National Gazetteer (1868) - Box "BOX, a parish, township, and
large village in the hundred and union of Chippenham, in the
county of Wilts, 5 miles to the N. E. of Bath, and 102 miles
from London. It is a station on the Great Western railway, which
here passes through a tunnel, called the Box Tunnel, nearly 2
miles long, and which has a fall of 50 feet in a mile. The
parish is situated in a fine valley, on the great road from Bath
to London, and contains the hamlet of Bog Quarries and several
others. Here are valuable quarries of freestone, called Bath
stone, from being extensively used in that city. It is exported
in large quantities to all parts of the kingdom. The existence
of some mineral springs near the village led to the
establishment of Middle Hill Spa; but the experiment failed, and
the buildings are converted into private dwellings. There are
some brewing and malting establishments. The living is a
vicarage* in the diocese of Gloucester and Bristol, value £400,
in the patronage of the Rev. H.D.C.S.