Trowbridge
182547
226138416
2008-07-17T00:07:10Z
Rodhullandemu
5047767
/* Town redevelopment */ corrected caption
{{otherplaces|Trowbridge}}
{{infobox UK place|
|country = England
|official_name= Trowbridge
|population= 28,148<ref name="population">[http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=800774&c=Trowbridge&d=16&e=15&g=498669&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779 Population]: [[Office for National Statistics|Statistics.gov.uk]] website. Retrieved on [[January 25]] [[2008]].</ref>
|shire_district= [[West Wiltshire]]
|shire_county = [[Wiltshire]]
|region= South West England
|constituency_westminster=
|post_town=
|postcode_district =
|postcode_area=
|dial_code=
|os_grid_reference=ST8557
|latitude= 51.3167
|longitude= -2.2167
}}
'''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,<ref name =guid">Town Official Guide, Trowbridge TOwn Council, 2008</ref><ref name="straburg">[http://www.strum.co.uk/twilight/trow2.htm Origins of the name Trowbridge]: ''Strum.co.uk'' website. Retrieved on [[January 25]] [[2008]].</ref>
while another source states that the true meaning is the bridge by ''Trowle'', the name of a hamlet and a [[Common land|common]] to the west of the town.<ref>{{cite book
| last = Lewis
| first = Harold
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title = The Church Rambler, Volume 2
| publisher = Hamilton, Adams & Co.
| date = 1978
| location =
| pages = 199-226
| url =
| doi =
| id =
| isbn = }}
</ref>
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 coalfield]]s. Trowbridge has a [[Trowbridge railway station|railway station]] on the [[Wessex Main Line]]. The [[civil parish]] of Trowbridge had a population of 28,148 according to the 2001 census, making it the largest town in the county, after the city of Salisbury.<ref name="population" /> Neighbouring towns and villages include [[Bradford on Avon]], [[Westbury, Wiltshire|Westbury]], [[Melksham]], [[Devizes]], [[Hilperton]], [[Southwick, Wiltshire|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.<ref name="straburg" />
===Castle===
The first mention of Trowbridge Castle was in 1139 <ref>[http://www.localauthoritypublishing.co.uk/councils/trowbridge/history.html First mention of Trowbridge Castle]: ''Local Authority Publishing'' website. Retrieved on [[January 25]] [[2008]].</ref> 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]]. <!-- "The site of the castle is now home to the Trowbridge [[Museum]]" - disagree geographically, given that Fore Street forms the line of the old castle ditch. Soon after this happened I became KING! -->
===Wool industry===
From the 13th century onwards Trowbridge developed a clothing industry, increasingly becoming [[industrialisation|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 [[luddite|luddism]] due to the introduction of the [[flying shuttle]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.historycooperative.org/journals/llt/55/horn.html | title = Machine-breaking in England and France during the Age of Revolution | accessdate = 2008-03-16}}</ref> Prior to this, local man [[Thomas Helliker]], a shearman who cropped woolen fabric by hand became one of the martyrs of the [[Industrial Revolution]] when his refusal to condemn the burning of a mechanised local woollen mill earned him the enmity of the local JP and mill-owner, who as good as his word, saw Helliker hanged at Salisbury. Nevertheless at one point in 1820 it 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]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.trowbridge.gov.uk/business.asp?id=222 | title = Economic History | accessdate = 2008-03-16}}</ref>
The wool industry went into decline in the late 19th century with the advent of ring-spinning and this decline continued throughout the 20th century — the last [[mill (factory)|mill]] closed in 1982 and is now the home of Trowbridge [[Museum]], dedicated to the history of the town and its former industry.<ref>''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.</ref>
===1800s to present===
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|Bowyers]], became one of the largest employers in the town until closure in April 2008 was announced, with production moving to the [[Nottingham]] branch. The brewing company Ushers opened in Trowbridge 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. One of the oldest established businesses in Trowbridge is Knees Department Store (Est.1879), a local family firm with premises in the town centre. The largest employers in the town are [[Wiltshire County Council]], [[Vodafone]] and [[Virgin Mobile UK|Virgin Mobile]].
