Pictures of Trowbridge

About Trowbridge

Trowbridge is a historic town crammed with attractive stone buildings. It originated as a settlement along the Biss and flourished from the wool and weaving trades and from these periods there remain many magnificent merchant houses.

The parish church, dedicated to St. James is a handsome church building with a fine spire. It was much restored in Victorian times. George Crabbe, the poet, was rector here from 1814 to 1832, the church has a monument to his memory by E.H. Baily and in the churchyard there is another to Thomas Helliker, leader of riots caused by the arrival of the power loom. Helliker was executed in 1803, aged only 19.

Trowbridge Museum is the place to visit for anyone wishing to learn of the town's history and heritage. It has many enlightening exhibitions, and deals with the history of other local towns. The museum is housed in Salter's Mill, the last of the towns woollen mills, whose doors finally closed in 1982. The museum also serves as a venue for local events.

The town has been Wiltshire's county town since 1893, to many this is somewhat surprising especially as Swindon is by far the largest town in Wiltshire and Salisbury being a cathedral town. However, the reason for the choice has more to do with the landscape of the county and accessibility than anything else!

Compact and charming the town has a host of attractive features. The town bridge still retains the quaint old town "lock-up" and you only have to peer above the shop fronts to see lovely old sash windows set into buildings belonging to yester-year. On one property a civic plaque proudly proclaims that this was the birthplace of Mary Longford, great grandmother of Mary II and Queen Anne. Several of the old streets are little more than alleyways, these bear enchanting names such as Red Hat Lane and Wine Street. Beside the church is lovely Church Walk, along here you can discover the oldest building in the town.

Visitors will find plenty to occupy them in Trowbridge, it has modern shopping, interesting old inns, restaurants and cafe's. The town hosts the Trowbridge Pump Festival, an annual event featuring well known folk singers and bands - this is attended by people from all over the county and is now in its 33rd year.

Several tourist attractions can be found within a short distance of the town, these include three National Trust properties, namely, The Courts, Westfield Manor and Great Chalfield Manor. At nearby Westbury visitors can see the famous chalk carving of the White Horse.