Following in the wake of other towns, the inhabitants of Malmesbury have not only determined to have their railway, but have lent a most ready and helping hand in the carrying out of the undertaking, and on Saturday last, when the first sod of that railway, which is to pass close by their town, connecting them on the one side with the south and west coasts of the country as well as with the Metropolis, and on the other side with the great coal and iron fields of Wales, and the manufacturing industry of the North, was turned, they determined upon making the occasion one of rejoicing, and vied with each other in showing their interest in the undertaking.
The Wilts and Gloucestershire Railway and its connection with Malmesbury is different from many of the short branch lines by which some of our small country towns are connected with our large trunk lines. It will not be great in extent, but it will open up a communication between important districts. Commencing near Christian Malford, on the Great Western Railway, it will pass on, through Malmesbury and Tetbury, to near Nailsworth, on the South Wales Railway, and will thus put the intermediate district into direct communication with all the great seats of trade and commerce. The thousand and one difficulties incidental to the preliminary arrangements of an undertaking of this kind having been surmounted, and the Countess of Suffolk having kindly consented to inaugurate the work by turning the first sod, Saturday last was appointed for the performance of that interesting work, on a spot admirably situate for viewing the ceremony.
In the town a number of flags were flying from the windows and roofs of the houses, and at one o’clock the tradesmen closed their places of business. By two o’clock the streets were crowded by visitors from the neighbouring towns and villages, and by half-past two o’clock, the ceremony being appointed for three, several thousand persons had assembled in the Cross Hayes, where a procession was formed in the following order:—
- The Malmesbury Rifle Corps, under the command of Lieut. Handy,
- The Rifle Corps Band,
- The Children of the several day and Sunday schools, with their teachers, bearing flags, and banners,
- The Factory bands,
- The Members of the Malmesbury Court of Foresters with their banners and regalia,
- The Members of the Three Cups and the Castle Benefit Clubs with their band,
- The Corporation of Malmesbury,
- The Directors, Contractor, Officers, Shareholders, and others connected with the Wilts and Gloucester Railway.
In this order the procession perambulated the principal streets of the town, and then proceeded to a field near the Duke of York Inn, on the Tetbury road, where the ceremony was to take place, the school-children and members of the benefit societies taking up their position on the side of a hill which commanded a full view of the proceedings. A hill on the opposite side, which also commanded a view of the spot, was thickly studded with persons, but through the improper crowding of the enclosure we fear they could see but little of what was going on. In and around the enclosure there were assembled the élite of the town and neighbourhood. Amongst others we noticed the Earl and Countess of Suffolk, Viscount Andover, M.P., Sir Hungerford Pollen, Colonel and Lady Buller, R. S. Holford, esq., G. P. Scrope, esq., M.P., Capt. Brooke, Rev. W. Estcourt, Mrs. T. H. S. Estcourt, T. Luce, esq., Capt. Luce, Graham Smith, esq., E. Rich, esq., J. T. Paul, esq., C. Paul, esq., W. H. Cresswell, esq., W. Forrester, esq., W. J. Jones, esq., H. Wood, esq., Rev. H. Hadell, J Bennett, esq., W. Maskelyne, esq., Audley Lovell, esq., Captain Meredith, E. Harris, esq., —Byam, esq., S. C. Marling, esq., (Chairman of the Wilts and Gloucestershire Railway Company), S. Rich, esq., —Lewis, esq., (Director of the Midland Railway Company), G. Estcourt, esq., —Chambers, esq., —Stanton, esq., &c., &c., &c. Altogether there could not have been less than from three to four thousand persons present.
Shortly after three o’clock Lady Suffolk entered the ground and received a most enthusiastic reception. Her Ladyship at once proceeded to an enclosed spot, where the Rev. W. Estcourt asked a Divine blessing on the work about to be commenced, after which, a very handsome French polished mahogany barrow with silver mountings, and an elaborately chased silver shovel, having been placed at Lady Suffolk’s service, her Ladyship proceeded, under the direction of Mr. Chambers, the contractor, to remove the first sod, which, having been placed in the barrow, her Ladyship, amidst the vociferous cheering of the spectators, proceeded to wheel it to the opposite end of the platform on which the barrow had been placed. Her Ladyship having emptied the barrow and thus completed her undertaking, Earl Suffolk stepped forward and said, “I have now to declare the works of the Wilts and Gloucestershire Railway duly commenced. I hope the undertaking may pay the shareholders a good dividend, and that the railway will prove a benefit as well as an accommodation to the country through which it will pass.” (Loud and long continued cheering). Altogether the scene was most striking and beautiful. At the close of the ceremony of turning the first sod, the Earl and Countess of Suffolk, together with the Directors of the company, the Corporation of Malmesbury, the shareholders, and many other ladies and gentlemen, accepted Mr. Chambers’ invitation to a champagne luncheon, provided in a large marquee in the field.