Jump to content

Trowbridge: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Simple Bob (talk | contribs)
15,029 edits
Reverted 1 edit by Kubiakcreative; Revert COI/spam - http://news.kubiakcreative.com/2010/08/new-website-shires-shopping-centre.html. (TW)
Line 89: Line 89:


==Entertainment and communications==
==Entertainment and communications==
[http://www.arctheatre.org.uk The Arc Theatre](West Wiltshire's playhouse, based in Trowbridge is at the cutting edge of exciting new theatre and dance, bringing original and innovative performances from around the world to the town.

Trowbridge is part of the historic [[West Country Carnival]] circuit, and has also given its name to the [[Trowbridge Village Pump Festival]]. The Festival was originally held in the old stablehouse of The Lamb Inn public house on Mortimer Street in Trowbridge, and was founded by Alan Briars and Dave Newman, although the event is now held at Stowford Manor farm between [[Wingfield, Wiltshire|Wingfield]] near Trowbridge and [[Farleigh Hungerford]] in [[Somerset]].
Trowbridge is part of the historic [[West Country Carnival]] circuit, and has also given its name to the [[Trowbridge Village Pump Festival]]. The Festival was originally held in the old stablehouse of The Lamb Inn public house on Mortimer Street in Trowbridge, and was founded by Alan Briars and Dave Newman, although the event is now held at Stowford Manor farm between [[Wingfield, Wiltshire|Wingfield]] near Trowbridge and [[Farleigh Hungerford]] in [[Somerset]].


Revision as of 10:34, 12 August 2010

For other uses, see Trowbridge (disambiguation).
Trowbridge
Trowbridge Town Hall, as seen from Fore Street
Population28,163 [1]
OS grid referenceST8557
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townTrowbridge
Postcode districtBA14
Dialling code01225
PoliceWiltshire
FireDorset and Wiltshire
AmbulanceSouth Western
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Wiltshire

Trowbridge is the county town of Wiltshire, England, situated on the River Biss in the west of the county, approximately 12 miles (19 km) southeast of Bath, Somerset. The origin of the name is uncertain; one source claims derivation from treow-brycg, meaning "Tree Bridge", referring to the first bridge over the Biss,[2][3] while another states that the true meaning is the bridge by Trowle, the name of a hamlet and a common to the west of the town.[4]

The Kennet and Avon canal runs to the north of Trowbridge and played a large part in the development of the town as it allowed coal to be transported from the Somerset coalfields. Trowbridge has a railway station on the Wessex Main Line. The civil parish of Trowbridge had a population of 28,163 at the 2001 census, making it the third largest settlement in the county after the town of Swindon and the city of Salisbury.[1] Neighbouring towns and villages include Bradford on Avon, Westbury, Melksham, Devizes, Hilperton, Southwick and Semington.

History

Ancient history and the Domesday Book

There is evidence that the land on which Trowbridge is built was being farmed more than 3,000 years ago. In the 10th century there is clear evidence of Trowbridge's existence and in the Domesday Book the village of Straburg, as Trowbridge was then known, was recorded as having 100 residents.[3]

Castle

The first mention of Trowbridge Castle was in 1139 [5] while it was besieged – so it must have been built before this.

The castle is thought to have been a motte-and-bailey castle, and its influences can still be seen in the town today. Fore Street follows the path of the castle ditch, and its name is given to Castle Street and the Castle Place Shopping Centre.

