Devizes Wiltshire - Town Guide

Welcome to Devizes.
Devizes is a small market town in north Wiltshire, probably best known for the Kennet and Avon Canal's Caen Hill flight of 29 locks, which rise 237 feet in 2½ miles. Or maybe because it has one of the best breweries in the country, or even because it is such a good name for limericks!

How to get here....

Canal Scene

It has been pointed out to me that it is perfectly posible to travel to Devizes from the other end of the country, by canal, but unless you have your own boat and time on your hands . . . . .

Devizes' Railway Station is just a thing of the past, but Chippenham just ten miles away is situated on the main railway line from Paddington to the West Country. There is a choice of taxi companies to complete your journey and a limited Bus Service between the two towns.

However, Wiltshire Bus Enquiry Line advise that "Whilst Chippenham is indeed the closest station, it is not the best one to use to get to Devizes by Public Transport, because there are fewer buses on this route in the early mornings and in the evening, and none at all on Sundays. We therefore normally recommend passengers to travel to either Swindon or Bath and pick up a bus there. We also advise passengers travelling from the South Coast to travel to Salisbury then take a bus from there."

If travelling by motorway leave the M4 at Junction 17.

Devizes from the air.

Let's explore Devizes.

So where shall we start? Park the car, or bicycle, or maybe drag yourself away from the morning coffee table and make your way to the Visitors Centre, in the Market Place.

Just opposite the Market Cross this cream fronted building is Cromwell House. It also houses the Tourist Information Centre. These pages can give you just a tast of the delights that Devizes has to offer but here in the Visitor Centre you can get to know quite a lot about the town and its history. At the same time gather yourself up a whole host of leaflets on the local attractions. If you haven't got one already, get a town map.

By far the best way to explore the town is on foot. Back out in the Market Place take a look at the upper stories of the shops. Lots of fine Georgian buildings here plus later but still quite grand ones. One or two complete ones too. Look at the Offices and Banks.The Market Cross is inscribed with the story of a woman struck dead for lying about a few pence she had attempted to cheat out of a sale of some corn. There are still outdoor markets held here, on a Thursday. There's an indoor market too. That's Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with an Antiques market on Tuesdays. If that's not enough, there's an outdoor Farmer's Market on the first Saturday of the month, when you can find a wonderful range of traditional country foods.

On the far side on the road is the Corn Exchange. Leave the Market Place and head East, that's left as you face The Corn Exchange. As you cross the end of narrow Wine Street the building facing you was once the Town Hall, those four arches were once open and the space inside used as a butter & cheese market. In front of you, where the road takes a sharp turn to the left, you will see the current Town Hall. Before you get that far, be sure to search out, on you left hand, St. John's Alley with its overhanging timber-framed houses. Across the road, leaving the Town Hall on your left, leads to St. John's Church. Explore all these side streets, you'll be faced with a different building style at almost every turn.

If you continue east, we're talking yards here, not miles! you'll very soon come to Devizes Museum. The Museum is the home of the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society and has a fascinating prehistoric collection. In fact it has collections on all the ages of man since then too. Through Roman times up to the Victorians.

Now perhaps is a good time to turn back and head for the opposite end on town. On the way you will pass the Castle, but don't be fooled, a worthy enough building, it is a Victorian House built on the site of the old castle pulled down by Cromwell , and not open to the public.

If you are doing things in the same order as me you will now be heading for the large red brick, Wadworth Brewery at the western end of the town. Devizes is full of public houses, try one and sample the delights of Wadworth's. Watch out for one of the horse drawn drays, still used on their local deliveries. Check with the brewery, or the Tourist Information Centre, the stables are occasionally open to visitors.

Turn right in front of the brewery along New Park Street, carry on until you reach the car park on the left. Down here is the The Wharf. Gone are the days when commercial traffic used the Kennet & Avon canal on a regular basis, but there is still plenty of activity here. The canal and many of the old buildings, are enjoying a new lease of life catering for tourists. Check out the Museum here, plus the restaurant and a group of small shops. here too you will find Devizes' very own Theatre.

When you've had your fill of the canal area, go back to New Park Street and continue along, past The Castle Hotel and into Monday Market Street. Don't get confused here, although the market is not now held on this side of town it was once. The first building on the left is Great Porch House, thought to be the oldest in the town.

If you turn left at the end of the street, into Sidmouth Street, negotiate the crossings at the end while trying to travel as near a straight forward as you can, you will see on the other side of the road The Green. (Actually the Small Green , because there's more of it still further over) Here is The Crammer, the pond that features in the tale of Wiltshire Moonrakers.

If you haven't already stopped off for lunch this could be the time to do so. There's The Bell On The Green opposite, or retrace you steps, through the shops then straight over at the end of Sidmouth Street, more shops and left through the pedestrianised Brittox, back to the market Place. Once fed and rested there should be time for a walk along the canal to the Caen Hill flight of locks. Or you could save that for tomorrow

Disclaimer: While every effort is made to ensure that the information contained in yourguide to Devizes is correct, neither the guide nor its contributors can be responsible for any loss due to errors or omissions. Where has the old site gone?