Wick, Devizes

Wick
Wick

 Wick shown within Wiltshire
Population 1,548 (as of 1773)
OS grid reference SU005605
Shire county Wiltshire
Region South West
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town Devizes
Postcode district SN10
Dialling code 01380
Police Wiltshire
Fire Wiltshire
Ambulance Great Western
EU Parliament South West England
UK Parliament Devizes
List of places: UK • England • Wiltshire

Wick is a suburb of Devizes in English county of Wiltshire.

Until around 1800 Wick was a village independent from Devizes, until Devizes eventually expanded up to Wick and was it was made a suburb of Devizes. It is located in the south of Devizes, and lies west off the A360, which passes from Devizes to Salisbury.

Contents

History

There was a Roman settlement at Wick apparently from the 2nd to the 4th century around the area once occupied by Pans Lane halt. There are also faint indications of another settlement on the green, and a cemetery on the site of Southbroom junior school. [1]

Wick is first mentioned in 1249 and is called 'the Weke' in 1542. In 1736–7 the settlement consisted of Upper Wick and Wick. In 1759 the Upper Wick no longer existed. In 1773 Wick was renamed Devizes Wick, the prefix being doubtless added to distinguish it from Potterne Wick and Wick in Rowde. In 1795–6 the hamlet contained between 30 and 33 assessable houses.
Wick was later known for it dairy industry, non of which exists today. [2]

The suburb is home to the Green Lane Hospital, a secure mental hospital.
And the suburb used to have a railway station called Pans Lane halt, which was on the Devizes Branch Line, it was closed in 1964 and destroyed in 1970.

Today

Today Wick is an entirely residential area, including a school and hospital. The original housing was built around the 1900's and most of the new housing was developed in the 50's and 60's. The newest housing development in the Drews Pond area was built in 2007. And today there is little room for any more housing due to the awkward geography that situates Wick on the edge of Devizes hill. It is roughly 1 mile from the centre of town.

Most of the land surrounding Wick is woodland and arable and to the south of Wick is Drews Pond Forest, a popular place for walking.

See also

References