Wilton, Wiltshire
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wilton is a town in Wiltshire, (of which it was once the county town), England, with a rich heritage dating back to the Anglo-Saxons. Today it is dwarfed by its larger and more famous neighbour, Salisbury, but still has a range of notable shops and attractions, including Wilton House.
The River Wylye meets the River Nadder at Wilton.
[edit] History
The history of Wilton dates back to the Anglo-Saxons in the 8th century, and by the late 9th century (if not before) it was the capital of 'Wiltunscire', a region within the ancient Kingdom of Wessex. It remained the administrative centre of Wiltshire until the 11th century, however. Wilton was of significant importance to the church, with the founding of Wilton Abbey in 771. A decisive battle against the Danish armies was fought there by King Alfred in 871.
Despite further attacks, Wilton remained a prosperous town, as recorded in the Domesday book. The building of Salisbury Cathedral nearby, however, proved Wilton's downfall, as Salisbury, with a new bridge over the River Avon, provided a convenient bypass around Wilton on the trade routes.
Wilton Abbey was surrendered to Henry VIII in 1539 during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, and in 1541 much of the estate was granted to the Earl of Pembroke, upon which Wilton House was built.
By the 17th century, weaving had become a large trade, and the carpet industry began in 1741, when two French weavers were brought in by Lord Pembroke to teach the locals new techniques. Carpet weaving prospered until 1815, when peace following the Napoleonic wars introduced European competition. The Wilton Royal Carpet Factory was founded at the turn of the century, with the help of Lord Pembroke, to rescue the previous carpet factory that had fallen into financial difficulty. The carpet factory continued to operate until 1995, when it finally closed after a takeover.
Wilton had two railway stations, opened in 1856 (from Westbury) and 1859 (from London), leading to increased prosperity, although both stations are now closed, with the nearest being Salisbury.
[edit] Church of St Mary and St Nicholas
Perhaps the most striking building in the centre of Wilton is the Church of St Mary and St Nicholas, a large church built between 1841 and 1844 at the instigation of the Countess of Pembroke and her son, Baron Herbert of Lea. The church is enormous for its surroundings, representing the wealth of its benefactors, built in Romanesque style, with considerable Byzantine influences.
The most notable feature of the church, at least from the exterior, is the 105ft campanile. Many of the materials used the church's construction was imported from Europe, including marble columns from Italy and 12th and 13th century stained glass from France.
