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  1. stonehenge at twilight
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You are here: Home > Things To Do > History & Heritage

Wiltshire History & Heritage

With a history spanning over 10,000 years, Wiltshire has been a special place for a very long time. History in Wiltshire is not just ancient, come today and you can walk through time.

Probably the most iconic of Wiltshire’s sites is of course Stonehenge. To this day there is still a mystery as to the reasons behind the site and how the stones were transported from as far away as Wales.

Further north is Avebury, the largest stone circle in the world. Dating from around 4,500 years ago, Avebury together with Stonehenge form part of the World Heritage Site.

The Battle of Edington in 878AD was a major victory for Alfred the Great over the Vikings led by Guthrum. The victory was decisive, forcing Guthrum to withdraw from Wessex and agree to the division of England. The Three Daggers in Edington offers opportuities to explore the battlefield and provides guides and talks as well. 

Discover Salisbury’s 13th century Cathedral which boasts the tallest spire in Britain, the medieval village of Lacock with its Abbey and historic towns such as Malmesbury and Bradford on Avon and Wiltshire's county town, Trowbridge.

Visit one of our stately homes ranging from the Elizabethan Longleat House, Wilton House with its Tudor origins, Palladian-style Lydiard House and the Merchant’s House in Marlborough, the house of a prosperous silk mercer. Explore some of Wiltshire’s ecclesiastical heritage in some of our historic churches that open to the public.

During the industrial revolution, the Kennet & Avon Canal was created linking Bristol to Reading by water. The canal although no longer used for industrial reasons is still a very thriving place and is the perfect spot for a stroll or cycle along the tow path. Look out for Crofton Beam Engines near Marlborough and the Caen Hill Locks near Devizes which both form part of the impressive canal. One of the key drivers in the Industrial Revolution was Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Brunel was responsible for developing the Great Western Railway, still celebrated today in Swindon’s STEAM Museum.

Learn more about the history of Wiltshire at the Wiltshire Museum and Salisbury Museum and if you are searching your heritage then the Wiltshire History Centre in Chippenham should be your first point of call. Discover more history on a visit to one of our museums from transport to local history.

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Number of results: 80

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  1. Atwell-Wilson Motor Museum

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    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 148 reviews148 reviews

    Atwell-Wilson Motor Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Museum

    Calne

    Motor museum with vintage, post-vintage and classic cars, including American models. The Museum also houses an impressive collection of Lorries, Motorcycles, Mopeds, Push bikes, a large selection of vehicle manuals and other archive material.

  2. Crofton Beam Engines

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    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 271 reviews271 reviews

    Crofton Beam Engines

    Type

    Type:

    Industrial Archaeology

    Crofton, Marlborough

    Crofton Beam Engines, set in unspoiled Wiltshire countryside close to the old market town of Marlborough, is an ideal spot for exploring the Kennet and Avon Canal, with toilets and a picnic area on site. Access to grounds is free of charge.  There…

  3. The Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum

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    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 136 reviews136 reviews

    The Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Museum

    Salisbury

    The Museum tells the story of the infantryman from the Seven Years War to the present day. On the same site The Rifleman’s Table can provide you with coffee or lunch, and the garden is a place in which to wander or to relax in.

  4. Locomotive 6695 travelling over the river ray bridge

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    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 200 reviews200 reviews

    Swindon and Cricklade Railway

    Type

    Type:

    Steam Railway

    Blunsdon

    Wiltshire's only standard gauge heritage railway! Experience steam or diesel hauled train rides along our 1.75 mile railway line, witness locomotive restoration in our engine shed, visit our museum and gift shop and enjoy food and beverages in our…

  5. Town Hall Museum, Royal Wootton Bassett

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    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 50 reviews50 reviews

    Town Hall Museum Royal Wootton Bassett

    Type

    Type:

    Museum

    Royal Wootton Bassett

    Ever wondered what it was like when Wootton Bassett had its very own train station?

