Trowbridge

For the Cardiff district of Trowbridge, see Trowbridge, Cardiff, Wales.

Location within the British Isles

Trowbridge is the county town of Wiltshire, England. The civil parish of Trowbridge had a population of 28,148 according to the 2001 census.

Location

Trowbridge is situated on the River Biss in the west of the county Wiltshire about ten miles South East of Bath. The name of the town comes from a root meaning 'Tree Bridge', referring to the first bridge over the River Biss. The Kennet and Avon canal runs to the north of the town - this played a large part in the development of the town as it allowed coal to be transported from the Somerset coal fields. Trowbridge has a railway station on the Wessex Main Line.

History

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 as, was recorded as having 100 residents.

From the 13th century onwards Trowbridge developed a clothing industry increasingly becoming industrialised from the 17th century onwards; at one point in 1820 it was being described as the "Manchester of the West" as it had 15 factories comparable to Northern industrial towns such as Rochdale. The wool industry went into decline in the late 19th century and continued to decline throughout the 20th century — the last mill closed in 1982 and is now the home of a museum dedicated to the history of the town and its former industry. In its place a bedding industry developed initially using wood 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 which eventually, as Bowyers, became one of the largest employers in the town. 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.

Wiltshire County Council

In 1898 Wiltshire County Council first built offices in the town and as council services developed it expanded. In 1940 Wiltshire County Council opened County Hall and designated Trowbridge the county town of Wiltshire.

Today Trowbridge is also the headquarters of West Wiltshire District Council. The two local authorities together with the town council and companies supplying the councils are the biggest employers in the town.

Architecture

Trowbridge Town Hall, as seen from Fore Street

There is much 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 main street is Fore Street, which has a variety of shops, and there are also the Shires and Castle Place shopping centres. The Civic Hall is adjacent to the town park, where the tourist information kiosk can be found.

Individuals associated with Trowbridge

Trowbridge was the birthplace of Sir Isaac Pitman, developer of the Pitman system of shorthand writing. Another more recent famous person to come from Trowbridge is snooker player Stephen Lee, ranked 10th in the world snooker championships (2005), his snooker career developed whilst playing snooker in Trowbridge's (slightly infamous) snooker club. The town can also boast world champion town crier Trevor Heeks among its residents

Ibiza

In 2000 a local district councillor, Mr. Osborn, famously claimed that Trowbridge 'was just like Ibiza'. This comment drew widespread surprise as Mr. Osborn had never visited Ibiza, and caused some residents to suspect he had never visited Trowbridge either.

Politics

Governance

Trowbridge is in the Westbury Parliamentary constituency and governed by Trowbridge Town Council, West Wiltshire District Council and Wiltshire County Council.

Wiltshire County Council

In 1898 Wiltshire County Council first built offices in the town and as council services developed it expanded. In 1940 Wiltshire County Council opened County Hall and designated Trowbridge the county town of Wiltshire.

Today Trowbridge is also the headquarters of West Wiltshire District Council. The two local authorities together with the town council and companies supplying the councils are the biggest employers in the town.

Neighbouring towns

Neighbouring towns include Bradford on Avon, Westbury, Melksham and Devizes.

External links

• Town Council website
• West Wiltshire District Council website
• Wiltshire County Council website
• Trowbridge history (Wiltshire County Council)

See also

• List of places in Wiltshire
• List of towns in England

Other places called Trowbridge

• Trowbridge Park, Michigan
• Trowbridge Township, Michigan
• Trowbridge, Cardiff, Wales