THE Gazette's feature regarding a thatched cottage in Wood Lane reminded me of a possible and tenuous link with my parents.

They were offered a thatched cottage in Wood Lane for £500 in the 1930s.

However this property was rejected and instead they purchased a pair of cottages in Foghamshire for £500.

Their reluctance to buy anything thatched was due to father's mother's actions which resulted in her accidentally setting fire to the thatched roof of their cottage built on the common in Kington Langley.

As Doreen Wootten relates, after the Wood Lane cottage was demolished four houses were built in its place by a local builder.

My wife's parents purchased one of these immediately and continued to live there for many years.

We ourselves lived there, with them, when we first married, for a few months until our present house was ready to occupy.

We have a few street directories of Chippenham and one shows Mrs Wootten's grandfather, George Neate, listed as living in Wood Lane.

B VINCENT

Eastern Avenue

Chippenham