Church Road buses, school dates and Bowood
Published Tuesday 19 May 2026
A Derry Hill-first week: Church Road bus-stop changes, primary-school dates, village judging, Bowood, Lansdowne Hall and local route warnings.
Top Updates
Church Road closure moves village bus stops
Church Road is closed from the A4 junction to outside School House until Friday 19 June for traffic island relocation and highway works. Faresaver routes 33, X33 and X10 cannot serve Church Road in Derry Hill village; Swindon's Bus Company also says X76 stops at Derry Hill School and the Lansdowne Arms are suspended, with Studley Crossroads used instead. Read the Calne News road closure report and the Swindon's Bus Company service update.
Derry Hill School term finishes on Friday
Derry Hill School's published dates show Owl Class away on residential all week, Mole Class Falconry Visit at 1pm on Friday 22 May, and Term 5 ending at 3.15pm that day. The next return date is Tuesday 2 June, after the half-term week and Monday 1 June TD day. See the latest Derry Hill School newsletter.
Best Kept Village judging runs through early June
Derry Hill and Studley are in the Best Kept Village window from Monday 11 May to Sunday 7 June, with the Community Committee asking for local support and street-level contacts. It is a practical nudge for families using the hall, school, church and village routes this week. Read the inSPIRE magazine notice.
Bethesda Home conditions are back with Wiltshire planners
A new application for Bethesda Home on Church Road asks Wiltshire to sign off cycle-parking and drainage conditions attached to an earlier permission. It is technical rather than a new build proposal, but it is directly on the village road already affected by works. Read the Wiltshire planning record.
Three To Put In The Diary
Saturday 23 May, 7-10pm
Get In Line Birthday Party at Lansdowne Hall
The line-dance group is holding its third birthday social at Lansdowne Hall, Petty Lane. Tickets are £8 and the listing says to bring your own drinks and snacks. See the Get In Line events page.
Until Sunday 7 June, 10.30am-5.30pm
Bowood Woodland Garden
Bowood's Woodland Garden remains open for its short flowering season, with last admission at 4.30pm. It is one of the most local bank-holiday options for a walk without heading into town. Book through the Bowood Woodland Garden page.
Sunday 24 May, 9.30-10.30am
Park Yoga at Calne Recreation Ground
The free Sunday outdoor yoga session is the nearest recurring weekend wellness event found this week. It runs at Calne Recreation Ground, Anchor Road; look for the large Park Yoga flag. See the Calne Park Yoga page.
What's On
Tuesday 19 May
Handbells at Christ Church, 2.30-4.30pm. Christ Church lists its weekly handbell practice on Tuesday afternoons at the Church Road church. No experience is needed and the charge is £2 a week; see Christ Church services and events.
Wednesday 20 May
Christian Meditation at Christ Church, 6-6.30pm. A quiet half-hour weekly session at Christ Church, open to beginners and people from any faith or none. See the Marden Vale Derry Hill meditation page.
Thursday 21 May
Coffee and Chat at Christ Church, 10.30am-noon. An informal Thursday morning gathering at Christ Church on Church Road. Everyone is welcome to drop in; see Christ Church services and events.
Friday 22 May
Crafternoon at Christ Church, 2-4pm. Bring your own craft activity and spend the afternoon with others at Christ Church. The weekly listing is on Christ Church services and events.
End of Term 5 at Derry Hill School, 3.15pm. Derry Hill School's diary lists the end of Term 5 at 3.15pm on Friday. Monday 1 June is a TD day, with Term 6 starting at 8.45am on Tuesday 2 June; see the school newsletter.
Sunday 24 May
Calne Recreation Ground junior parkrun, 8.50am. The nearest weekly junior parkrun is a free 2k event for ages 4-14 at Calne Recreation Ground. Register before a first visit and bring a barcode; see the junior parkrun page.
Roadworks and Transport
- Church Road and Studley Lane: Road closures are listed from Monday 18 May to Friday 19 June. The signed diversion is via the A342 and A4, and bus passengers should check the temporary stop arrangements before relying on the Church Road village stops.
- A4 between Pewsham Roundabout and the A342 junction: Two-way signals are listed from late Wednesday 20 May to Tuesday 26 May. This is the route many Derry Hill and Studley drivers use for Pewsham, Chippenham and Calne trips, so allow extra time around the bank-holiday weekend.
- The Strand and Calne town-centre approaches: Multi-way signals remain listed on The Strand, with related long-running works also appearing on Church Street, Coxs Hill and New Road. Expect slower trips if you are heading to Calne Library, shops or clubs.
- Quemerford: Stop/go boards are listed from Monday 18 to Wednesday 20 May.
- Old Derry Hill and Devizes Road: Wessex Water entries continue to appear in the generated roadworks feed through mid-June, but the current permits are marked refused or advanced planning. Treat these as routes to watch rather than confirmed public disruption this week.
Planning Watch
- Bethesda Home, Church Road, Derry Hill: Wiltshire is consulting on the discharge of cycle-parking and drainage conditions for the Bethesda Home permission. Read the Wiltshire planning record.