Trowbridge

Trowbridge is the county town of Wiltshire, England. The civil parish of Trowbridge had a population of 28,148 according to the 2001 census.

Location

Trowbridge is situated on the River Biss in the west of the county, just south of an ancient stone age burial ground, which experts believe is the cause for the high number of random accidents that its citizens endure. Famous for its drinking culture and pointless existence, it brings to question why does anyone actually want to live in this place. Its in Wiltshire about ten miles South East of Bath. Neighbouring towns include Bradford on Avon, Westbury, Melksham and Devizes. The name of the town comes from a root meaning 'Tree Bridge', referring to the first bridge over the River Biss. The Kennet and Avon canal runs to the north of the town - this played a large part in the development of the town as it allowed coal to be transported from the Somerset coal fields. Trowbridge has a railway station on the Wessex Main Line.

History

There is evidence that the land on which Trowbridge is built was being farmed more than 3,000 years ago. In the 10th century there is clear evidence of Trowbridge's existence and in the Domesday Book the village of Straburg, as Trowbridge was then known as, was recorded as having 100 residents.

From the 13th century onwards Trowbridge developed a clothing industry increasingly becoming industrialised from the 17th century onwards; at one point in 1820 it was being described as the "Manchester of the West" as it had 15 factories comparable to Northern industrial towns such as Rochdale. The wool industry went into decline in the late 19th century and continued to decline throughout the 20th century — the last mill closed in 1982 and is now the home of a museum dedicated to the history of the town and its former industry. In its place a bedding industry developed initially using wood cast off from the mills — the company now known as Airsprung Furniture Group PLC was started in the town in the 1870s. Food production also developed in the town when Abraham Bowyer started his business which eventually, as Bowyers, became one of the largest employers in the town. Brewing company Ushers opened in Trowbridge in 1824 and developed the brewery in the town — this was finally shut in 2000 following several changes of ownership.

Architecture

There is much architectural interest in Trowbridge, including many of the old buildings associated with the textile industry, and the Newtown conservation area, a protected zone of mostly Victorian houses. In the churchyard of St James one can see the memorial tombstone of Thomas Helliker. The main street is Fore Street, which has a variety of shops, and there are also the Shires and Castle Place shopping centres. The Civic Hall is adjacent to the town park, where the tourist information kiosk can be found.

Entertainment

The town currently lacks any entertainment or Leisure facilites for its residents. There is no Cinema, Bowling alley, ice rink e.t.c. There is also a lack of quality restaurants bar the obligatory chinese and indian. You can find a series of old and worn public taverns, but only one "night club" an alternative music venue frequented by 16-24 olds.

The town is part of the historic West Country Carnival circuit.

The town has given it's name to the Trowbridge Village Pump Festival although the event is actually held in Farleigh Hungerford.

Individuals associated with Trowbridge

Trowbridge was the birthplace of Sir Isaac Pitman, developer of the Pitman system of shorthand writing. Another more recent famous person to come from Trowbridge is the professional snooker player Stephen Lee, ranked 10th in the world snooker championships (2005). His career developed whilst playing snooker in Trowbridge's (slightly infamous) snooker club. The town also boasts world champion town crier Trevor Heeks among its residents

Governance

Trowbridge is in the Westbury Parliamentary constituency and governed by Trowbridge Town Council, West Wiltshire District Council and Wiltshire County Council.

Wiltshire County Council

In 1898 Wiltshire County Council first built offices in the town and as council services developed it expanded. In 1940 Wiltshire County Council opened County Hall and designated Trowbridge the county town of Wiltshire.

Today Trowbridge is also the headquarters of West Wiltshire District Council. The two local authorities together with the town council and companies supplying the councils are the biggest employers in the town.

"Ibiza"

In 2000 a local district councillor, Mr. Osborn, famously claimed that Trowbridge 'was just like Ibiza'. This comment drew widespread surprise as Mr. Osborn had never visited Ibiza, and caused some residents to suspect he had never visited Trowbridge either.

Town Development

Since Supermarket chain Tescos changed their location in the town, the "old tesco" as the area has become to be known has stood as a wasted construction opportunity. The local government's reluctance to build something entertaining for its great residents is bewildering to the public. For years they have been demanding something else to do other than get drunk. Some say that due to the lack of interest of those in power (as reflected by the comments made by Mr Osborn above). One resident was quoted as saying that "the local authorities have more interest in building garden centres" and he wasn't fond of the number of DIY stores "I don't like them they make me sick, literally, its the smell". It is the opinion of many people that without the correct leisure facilities to entertain the ever growing population the recent thug like behaviour will get worse and the town will end up like a Kurt Russell film. A foreign visitor questioned the insanity of there being nothing else to do apart from going to the pub, when told Trowbridge was the county town of Wiltshire he fainted. When awoken he commented "I shall not be returning" "I'm Australian I like beer, no I love my beer, but beer ain't everything, you should write that down"

The question remains when will something be done. There have been development plans in place for more than a decade, so when talk of improving the town residents take the news with a pinch of salt because of the inability of the local powers to take any action. It appears that nothing will ever be built.

Issues of Violent Crime

Despite Trowbridge residing in a county that is the second safest in the country(reported in the Wiltshire Times 28/07/06), the regular occurrences of violent crime in the county town make this report difficult to believe. Further information in the report details that "Wiltshire had the highest percentage increase in total recorded crime and violent crime in the South West." It is this information that more reflects the recent spate of violent crimes that have occured in the town and is a contradiction to the county as a whole. An increase of 23% in violent crime from 2004/2005 to this year raises the greatest concern amongst a series of increases in crimes across the county. (Total crime up 5%) (Drug and other offences up 16%) (Criminal damage up 7%) (Crime figures featured in Wiltshire times Friday July 28th)

The town has had a series of high profile violent crimes that have reached national attention one of which being the the murder of pregnant Hayley Richards in 2005. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1658310,00.html

Most recently (Reported in the Bath Chronicle 02/08/06) Paul Mills was on the end of a vicious attack that sees him in a critical condition with life threatening head injuries.

External links

Other places called Trowbridge