Devizes

Devizes
Market town and civil parish
Market Place
Arms of Devizes
Devizes Location within Wiltshire
Population	16,834 (2021 Census)[1]
OS grid reference	SU0061
Civil parish	Devizes
Unitary authority	Wiltshire
Ceremonial county	Wiltshire
Region	South West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Devizes
Postcode district	SN10
Dialling code	01380
Police	Wiltshire
Fire	Dorset and Wiltshire
Ambulance	South Western
UK Parliament	Melksham and Devizes
Website	Town Council
List of places UK England Wiltshire 51°21′10″N 01°59′45″W / 51.35278°N 1.99583°W / 51.35278; -1.99583

Devizes (/dɪˈvaɪzɪz/) is a market town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. It developed around Devizes Castle, an 11th-century Norman castle,^[2] and received a charter in 1141. The castle was besieged during the Anarchy, a 12th-century civil war between Stephen of England and Empress Matilda, and again during the English Civil War when the Cavaliers lifted the siege at the Battle of Roundway Down and the Parliamentarian Army of the West under Sir William Waller was routed.^[3] Devizes remained under Royalist control until 1645, when Oliver Cromwell attacked and forced the Royalists to surrender. The castle was destroyed in 1648 on the orders of Parliament, and today little remains of it.

From the 16th century Devizes became known for its textiles, and by the early 18th century it held the largest corn market in the West Country, constructing the Corn Exchange in 1857. In the 18th century, brewing, curing of tobacco, and snuff-making were established. The Wadworth Brewery was founded in the town in 1875.

Standing at the west edge of the Vale of Pewsey, Devizes is about 10.5 miles (16.9 km) southeast of Chippenham and 11 miles (18 km) north-east of the county town of Trowbridge. The town has nearly five hundred listed buildings, some notable churches, a town hall and a green in the centre.