments to visit. A number of Michelin-starred restaurants are in the Cotswolds, with two situated less than 20 minutes’ drive from Dickens Gate: Restaurant Hywel Jones at Lucknam Park in Colerne, and The Bybrook at Manor House Hotel, Castle Combe.

Education

For families at Dickens Gate there are a number of well-regarded primary and secondary schools in the local area, including Corsham Primary School, around 10 minutes’ walk away. Heywood Prep, two miles away, provides independent education for pupils up to age 11. Wiltshire College and Bath Spa University both have campuses in Corsham.

Transport

The A4 for Chippenham and Bath is under a mile from the development, and Junction 17 of the M4 for Bristol and Swindon is located about 20 minutes’ drive away. The nearest railway station to Corsham is Chippenham, 15 minutes away by car; this station provides direct services to Bristol Temple Meads, Plymouth and London Paddington, the journey to which takes approximately one hour and 15 minutes.