Wool industry

From the 13th century onwards Trowbridge developed a clothing industry, increasingly becoming industrialised from the 17th century onwards. However increasing mechanisation was resisted by workers in traditional trades and there were riots in 1785, 1792 and in the era of luddism due to the introduction of the flying shuttle.[6] Thomas Helliker, a shearman's apprentice, became one of the martyrs of the Industrial Revolution in 1803 when he was hanged at Salisbury. Nevertheless at one point in 1820 Trowbridge was being described as the "Manchester of the West" as it had over 2,000 wool-producing factories, comparable to Northern industrial towns such as Rochdale.[7] The wool industry declined in the late 19th century with the advent of ring-spinning and this decline continued throughout the 20th century. The last mill, Salter's Home Mill, closed in 1982 and is now the home of Trowbridge Museum,[8] integrated into The Shires Shopping Centre. Clark's Mill is now home to offices and the County Court; straddling the nearby River Biss is "The Handle House", formerly used for drying and storage of teazles used to raise the nap of cloth. This is one of very few such buildings still known to exist in the United Kingdom.[9]

1800s to present

The Virgin hot-air balloon flying over Trowbridge on 21 July 2008

In its place a bedding industry developed, initially using wool cast off from the mills – the company now known as Airsprung Furniture Group PLC was started in the town in the 1870s. Food production also developed in the town when Abraham Bowyer started his business in 1805 which eventually, as Pork Farms Bowyers, became one of the largest employers in the town until closure in April 2008 was announced, with production moving to both the Shaftesbury and Nottingham]] factory. The brewing company Ushers of Trowbridge opened in 1824, and developed the brewery in the town – this was finally shut in 2000 following several changes of ownership. For many years the centre of Trowbridge smelled strongly of the brewer's mash on one day of the week, while on another the squeals of pigs being slaughtered provided a steady background noise. Food production continues in the town, with Apetito. The largest employers in the town are Wiltshire County Council, apetito, Vodafone, Virgin Mobile and PB Beauty Ltd.

Architecture

There is much of architectural interest in Trowbridge, including many of the old buildings associated with the textile industry, and the Newtown conservation area, a protected zone of mostly Victorian houses. The Town Hall is in Market Street, opposite the entrance to the pedestrianised Fore Street. This "imposing building" was presented to the residents of the town by a local businessman, Sir William Roger Brown in 1889, to celebrate Queen Victoria's fiftieth year on the throne.[10] It is currently used for military and other inquests.[11][12]

Shopping and other facilities

The town centre is compact, and the focus for shops is the ancient Fore Street; the more modern Shires and Castle Place shopping centres provide a wide variety of outlets. The Civic Hall, a conference and entertainment venue, is next to the Town Park, which is also home to the tourist information kiosk.[13]

Changes in Trowbridge's population 1801 - 2001

Population

The first official census of 1801 showed Trowbridge having 5,799 inhabitants, while the most recent of 2001 lists 28,163. No census was taken in 1941 due to the Second World War. Since 1951, the population has increased by 103%.[1] Trowbridge has the highest population of Moroccans in the UK outside of London.[14]

Government

Trowbridge is within the Westbury parliamentary constituency and represented by Andrew Murrison (Conservative). The Boundary Commission has announced changes to the constituency, and in 2009-2010 it will become South West Wiltshire.

Main Wiltshire County Council building in Bythesea Road

It is the centre for Wiltshire Council, a unitary authority created in April 2009 which replaced (for relevant purposes) West Wiltshire District Council and the former Wiltshire County Council.

The Town Council is the lowest level of government.[15]

Entertainment and communications

The Arc Theatre(West Wiltshire's playhouse, based in Trowbridge is at the cutting edge of exciting new theatre and dance, bringing original and innovative performances from around the world to the town.

Trowbridge is part of the historic West Country Carnival circuit, and has also given its name to the Trowbridge Village Pump Festival. The Festival was originally held in the old stablehouse of The Lamb Inn public house on Mortimer Street in Trowbridge, and was founded by Alan Briars and Dave Newman, although the event is now held at Stowford Manor farm between Wingfield near Trowbridge and Farleigh Hungerford in Somerset.

Trowbridge Town F.C. is the local football club, based at North Bradley near Trowbridge. They are currently members of the Hellenic Football League Division One West.