==Architecture==
[[Image:Town Hall, Trowbridge.jpg|thumb|left|300|Trowbridge Town Hall, as seen from Fore Street]]
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. In the churchyard of St James one can see the memorial tombstone of [[Thomas Helliker]]. The Town Hall is in Market Street, opposite the entrance to the pedestrianised Fore Street. This "imposing building" (shown left) was presented to the residents of the town by a local businessman, Sir William Roger Brown, in 1889, to celebrate [[Victoria of the United Kingdom|Queen Victoria]]'s fiftieth year on the throne.<ref>[http://www.localauthoritypublishing.co.uk/councils/trowbridge/architecture.html Architecture - Trowbridge Town Hall]: ''Local Authority Publishing'' website. Retrieved on [[January 25]] [[2008]].</ref> In 2007, it failed to be approved for a [[Heritage Lottery Fund]] grant of £45,000 after the previous year's Council Tax precept had been raised in anticipation of refurbishments being carried out.<ref>[http://archive.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/2007/8/29/336412.html Town Hall refurbishment] and lost Lottery funding: [[Swindon Advertiser]] newspaper article. Retrieved on [[February 7]] [[2008]].</ref> It is currently used for military<ref>[http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/search/display.var.1439343.0.will_town_hall_revamp_be_axed.php Town Hall used for military inquests]: [[Wiltshire Times]] article. Retrieved on [[February 7]] [[2008]].</ref> and other inquests.<ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/new-mother-unlawfully-killed-by-blunder-778223.html Other inquests also at the Town Hall]: [[The Independent]] newspaper article. Retrieved on [[February 7]] [[2008]].</ref>
==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 to the Town Park, which is also home to the tourist information kiosk.<ref>[http://www.trowbridge.gov.uk/business.asp?id=225 Shopping in Trowbridge]: ''Trowbridge Community Website''. Retrieved on [[January 25]] [[2008]].</ref>
==Local news==
Several newspapers are produced and published in Trowbridge, the most popular being the [[Wiltshire Times]].<ref>[http://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/aboutus/titles/wiltshiretimes/ Wiltshire Times local newspaper]: [[Gazette and Herald]] website. Retrieved on [[January 25]] [[2008]].</ref>
The ancient town market was formerly held on Wednesdays and Saturdays in a Victorian covered hall, memorable for the pipgeons flying aroud inside it and the colourful stalls, some sporting advertising posters of a girl in a wet T-shirt holding an orange, captioned "Small Ones Are More Juicy," next to the Town Hall but was relocated to a site underneath the car-park and cinema complex. Westbury-based clothes retailer Kevin's Menswear was a regular stall-holder there and for many years was the only place in Trowbridge where Levi's could be found.
==Entertainment and pubs==
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.
==Trowbridge residents==
Trowbridge has the highest population of [[Morocco|Moroccans]] in the [[United Kingdom|UK]] outside of [[London]].<ref>[http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/trowbridgenews/display.var.934213.0.backing_for_link_to_morocco.php Highest Moroccan population in UK]: Wiltshire Times website. Retrieved on [[January 25]] [[2008]].</ref>
Trowbridge was the birthplace of [[Sir Isaac Pitman]], developer of the [[Pitman Shorthand]] system of [[shorthand]] writing.<ref>[http://www.nndb.com/people/917/000095632/ Sir Isaac Pitman], born in Trowbridge: [[NNDB]] website. Retrieved on [[January 25]] [[2008]].</ref> 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]].<ref>[http://www.carling.com/beerfinder/venue_details/8208/trowbridge/Sir%20Isaac%20Pitman The "Sir Isaac Pitman" pub] ([[Wetherspoon]]'s): [[Carling]].com website. Retrieved on [[January 25]] [[2008]].</ref> [[Matthew Hutton (Archbishop of Canterbury)]] was the town's Rector from 1726 to 1730.<ref>[http://www.pisle.com/troweb/ttc/museum.htm Matthew Hutton, Archbishop of Canterbury], town's rector: ''Troweb'' website. Retrieved on [[January 25]] [[2008]].</ref> The poet [[George Crabbe]] held the same position from 1814 until his death in 1832.<ref>[http://www.britainunlimited.com/Biogs/Crabbe.htm George Crabbe, poet] and rector of Trowbridge: ''Britain Unlimited'' website. Retrieved on [[January 25]] [[2008]].</ref>
[[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.<ref>[http://www.trowbridgemuseum.co.uk/cloth/fin_fuller.html John Dyer] and the fulling machine: ''Trowbridge Museum'' website. Retrieved on [[January 25]] [[2008]].</ref>
