Chippenham, town (parish), administrative and historic county ofWiltshire, southwesternEngland. It is located on theRiver Avon (Lower, orBristol, Avon) in the northwestern part of the county.

Chippenham was the site of a royal residence during the Middle Ages and appears inDomesday Book (1086) as acrown manor.St. Andrew’s Church dates from the 12th century. From the 16th century the town was a woolen centre. The road betweenLondon andBath, a major English routeway, crosses theRiver Avon at Chippenham by a stone bridge of 22 arches. Milk distribution and processing now form the town’s main industry; other activities includefood processing, tanning, furniture making, and electrical engineering. Pop. (2001) 28,065; (2011) 35,800.