Notable Trowbridge residents

Trowbridge was the birthplace of Sir Isaac Pitman, developer of the Pitman Shorthand system of shorthand writing.[16] He is remembered in the town through several memorial plaques, and his name has been taken by a pub in the town centre run by Wetherspoons.[17] Matthew Hutton (Archbishop of Canterbury) was the town's Rector from 1726 to 1730.[18] The poet George Crabbe held the same position from 1814 until his death in 1832.[19]

John Dyer was a Trowbridge born inventor and engineer whose most important invention was the rotary fulling machine in 1833. A version of the machine, developed for the local woollen industry, is still in use today.[20]

Sir William Cook KCB Kt FRS, born in Trowbridge on April 10, 1905, was involved with the development of the British nuclear bomb at Aldermaston in the 1950s, becoming the establishment's deputy director.[21]

Town redevelopment

River Biss flowing under the Town Bridge, renovated in November 2007
Holy Trinity Church on Stallard Street in March 2005

Since 2002, there have been plans in place to redevelop significant town centre sites.[23]

In the early 1990s the supermarket chain Tesco changed location from their site at St Stephens Place to a site adjoining the A361 on County Way. The previous site has been dormant since being demolished some years ago, and has become notorious for its extremely large mound of crushed concrete and other remains (pictured below). Redevelopment has since suffered through several delayed starts.

Trowbridge residents have frequently voiced their desire for new facilities to be built on the site, with reference often made to Trowbridge's lack of a cinema. Developers Modus have now signed up to provide a Vue Cinema in the plan for the Waterside complex.[24] And in March 2008, an outline planning application for the proposed development was approved by West Wiltshire District Council, to include a new library, cinema, ten-pin bowling, hotel and restaurants.[25] In the same week, the Town Council supported plans for Waitrose Supermarkets to build a store on land at Cradle Bridge/County Way, currently containing a derelict factory, previously occupied by the Peter Black Group.[26]

The developer Parkridge has also commenced construction of a new retail centre between the Shires and the railway station, bringing new names to the town such as Next and Brantano.

The former Ushers brewery site has also been in the process of redevelopment for a number of years. A development on the old Ushers brewing site is well underway by Newland Homes, building high quality town centre apartments, incorporating the old frontage of the Ushers brewery.

In April 2009 building work started on one of the towns biggest brownfield sites, the former Ushers bottling plant. This site is being developed into a Sainsbury supermarket, bars and restaurants, public square and housing. This is due to be complete by May 2010.[27]

  • Buildings associated with the textile industry
  • Clark's Mill, now home of the County Court
    Clark's Mill, now home of the County Court
  • Clark's Mill from Wicker Hill
    Clark's Mill from Wicker Hill
  • The Handle House adjacent to Clarks Mill
    The Handle House adjacent to Clarks Mill
  • Ashton Mill, once a major employer
    Ashton Mill, once a major employer
  • Salter's Mill, now the centrepiece of The Shires Shopping Centre
    Salter's Mill, now the centrepiece of The Shires Shopping Centre
  • Trowbridge Town Park
  • The Sensory garden at the end of Trowbridge Town Park
    The Sensory garden at the end of Trowbridge Town Park
  • "Feelie Board" for Braille users of the sensory garden
    "Feelie Board" for Braille users of the sensory garden
  • Another view of the sensory garden, with rear of the Town Hall in background
    Another view of the sensory garden, with rear of the Town Hall in background
  • The War Memorial in the Town Park
    The War Memorial in the Town Park
  • Lake in the Park
    Lake in the Park
  • Other images of Trowbridge
  • Pumpkin Tower (a modern folly) in Bythesea Road
    Pumpkin Tower (a modern folly) in Bythesea Road
  • Almshouses in Polebarn Road
    Almshouses in Polebarn Road
  • The "Blind House", overnight lock-up for drunks, in Wicker Hill
    The "Blind House", overnight lock-up for drunks, in Wicker Hill
  • St Stephen's Place
    St Stephen's Place
  • Trowbridge Railway Station
    Trowbridge Railway Station
  • Thomas Helliker's tomb in St James' churchyard
    Thomas Helliker's tomb in St James' churchyard
  • Monument to George Crabbe in St James Church
    Monument to George Crabbe in St James Church
  • Virgin Mobile UK headquarters at White Horse Park
    Virgin Mobile UK headquarters at White Horse Park