Sir [[William Cook (nuclear scientist)|William Cook]] [[Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath|KCB]] [[Knight Bachelor|Kt]] [[Fellow of the Royal Society#Fellowship|FRS]], born in Trowbridge on [[April 10]] [[1905]], was involved with the development of the British [[Nuclear weapon|nuclear bomb]] at [[Aldermaston]] in the 1950s, becoming the establishment's [[deputy]] [[Director-general|director]].<ref>[http://www.localauthoritypublishing.co.uk/councils/trowbridge/facts.html Sir William Cook KCB Kt FRS], notable resident: ''Local Authority Publishing'' website. Retrieved on [[January 25]] [[2008]].</ref>
===Other notable Trowbridge residents===
*[[Janet Anderson]], [[Member of Parliament|MP]] for [[Rossendale and Darwen (UK Parliament constituency)|Rossendale and Darwen]]
*[[Stephen Lee]], professional [[snooker]]-player
*[[Solomon Andrews (Pwllheli)|Solomon Andrews]], entrepreneur
*[[Christopher Benjamin]], actor
*[[Alan Bullock]], historian, author of "Hitler: A Study in Tyranny"
*[[Humphrey Burton]], broadcaster and biographer
*[[Keri Davies]], [[radio producer]] and [[scriptwriter]], [[The Archers]]
*[[Nathan Dyer]], footballer for [[Southampton FC]]
*[[George Haden]], [[inventor]] of heating and ventilation systems
*[[Lewis Haldane]], footballer
*Trevor Heeks, past winner of the World [[Town Crier]] Championship<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.trowbridge.gov.uk/viewcontent.asp?id=114 | title = Town Crier | accessdate= 2008-06-15}}</ref>
*[[Thomas Helliker]], [[trade union]] martyr, hanged 1803 as a suspected [[Luddite]]
*[[Gemma Hunt]], television presenter
*[[Joan M. Hussey]], historian
*[[William Mann (cricketer)|William Mann]], cricketer ([[Worcestershire County Cricket Club|Worcestershire]])
*[[Bel Mooney]], journalist and broadcaster
*[[Christopher Newbury]], member of the [[Congress of the Council of Europe]]
*[[Jamie Pitman]], footballer
*[[William Redfern]], [[surgeon]]
*[[Alan Snow]], author and illustrator of [[Here Be Monsters!]]
*[[David Stratton]], Australian [[film critic]]
==Town redevelopment==
[[Image:BissTrowbridge.jpg|thumb|[[River Biss]] flowing under the Town Bridge, renovated in November 2007]]
Since 2002, there have been plans in place to redevelop significant town centre sites.<ref>[http://www.transformingtrowbridge.org.uk/index/about-transforming-trowbridge.htm Redevelopment plans] (since 2002): ''Transforming Trowbridge'' website. Retrieved on [[January 25]] [[2008]].</ref>
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, known locally as "Mount Crushmore" (''pictured below''). Redevelopment has since suffered through several delayed starts.<ref>[http://archive.salisburyjournal.co.uk/2006/10/5/281458.html "Mount Crushmore"], the remains of the former [[Tesco]] site at St Stephens Place: the [[Salisbury Journal]] website. Retrieved on [[January 25]] [[2008]].</ref> The plans for the site can be viewed by consulting an image made of them.<ref>[http://www.duffy.co.uk/datasheets/TROWBRIDGE.jpg St Stephens Place redevelopment plans]: ''Duffy Group'' website. Retrieved on [[January 25]] [[2008]].</ref>
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)|Vue Cinema]] in the plan for the Waterside complex.<ref>[http://www.westwiltshire.gov.uk/txtonly/index/news/news-article.htm?newsid=25757 Plan for cinema in Trowbridge] (Waterside development): [[West Wiltshire District Council]] website. Retrieved on [[January 25]] [[2008]].</ref> 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.<ref>[http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/latestheadlines/display.var.2101584.0.goahead_for_waterside_project.php "Go-ahead for Waterside project"], County Hall East area, March 2008: Wiltshire Times website. Retrieved on [[March 8]] [[2008]].</ref> In the same week, the Town Council supported plans for [[Waitrose|Waitrose Supermarkets]] to build a store on land at Cradle Bridge/County Way, currently containing a derelict factory, previously occupied by Peter Black Toiletries.<ref>[http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/latestheadlines/display.var.2096624.0.waitrose_plans_win_backing.php "Waitrose plans win backing"], Cradle Bridge, March 2008: Wiltshire Times website. Retrieved on [[March 8]] [[2008]].</ref>
The developer Parkridge is also about to commence construction of a new retail centre between the Shires and the railway station, bringing new names to the town.
