Maud Heath's Causeway

Maud Heath's Causeway crossing the River Avon flood plain at Kellaways

Maud Heath's Causeway is a pathway dating from the 15th century in rural Wiltshire, England. On both sides of its crossing of the River Avon, just west of Kellaways, the path rises above the floodplain on sixty-four brick arches (built 1812, largely reconstructed in the 20th century)[1] alongside an undistinguished country road between Bremhill and Langley Burrell.

The causeway is the gift of Matilda Heath or Hethe, a local property owner and philanthropist who was connected with wealthy Bristol shipping merchants. She gifted properties and land in Chippenham into a trust so that the income could be used to maintain the causeway, which was part of an alternative route east from Chippenham; travellers would have climbed up to Bremhill and joined the London road near Calne. Among them would have been John Bagot, MP for Bristol in 1467 and 1472. He inherited the manor house at Kellaways, in which Matilda lived; it is thought that she was his elderly aunt.[2][3]

Research published in 2024 disproved a widely known tale that Maud was a widow who made her living carrying eggs to market at Chippenham.[4]

Over five hundred years later, a charity – Maud Heath's Trust – still maintains the path out of her bequest.[5] Since 1960, the raised section has been listed Grade II* on the National Heritage List for England.[1]

A brief guide to the causeway was written by K.R. Clew in 1982.[6]

  1. ^ a b Historic England. "Maud Heath's Causeway (raised section each side of Kellaway's Bridge) (1022351)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Centuries-old Mystery Solved". Chippenham Town Council. 9 July 2024. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  3. ^ "Centuries-old mystery of Chippenham's Maud Heath solved". BBC News. 22 July 2024. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  4. ^ Ryland-Epton, Louise (15 April 2024). "Maud Heath and Beyond: Exploring the Lives of Women Before 1600". On History. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  5. ^ "Maud Heath's Trust, registered charity no. 201543". Charity Commission for England and Wales.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Bremhill listing was invoked but never defined (see the help page).