Town twinning

Trowbridge is twinned with four towns: Oujda in Morocco since 2006,[28] Trowbridge was the first English town to twin with an Arab Muslim country.[14] Leer in Germany since 1989,[28] Charenton-le-Pont in France since 1996,[28] and Elbląg in Poland, as part of West Wiltshire district twinning, since 2000.[28]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Wiltshire County Council - Wiltshire Community History Get Population/Census Information". www.wiltshire.gov.uk. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
  2. ^ Town Official Guide, Trowbridge Town Council, 2008
  3. ^ a b Origins of the name Trowbridge: Strum.co.uk website. Retrieved on January 25, 2008.
  4. ^ Lewis, Harold (1978). The Church Rambler, Volume 2. Hamilton, Adams & Co. pp. 199–226.
  5. ^ First mention of Trowbridge Castle: Local Authority Publishing website. Retrieved on January 25, 2008.
  6. ^ "Machine-breaking in England and France during the Age of Revolution". Retrieved 2008-03-16.
  7. ^ "Economic History". Retrieved 2008-03-16.
  8. ^ The Trowbridge Woollen Industry as Illustrated by the Stock Books of John and Thomas Clark, 1804-1824, John Clark & Thomas Clark & R. P. Beckinsale, Wiltshire Record Society/Biddles Ltd, 1973.
  9. ^ "Wiltshire History Questions Search Results". 26 April 2007. Retrieved 2008-10-22.; although another example can be fount at Bowlish near Shepton Mallet.
  10. ^ Architecture - Trowbridge Town Hall: Local Authority Publishing website. Retrieved on January 25, 2008.
  11. ^ Town Hall used for military inquests: Wiltshire Times article. Retrieved on February 7, 2008
  12. ^ Other inquests also at the Town Hall: The Independent newspaper article. Retrieved on February 7, 2008
  13. ^ Shopping in Trowbridge: Trowbridge Community Website. Retrieved on January 25, 2008.
  14. ^ a b "Backing For Link To Morocco (from Wiltshire Times)". www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk. 22 September 2006. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
  15. ^ "Trowbridge Community Website". www.trowbridge.gov.uk. Retrieved 2009-05-09.
  16. ^ Sir Isaac Pitman, born in Trowbridge: NNDB website. Retrieved on January 25, 2008.
  17. ^ The "Sir Isaac Pitman" pub (Wetherspoon's): Carling.com website. Retrieved on January 25, 2008.
  18. ^ Matthew Hutton, Archbishop of Canterbury, town's rector: Troweb website. Retrieved on January 25, 2008.
  19. ^ George Crabbe, poet and rector of Trowbridge: Britain Unlimited website. Retrieved on January 25, 2008.
  20. ^ John Dyer and the fulling machine: Trowbridge Museum website. Retrieved on January 25, 2008.
  21. ^ Sir William Cook KCB Kt FRS, notable resident: Local Authority Publishing website. Retrieved on January 25, 2008.
  22. ^ "Town Crier". Retrieved 2008-06-15.
  23. ^ Redevelopment plans (since 2002): Transforming Trowbridge website. Retrieved on January 25, 2008.
  24. ^ Plan for cinema in Trowbridge (Waterside development): West Wiltshire District Council website. Retrieved on January 25, 2008.
  25. ^ "Go-ahead for Waterside project", County Hall East area, March 2008: Wiltshire Times website. Retrieved on March 8, 2008.
  26. ^ "Waitrose plans win backing", Cradle Bridge, March 2008: Wiltshire Times website. Retrieved on March 8, 2008.
  27. ^ Ushers Brewery site, proposed plans for redevelopment: Wiltshire Times website. Retrieved on January 25, 2008.
  28. ^ a b c d Twin towns in Germany, France, Poland and Morocco: BBC.co.uk website. Retrieved on January 25, 2008.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Trowbridge.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Trowbridge&oldid=378516905"