THE Heritage Centre in Chippenham has snapped up a slice of the town's engineering history an Edwardian double barrelled 12 bore breechloading shotgun.

But heritage centre manager Mike Stone has a hurdle to cross before he can display the new find.

"As a museum we have to apply to the police for a licence to hold it here," he said.

The gun was made in Chippenham by local gunsmith James Bakewell Warrilow in around 1905. Warrilow established a gun and cartridge factory in Foundry Lane during the 1880s.

The gun first came to light when museum warden Keith Crowe contacted Bath gunsmith Crudgington's, in his quest to research the history of Warrilow.

To Mr Crowe's astonishment, the dealer was able to track down the shotgun, which was available for purchase.

"It is quite exciting when you find a bit of old Chippenham," said Mr Crowe, who has lived in the town for 40 years.

"You do get a feeling of achievement. It took me about a year to find one and it was a lot of work, making phone calls and writing letters," he said.

Research indicated it had been rebarrelled by Crudgington's, following heavy use.

Mr Crowe alerted the heritage centre and Mr Stone quickly set the wheels in motion to buy the shotgun.

"At around the same time two original lithographs of the Great Western Railway by JC Bourne became available," Mr Stone said.

"We started looking for sponsorship. The response from the public was great."

The Chippenham Civic Society, Calne Civic Society and two local companies made donations.

Mr Stone collected donations when giving talks to local groups.

He said the gun licence should be processed within a few weeks and the weapon would go on display in a secure case in one of the new galleries on the first floor.

The gallery will be entitled Made In Chippenham, featuring artefacts from the town's manufacturing past.

The lithographs, acquired from an antique shop in Bath, will be displayed in an art gallery in the next phase of the heritage centre's development.