Church Road, Bowood and half-term plans
Published Thursday 21 May 2026
A practical Derry Hill week: Church Road bus changes, the school half-term finish, Bowood, Lansdowne Hall, Calne Library and route warnings.
Top Updates
Church Road closure changes 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 during the works; 33 and X10 passengers are being directed to Studley Cross Roads, while X33 arrangements include the Lansdowne Arms and the stop opposite the pub. Read the Calne News road closure report.
Derry Hill School breaks up on Friday
Term 5 finishes on Friday 22 May, with the half-term week followed by a TD day on Monday 1 June. Term 6 starts on Tuesday 2 June, so school-run routines change after Friday afternoon; the current term-date attachment is linked from the Derry Hill School term dates page.
Bowood is the closest half-term fall-back
Bowood House and Gardens is open through the half-term window, with the Adventure Playground and The Den open 10.30am-5.15pm, and the seasonal Woodland Garden open separately until Sunday 7 June. The Woodland Garden entrance is off the A342 between Derry Hill and Sandy Lane, so check the Church Road and A4 works before setting off; see Bowood's visitor information and Woodland Garden page.
Calne Library shuts for the bank holiday
Most Wiltshire libraries will be closed on Monday 25 May, with mobile libraries also not operating that day. If you use Calne Library for half-term reading, printing or games, plan around the bank holiday and check the Calne Library opening times before travelling.
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 on Petty Lane. Tickets are £8 and the event asks people to bring their own drinks and snacks; see the Get In Line events page.
Until Sunday 7 June, 10.30am-5.30pm
Bowood Woodland Garden
The Woodland Garden is in its short flowering season, with last admission at 4.30pm and dogs welcome on leads. Bowood has a weekly walk download for what is looking good now; book or check details on the Bowood Woodland Garden page.
Tuesday 26 May, 2.30-4.30pm
Free ATB Skate at Calne Skate Bowl
A free ATB Skate session runs at the Skate Bowl on the Tuesday of half term. It is a useful nearby option for older primary children and confident riders; see the Calne Town Council What's On page.
What's On
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.
Board Not Bored at Calne Library, 2.30-4.30pm. Calne Library's Friday games session has board games to play, or you can bring your own. Everyone is welcome and there is no need to book; see the Board Not Bored listing.
Saturday 23 May
Brick Creators' Club at Calne Library, 10am-3pm. The Saturday Brick Creators' Club at Calne Library is for children aged 6-12. It is a handy wet-weather option before the bank holiday closure; see the Calne Town Council What's On page.
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.
Park Yoga at Calne Recreation Ground, 9.30-10.30am. The free Sunday outdoor yoga session continues at Calne Recreation Ground, Anchor Road. Bring a mat or towel and look for the Park Yoga flag; check the Calne News events calendar before travelling.
Wednesday 27 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 28 May
Rhyme Time at Calne Library, 11am. Rhyme Time runs at Calne Library on Thursday morning, with a Quiet Rhymetime also due later that afternoon. Check the Calne News events calendar before travelling, especially after the bank holiday week.
Roadworks and Transport
- Church Road and Studley Lane: The main village closure continues until Friday 19 June. Use the A342 and A4 diversion, and check the temporary bus-stop arrangements before relying on the Church Road village stops.
- A4 between Pewsham Roundabout and the A342 junction: Two-way signals are due from late Wednesday 20 May to Tuesday 26 May. This is a common route for Derry Hill, Studley, Pewsham, Chippenham and Calne trips, so allow extra time across the bank-holiday weekend.
- Calne town-centre approaches: Multi-way signals continue on The Strand, Church Street, Coxs Hill and New Road, with other town-centre entries also appearing around North Street and Church Street. Expect slower journeys if you are heading to Calne Library, shops, clubs or the Recreation Ground.
- Norley Lane and Fishers Brook: Norley Lane is due to close from Wednesday 20 to Wednesday 27 May, with Fishers Brook due to close from Wednesday 20 to Friday 22 May. These are not Derry Hill village roads, but they may catch nearby Calne trips and rural cut-throughs.
- Heddington: A Wessex Water road closure is due in Heddington from Tuesday 26 to Thursday 28 May. Keep it in mind for Devizes-side trips after the bank holiday.
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. It is a technical follow-up rather than a new building proposal, but it is directly on Church Road; read the Wiltshire planning record.