The former [[Ushers Best Bitter|Ushers brewery]] site has also been in the process of redevelopment for a number of years. A development of new apartments is underway by Newland Homes and a supermarket and further residential units is planned for the former bottling plant site.<ref>[http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/mostpopular.var.1258369.mostviewed.supermarket_plan_for_ushers_site.php Ushers Brewery site], proposed plans for redevelopment: Wiltshire Times website. Retrieved on [[January 25]] [[2008]].</ref>
<gallery caption="Images of Trowbridge" widths="180px" heights="120px" perrow="3">
Image:PumpkinTower.jpg|Pumpkin Tower (a modern [[folly]]) in Bythesea Road
Image:TrowbridgeSensoryGarden1.jpg|The [[Sensory Garden]] at the end of Trowbridge Town Park
Image:TrowbridgeSensoryGarden2.jpg|"Feelie Board" for [[Braille]] users of the [[Sensory Garden]]
Image:TrowbridgeSensoryGarden3.jpg|Another view of the [[Sensory Garden]], with rear of the Town Hall in background
Image:TrowbridgeWarMemorial2.jpg|The War Memorial in the Town Park
Image:TrowbridgeAlmshouses.jpg|[[Almshouse]]s in Polebarn Road
Image:RiverBissLake.jpg|Lake in the Park
Image:TrowbridgeCountyCourt.jpg|Clark's Mill, now home of the County Court
Image:TrowbridgeBlindHouse.jpg|The "Blind House", overnight [[Village lock-up|lock-up]] for drunks, in Wicker Hill
Image:MtCrushmore.jpg|"Mount Crushmore" in St Stephen's Place
Image:TrowbridgeRailwayStation.jpg|Trowbridge Railway Station
Image:HellikerTomb.jpg|[[Thomas Helliker]]'s tomb in St James' churchyard
Image:GeorgeCrabbeMonument.jpg|Monument to [[George Crabbe]] in St James Church
</gallery>
==Town twinning==
*{{flagicon|Morocco}} [[Oujda]], [[Morocco]] (since 2006)<ref name="twinning">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wiltshire/5401592.stm Twin towns] in Germany, France, Poland and Morocco: [[BBC.co.uk]] website. Retrieved on [[January 25]] [[2008]].</ref>
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Leer]], [[Germany]] (since 1989)<ref name="twinning" />
*{{flagicon|France}} [[Charenton-le-Pont]], [[France]] (since 1996)<ref name="twinning" />
*{{flagicon|Poland}} [[Elbląg]], [[Poland]] (as part of [[West Wiltshire]] district twinning, since 2000)<ref name="twinning" />
==See also==
*[[List of places in Wiltshire]]
*[[List of towns in England]]
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
{{commonscat}}
*[http://www.trowbridge.gov.uk/ Town Council website]
*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/content/image_galleries/historic_trowbridge_photos_gallery1.shtml Historic Trowbridge Photos] at [[BBC Wiltshire]]
*[http://www.trowbridgefestival.com/ Trowbridge Village Pump Festival website]
*[http://www.westwiltshire.gov.uk/ West Wiltshire District Council website]
*[http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/ Wiltshire County Council website]
*[http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/community/getcom.php?id=228/ Trowbridge history (Wiltshire County Council)]
*[http://www.swimtrowbridge.co.uk Trowbridge Swimming Club Website]
*[http://www.transformingtrowbridge.org.uk Trowbridge Redevelopment Website]
{{Wiltshire}}
[[Category:County towns in England]]
[[Category:Towns in Wiltshire]]
[[Category:West Country Carnival]]
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