Devizes

Devizes
Market town and civil parish
Arms of Devizes
Devizes is located in Wiltshire
Devizes
Devizes
Location within Wiltshire
Population16,834 (2021 Census)[1]
OS grid referenceSU0061
Civil parish
  • Devizes
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townDevizes
Postcode districtSN10
Dialling code01380
PoliceWiltshire
FireDorset and Wiltshire
AmbulanceSouth Western
UK Parliament
WebsiteTown 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 (/dɪˈvzɪz/) 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.

  1. ^ "Devizes (Parish) (E04012689)". citypopulation.de. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  2. ^ Devizes Heritage: The Green and Crammer Archived 25 April 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "Battle, Roundway Down 1643". 28 February 2012. Archived from the original on 28 February 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2024.