Press release 13 May 2015
Discover Trowbridge - a vibrant town with a rich heritage
13 May 2015
Situated in west Wiltshire, Trowbridge is a vibrant town with ancient roots.
Wiltshire has been a special place for a very long time, and here in our county towns you can wander through streets where Romans, Normans and Saxons have all left their mark; connecting with the past while appreciating all the town has to offer to modern visitors.
Trowbridge holds a Market Charter dating back to the year 1200 and today offers a well-attended weekly street market every Wednesday, an indoor market Monday – Saturday and a farmers’ markets on the second and fourth Friday of each month.
In 1215 Henry de Bohun, who is depicted in a stained glass window in St James’ Church, held the castle and was one of the English Barons who forced King John to sign the Magna Carta.
This year Trowbridge is celebrating the 800th anniversary with a Magna Carta Liberteas Big Lunch on Sunday 14 June and Magna Carta Medieval Charter Fayre from Friday 24 – Sunday 26 July. The Charter Fayre will feature jousting, falconry, archery, medieval board games and storytelling, music and drama re-creating medieval life in this fascinating town.
Wiltshire is the only county where you can visit a Baron town and see the original and best preserved 1215 Magna Carta, which can be found in the Chapter House of Salisbury Cathedral.
An exciting new exhibition delving into Trowbridge’s Magna Carta past, featuring Lord of the Manor and Magna Carta Baron Henry de Bohun and his stand against King John has recently opened at the Trowbridge Museum.
It includes medieval weaponry, Lego castles, heraldry, pageantry, daily life, food and warfare and a full-sized figure of Henry himself. The Museum will also hold a Medieval History Day on Saturday 30 May. It also houses a nationally significant collection dedicated to woollen cloth production, including working looms.
Trowbridge has a rich textile heritage with a long history of woollen cloth production which began in Anglo-Saxon times and expanded in the 14th century. This left a superb architectural legacy, ranging from the fine 18th-century homes of wealthy clothiers, to the rare Handle House, which was used to dry teasels, and former mill buildings.
The scale of cloth production was once so great the town became known as ‘the Manchester of the West’.
Despite its significant heritage, Trowbridge is still firmly rooted in the present, with leisure facilities and cultural activities to meet the demands of the 21st century. The Civic Centre in St Stephen’s Place runs a programme of events, next door the multi-screen Odeon Cinema offers the latest cinematic blockbusters, adjacent to cafés, hotels and restaurants.
Trowbridge offers a range of shopping experiences with diverse independent retailers, supermarkets and national chains. Nearby Bradford on Avon offers you the opportunity to take a trip in a narrowboat on the Kennet & Avon Canal.
The Town Park hosts events such as the Armed Forces Weekend on Sat 27 & Sun 28 June and Trowbridge Arts Festival which will take place from Friday16 October to Sunday 1 November.
Trowbridge is easily accessible by car and public transport taking 2 ½ hours from London. It offers reasonably priced parking at a number of central car parks. First Great Western from London Paddington via Bath Spa and South West Trains from London Waterloo via Salisbury operate services every 30 minutes to Trowbridge taking around 2 hours.
Visitors staying in and around Trowbridge can choose from a number of excellent hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses. The Polebarn Hotel is a family owned and run boutique style townhouse situated in the heart of Trowbridge, just a short walk from the Civic Centre. Double rooms from £78 per room per night, with breakfast.
Stowford Manor Farm, offers a holiday park camping site in the nearby village of Wingfield on the banks of the river Frome. Showers and toilets are provided and dogs are welcome. Caravan and tent pitches are £14 per night per pitch for 2 people.
The Moonraker, a Grade II Listed Georgian style house dates back 500 years and is full of wooden beams, natural stone and rustic charm. Double rooms from £69, with breakfast.
For further information about places to stay in or near Trowbridge please visit www.visitwiltshire.co.uk/accommodation/trowbridge
ENDS
For further information or to register your interest for a familiarisation visit please contact Florence Wallace, Travel Trade & PR Manager, flowallace@visitwiltshire.co.uk Tel: 01722 341309 or 07436 588860
Note to editors: VisitWiltshire was established in August 2011 and is the official Tourist Board for Wiltshire. It is a private sector membership organisation representing 600 partners. VisitWiltshire's priority is to grow the county's Visitor Economy by raising awareness of the destination and generating additional tourism visits and spend. Wiltshire's Visitor Economy currently generates an estimated £1.5billion and supports over 28,000 jobs.
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