  6. Westonbirt, The National Arboretum

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    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 2842 reviews2842 reviews

    Westonbirt, The National Arboretum

    Type

    Type:

    Country Park/Nature Reserve

    Tetbury

    Arboretum with over 16,000 rare and beautiful trees, all set in 600 glorious, easy-to-stroll Cotswold acres

  7. The Merchant's House Marlborough

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    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 170 reviews170 reviews

    The Merchant's House

    Type

    Type:

    Historic House/Palace

    Marlborough

    The Merchant's House - a glorious restoration of a 17th century silk merchant's house. The 17th century style town garden is a hidden gem...

  8. Chapel Plaister

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    Chapel Plaister Pilgrims Chapel

    Type

    Type:

    Church/Chapel

    Corsham

    The Pilgrims’ Chapel at Chapel Plaister is a tiny, but unique part of our national heritage. It dates back to the 13th Century and stands beside what in previous times, was the principal route to the south west.

  9. Fovant Badges

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    Fovant Badges

    Type

    Type:

    Historic Site

    Salisbury

    Regimental badges carved into the chalk downs above the village of Fovant.

  10. Marlborough White Horse

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    Marlborough White Horse

    Type

    Type:

    Historic Site

    Marlborough

    The Marlborough horse lies in the grounds of Marlborough College and is the smallest horse in Wiltshire. Cut in 1804 by a group of School boys the horse is best seen from the A4.

  11. All Saints' Church

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    All Saints' Church

    Type

    Type:

    Church/Chapel

    Westbury

    All Saints' Church is the Parish church of Westbury. Standing in the centre of the town in a handsome churchyard surrounded by cottages and footpaths at the head of the market place.

  12. Pewsey White Horse

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    Pewsey White Horse

    Type

    Type:

    Historic Site

    Pewsey

    The white horse was cut by volunteers from Pewsey Fire Brigade in 1937 to commemorate the Coronation of George VI. This current horse replaces a lost 18th century one.

  13. Ludgershall Castle

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    Ludgershall Castle and Cross

    Type

    Type:

    Historic Site

    Ludgershall

    The ruins of an early 12th century royal hunting palace and a late medieval cross.

  14. Hackpen White Horse

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    Hackpen White Horse

    Type

    Type:

    Historic Site

    Broad Hinton

    Measuring 90ft by 90ft the Hackpen Hill white horse was carved to commemorate the Coronation of Queen Victoria in 1838. This horse is stiuated just of the Ridgeway path.

  15. Woodhenge, Amesbury

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    Woodhenge

    Type

    Type:

    Historic Site

    Larkhill, Salisbury

    This monument consisted of six concentric rings of timber posts, now marked by concrete stumps, surrounded by a ditch with a bank on the outside.

  16. The Neeld Community & Arts Centre

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    The Neeld Community & Arts Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Arts Centre

    Chippenham

    After a refurbishment and improvement project by Chippenham Town Council in 2015, this beautiful Victorian forum has been transformed into a modern venue with comfortable tiered seating, a brand-new bar area and top-quality sound and light equipment…

  17. Alton Barnes White Horse

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    Alton Barnes White Horse

    Type

    Type:

    Historic Site

    Pewsey

    The Alton Barnes horse was cut in 1812 by Robert Pile on his own land.

  18. The White Horse at Cherhill

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    Cherhill White Horse

    Type

    Type:

    Historic Site

    Calne

    The second oldest of Wiltshire's White Horses, situated on the edge of Cherhill Down, off the A4.

  19. STEAM-City of Truro

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    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 1652 reviews1652 reviews

    STEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway

    Type

    Type:

    Museum

    Swindon

    Get up close to magnificent locomotives, be a signalman in the GWR interactive Signal Box and drive the steam train simulator as you travel through STEAM’s story-telling displays!

    STEAM tells the story of the men and women who built, operated and…

  20. Broad Town White Horse (C) Alison Smith

    Add Broad Town White Horse to your Itinerary

    Broad Town White Horse

    Type

    Type:

    Historic Site

    Broad Town

    A chalk figure white horse measuring 86ft by 61ft situated on the hill to the east of the village of Broad Town was completed in 1863 by a local farmer William Simmonds.

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