Recently I have been researching and preparing for my talk on a Horrible and Curious Wiltshire History. I sent out a call to colleagues asking for any curious items they had come across and knowing my interest in animal related stories (see previous blogs) several items for my growing historic, virtual menagerie were passed to me.

The amazing pig of knowledge...

I am indebted to my colleague Robert Jago who forwarded the following candidates:

Introducing the two-headed calf: a letter in the Marlborough Journal on 25 May 1771, tells of a calf at Mr Oven’s farm, of Garsdon, Malmesbury, born with 2 heads, 2 necks, 4 eyes, 4 front feet, but only 2 behind, and a double leg which became 2 at the hoof, 2 backs, 2 tails and one belly, two hearts, 2 pairs of lungs and 4 passages behind.

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After all the disruption caused by the recent snowfalls, here at the History Centre we were interested to find out how often similar events occurred in our County in the past.

We’ve all heard about the terrible winters of 1813/14 when the River Thames froze and frost fairs were held. Charlote Grove lived at Ferne House, in Donhead St. Mary, and began writing diaries at the age of 18. Her entry for January 11^th, 1814 states ‘It snowed very hard. Charles contrived to walk down to Mrs Cooke’s. January 20^th - ‘A very deep snow. The mail prevented from coming’. January 25^th – ‘I walked with my father to the sheep fold. The icicles on the hedge look like the most beautiful cut glass’.

Men digging out a locomotive stuck near Newton Tony, 1927
To find out about other snowy winters of the 19th century, please 'read more'.

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