Trowbridge

Understand

Modern-day Trowbridge is a rather uninspiring mid-sized English town, but one with a surprisingly rich history. The Kennett and Avon canal runs to the north of Trowbridge and played a large part in the development of the town as it allowed coal to be transported from the Somerset Coalfield. The town was an also a major British centre in the textile industry in south west England in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, and was even described in 1820 as "The Manchester of the West". The textile industry is now mostly all long gone, but evidence remains by way of buildings and a decent little local museum.

Getting there

By car From M4 Coming from the east, travelling west get off at junction 17 and take the A350 south. At Semington take the A361 west

By train 1 Trowbridge station is on the Wessex Main Line which runs from Bristol to Southampton.

See

1 Trowbridge Museum, The Shires, Court Street, ☏ +44 1225 751339, [email protected]. Tu-F 10AM-4PM, Sa 10AM-4:30PM. Exhibits here focus mostly on Trowbridge's history as a major British textile town. This was also Isaac Pitman's home town and there is an exhibit about his life and times. Free. (updated Oct 2023) 2 Trowbridge Hospital. Grade II listed building of historic value. (updated Dec 2020)

3 County Hall. Neo-Georgian county hall, completed in 1940. During the Second World War it was covered in camouflage nets because it was feared the newly erected and easily recognisable structure could be a landmark used by German bombers to navigate to Bristol. (updated Dec 2020) 4 The Old Toll House. Grade II listed building. (updated Dec 2020) 5 Zion Chapel. (updated Dec 2020) 6 War Memorial. Memorial for victims of the Second World War. (updated Dec 2020) 7 Trowbridge Cemetery. Historic cemetery with several interesting mausoleums, such as the Kingston And Hastings Mausoleum, and The Brown Mausoleum. Also worth a visit is the Taylor Monument. Free. (updated Dec 2020)

9 Holy Trinity Church. 19th century church based on the Salisbury Cathedral. It's commonly known as the Church of the Roundabout because it is encircled by a one-way traffic system. There is also a 8 war memorial to the south of the church. (updated Dec 2020) 10 St. James Parish Church. 19th century Anglican parish church. (updated Dec 2020) 11 Trowbridge Castle. Motte-and-bailey castle dated to the 12th century, nowadays only a ditch and medieval wall are left of it. (updated Dec 2020) 12 Farleigh Hungerford Castle: see Bradford on Avon for this castle 3 miles west.

Do

Mini Golf Civic Centre

1 Odeon. (updated Dec 2020) 2 Village Pump Festival. Folk music festival that has been held for over 50 years. The music covers a variety of genres from folk and roots to blues, Celtic and Ceilidh with a variety of other entertainment including a family field, with puppetry and story telling. (updated Dec 2020) 3 Public Library, [email protected]. (updated Dec 2020)

Eat

The town has few restaurants. The Assam Indian restaurant is good value and is bring-your-own. The smart cafe La Dolce Vita manages to be sophisticated and homely too, good for families with well behaved children (and adults!).

Town Centre 1 Café Italiano, 5 Mill St, BA14 8BE, ☏ +44 1225 760600. Italian. Small family owned restaurant/cafe. Great food! Good prices. (updated Sep 2015) 2 Tale of Spice, 51-52 Castle Street, BA14 8AU, ☏ +44 1225 776591. Indian restaurant. Local chain (updated Sep 2015)

St. Stephens Place 3 Chiquito, Unit 4B, St. Stephens Place, BA14 8AH, ☏ +44 1225 762666. Tex Mex chain restaurant. (updated Sep 2015) 4 Frankie & Bennys, St. Stephens Place, BA14 8AH, ☏ +44 1225 719404. American Italian themed chain restaurant (updated Sep 2015) 5 Nandos, St Stephens Place, BA14 8AH, ☏ +44 1225 767206. Afro-Portuguese chain restaurant specialising in spicy chicken (updated Sep 2015) 6 Prezzo, Unit 5, St Stephens Place, BA14 8AH, ☏ +44 1225 754569. Italian chain restaurant, modern style (updated Sep 2015)

Drink & nightlife

Plenty of local watering holes

Rose & Crown. The Stallards.

Sleep

Premier Inn Trowbridge, St Stephen's Place, BA14 8AH, ☏ +44 871 527 9444. (updated Apr 2016) The Moonraker Hotel and Restaurant, Trowle common, ☏ +44 1225 777393. (updated Apr 2016)

Go next

Bath - one of England's most popular cities for visitors is just 10 miles to the west and easily reached by train, bus or car. Bradford on Avon - a lovely little town just a couple of miles to the west and on the way to Bath. Salisbury - with its magnificent cathedral and the ancient settle of Old Sarum is about 30 miles to the south. The world-famous standing stones at Stonehenge and Avebury are less than hour's driving to the southeast and east respectively.