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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, about ten miles South East of Bath . Neighbouring towns and villages include Bradford On Avon , Westbury , Melksham , Devizes , Hilperton and Semington . 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 Ancient History & Domesday Book 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, was recorded as having 100 residents. Castle The first mention of Trowbridge Castle was in 1139 http://www.localauthoritypublishing.co.uk/councils/trowbridge/history.html while it was besieged - so it is likely to have been built some time before this. The castle is thought to have been a Motte-and-bailey castle, and it's influences can still be seen in the town today. Fore Street follows the path of the castle ditch, and it's name is given to Castle Street and the Castle Place Shopping Centre . The site of the castle is now home to the Trowbridge Museum Wool Industry 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. 1800s to Present In its place a bedding industry developed, initially using wool 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. The 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. SUBURBS Longfield , Studley Green , Lower Studley , Trowle Common , Drynham . "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 eitherA view echoed by Daily Telegraph columnist Paddy Burt who, when asked during a visit to nearby Bradford-on-Avon if she was from Trowbridge, replied "Do I look as if I am?" Saturday 21st July 2007 (Number 47316). 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. LOCAL NEWS Several newspapers are written and published in Trowbridge, the most notable being the Wiltshire Times . http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/aboutus/ ENTERTAINMENT AND PUBS The town is home to many pubs, several music venues, and two leisure centres. Trowbridge is part of the historic West Country Carnival circuit. Trowbridge Town F.C. is the local football club based in Trowbridge. They are currently members of the Hellenic Football League Division One West. Trowbridge has given its name to the Trowbridge Village Pump Festival although the event is actually held at Stowford Manor farm between Wingfield near Trowbridge and Farleigh Hungerford in Somerset . INDIVIDUALS ASSOCIATED WITH TROWBRIDGE Trowbridge was the birthplace of Sir Isaac Pitman , developer of the Pitman Shorthand system of Shorthand writing. He is remembered in the town through several memorial plaques, and his name has been taken by a pub in the town centre - "The Isaac Pitman" The poet George Crabbe was Rector of Trowbridge from 1814 until his death in 1832 Matthew Hutton , Archbishop of Canterbury, had been the town's Rector in the 18th century. Sir William Cook KCB Kt FRS, born in Trowbridge on 10th April 1905, was involved with the development of the British Nuclear Bomb at Aldermaston in the 1950s, becoming Aldermaston's Deputy Director. John Dyer was a Trowbridge born inventor and engineer whose most important invention was the rotary fulling machine in 1833. A version of the machine, developed for the local woollen industry, is still in use today. Professional snooker player Stephen Lee 's career developed whilst playing snooker in Trowbridge's snooker club. The town also boasts world champion Town Crier Trevor Heeks among its residents. Other famous Trowbridge residents
TOWN DEVELOPMENT Since 2002, there have been plans in placehttp://www.westwiltshire.gov.uk/index/business/economic-development/econdev-regeneration/transforming-trowbridge/transforming-trowbridge-background.htm to redevelop the town.
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