Trowbridge

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For other places with the same name, see Trowbridge (disambiguation).

Map sources for Trowbridge at grid reference ST8557

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

1 Location
2 History
3 Architecture
4 Entertainment
5 Individuals associated with Trowbridge
6 Pubs in Trowbridge
7 Issues of Violent Crime
8 Town twinning
9 See also
10 References
11 External links

[edit] Location

Trowbridge is situated on the River Biss in the west of the county, just south of an ancient stone age burial ground, which some believe is the cause for the high number of random accidents that its citizens endure. The town is situated about ten miles South East of Bath. Neighbouring towns and villages include Bradford on Avon, Westbury, Melksham, Devizes, Hilperton and Semington. 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Entertainment

The town currently lacks any entertainment or Leisure facilities for its residents. There is no Cinema, Bowling alley, ice rink etc. There is also a lack of quality restaurants, bar the obligatory Chinese and Indian. You can find a series of old and worn public taverns, but only one "night club" an alternative music venue frequented by 16-24 olds.

The town is part of the historic West Country Carnival circuit.

The town has given it's name to the Trowbridge Village Pump Festival although the event is actually held at Stowford Manor farm between Wingfield near Trowbridge and Farleigh Hungerford in Somerset.

[edit] Individuals associated with Trowbridge

Trowbridge was the birthplace of Sir Isaac Pitman, developer of the Pitman system of shorthand writing. Today, his contribution is celebrated in the town through several memorial plaques - and also by the JD Wetherspoon's pub known as the "Isaac Pitman", and situated in the old Market House. Another more recent famous person to come from Trowbridge is the moderately successful professional snooker player Stephen Lee, ranked 10th in the world snooker championships (2005). His career developed whilst playing snooker in Trowbridge's (slightly infamous) snooker club. The town also boasts world champion town crier Trevor Heeks among its residents

[edit] Pubs in Trowbridge

Trowbridge town centre has a range of late-night drinking establishments, although only one dedicated night-club. There are several chain pubs including J.D.Wetherspoon's "Sir Isaac Pitman". The town centre has developed a reputation for rowdy youths on a Friday or Saturday night, which has been partly attributed to a lack of anything else for them to do.

There are rail connections to Bradford on Avon, Westbury and Bath, widening access to pubs, clubs and restaurants, meaning you can live in Trowbridge and escape easily to more cultured surrounds. It is however worth noting that services to these destinations can be infrequent especially in the evening and Sundays.

[edit] Issues of Violent Crime

Trowbridge resides in a county that is the second safest in the country according to a report in the Wiltshire Times 28/07/06. Further information in the report details that "Wiltshire had the highest percentage increase in total recorded crime and violent crime in the South West." It is this information that more reflects the recent spate of violent crimes that have occurred in the town and is a contradiction to the county as a whole. An increase of 23% in violent crime from 2004/2005 to this year raises the greatest concern amongst a series of increases in crimes across the county. (Total crime up 5%) (Drug and other offences up 16%) (Criminal damage up 7%) (Crime figures featured in Wiltshire times Friday July 28th). An audit by the Wiltshire Police Authority^[1] gave statistics to show that, for 2002/2003, the Adcroft area of Trowbridge had the highest violent crime rate in West Wiltshire, a rate which was 3 times higher than the next highest area. Total crime for the Adcroft area, also the highest crime rate in West Wiltshire, was 10 times higher than the Woodrow area of Melksham, which had the least crime.

The town has had a series of high profile violent crimes that have reached national attention one of which being the murder of pregnant Hayley Richards in 2005.^[2] Another crime to reach national attention was the case of a 15 year-old boy who shot three people with an airgun on the 8th June 2006. The police eventually arrested the boy and 4 other people.^[3]

Most recently Paul Mills was on the end of a vicious attack that sees him in a critical condition with life threatening head injuries.

It should however be noted that compared with larger urban settlements Trowbridge does not suffer crime levels comparable. However, for a small/medium sized town the problems are considerable. ^[4] Other recent incidents include a man being attacked and stabbed with scissors,^[5] armed robbery^[6] and arson.^[7]