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Westbury, Wiltshire
Churchview House/1a/Brookhaven, Churchyard, Westbury. 17th and 18th century.
Westbury has an unfortunate and ill-deserved reputation for being grimey and rather downtrodden. Property prices in the town are lower than in surrounding areas, and its considered by them to be a poor neighbour. If you've ever passed through the town, towards Trowbridge 4 miles north, or Warminster 4 miles south, and not stopped to do more than refuel, it's easy to agree. The A350 bisects the town, squeezed between largely unimpressive terraced housing that's blackened by the fumes, and rattled by the juggernauts passing just the width of the narrow pavement from their front doors. However park up and explore the side streets around the centre, and along parts of Westbury Leigh, a village absorbed by the expansion of the town, and another story evolves, one diametrically opposed to the negative reputation, one where the traditional architecture draws in discerning homeowners, and keeps them.
So park up the car and starting in Edward Street, where a sizeable 15th century house was dismantled where Morrisons now stands (kit for sale at time of writing), and turn your back on the supermarket and look up to observe Angel Mill. Angel Mill dates back to around 1801 and was probably the earliest Wiltshire factory built to be driven by a steam engine, it mainly produced cloth, and has now produced apartments. From there turn into Church Street and opposite the pub is Edgar House, an early 18th century remodelling of an earlier house, and all along that side of the road Listed Georgian houses, and behind some are converted stables. On the other side of Church Street, beyond the Listed screen wall to Angel Mill, is Westbury's late 19th century Grade II Listed swimming baths. Keep going right to the end and almost every house that you will have passed is Listed for its historical architectural merit. Then take the footpath that you'll see leads to the Grade I Listed parish church of All Saints, built in 1437. Sticking to the path walk anti-clockwise around the church and you'll see other Listed buildings, then you come into the Market Place and see the Lopes Arms, The Old Town Hall, and yet more attractive Listed buildings. Look out to the main road before turning off Market Place into Alfred Street and you will see Bank House, a Grade II* early 18th century home, easily missed when just driving past. In Alfred Street it's hard to miss the appropriately painted blue Grade II* Conservative Club, continue on and a couple of hundred yards on at the roundabout take the second exit, you will then see the various buildings of the Grade II Listed Bitham Mill, the earliest part dates back to 1803 (painted blue), now converted to houses and apartments. Here ends this tour of Westbury's Listed buildings, though with a total of 157 historical gems in Westbury, and Westbury Leigh, you could take in more, but by now you will have appreciated a completely different side to Westbury than most people see.
For a short time, from 1829, Robert Peel, considered to be the founding father of the police force, was Member of the British Parliament for Westbury.
Of course there is also Westbury's famous White Horse on the outskirts of the town to visit..
So park up the car and starting in Edward Street, where a sizeable 15th century house was dismantled where Morrisons now stands (kit for sale at time of writing), and turn your back on the supermarket and look up to observe Angel Mill. Angel Mill dates back to around 1801 and was probably the earliest Wiltshire factory built to be driven by a steam engine, it mainly produced cloth, and has now produced apartments. From there turn into Church Street and opposite the pub is Edgar House, an early 18th century remodelling of an earlier house, and all along that side of the road Listed Georgian houses, and behind some are converted stables. On the other side of Church Street, beyond the Listed screen wall to Angel Mill, is Westbury's late 19th century Grade II Listed swimming baths. Keep going right to the end and almost every house that you will have passed is Listed for its historical architectural merit. Then take the footpath that you'll see leads to the Grade I Listed parish church of All Saints, built in 1437. Sticking to the path walk anti-clockwise around the church and you'll see other Listed buildings, then you come into the Market Place and see the Lopes Arms, The Old Town Hall, and yet more attractive Listed buildings. Look out to the main road before turning off Market Place into Alfred Street and you will see Bank House, a Grade II* early 18th century home, easily missed when just driving past. In Alfred Street it's hard to miss the appropriately painted blue Grade II* Conservative Club, continue on and a couple of hundred yards on at the roundabout take the second exit, you will then see the various buildings of the Grade II Listed Bitham Mill, the earliest part dates back to 1803 (painted blue), now converted to houses and apartments. Here ends this tour of Westbury's Listed buildings, though with a total of 157 historical gems in Westbury, and Westbury Leigh, you could take in more, but by now you will have appreciated a completely different side to Westbury than most people see.
For a short time, from 1829, Robert Peel, considered to be the founding father of the police force, was Member of the British Parliament for Westbury.
Of course there is also Westbury's famous White Horse on the outskirts of the town to visit..
Angel Mill, Westbury
Church Street entrance to Angel Mill, Westbury
Westbury Swimming Baths, 1887.
Little Chantry, 30 and 32 Church Street, Westbury, 18th century.
Parish Church of All Saints, 1437
Parish Church of All Saints, 1437
Parish Church of All Saints, 1437
Church Croft, Westbury Churchyard, early 19th century.
Verger's Cottage, Churchyard, Westbury, 18th/19th century.
The Old Town Hall, Market Place, Westbury, 1815. Listed Grade II*.
Bank House, Grade II* early 18th century.
The Lodge, Alfred Street, Westbury, circa 1840.
The Little House, Alfred Street, Westbury, early 19th century.
Bitham Mill, Westbury, NW Block, early 19th century.
Timekeepers Cottage and North Block, Bitham Mill, Westbury. 1868.
22 to 26 Maristow Street, Westbury, mid to late 18th century.
Westbury House, Edward Street, Westbury, late 18th century, now the library.
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Church Street, Westbury
Angel Mill, Westbury
Shop front to 16, 18, and 18a Church Street, Westbury. Late 17th/early 18th century front to very much older house, possibly 15th century.
Ivy House, Church Street, Westbury, 17th century.
Parish Church of All Saints, 1437
1-3, Cannon Green, Westbury, 18th century.
The Lopes Arms Hotel, Market Place, Westbury, circa 1754-1809. Closed/recently sold at the time.
The Crown Inn, Market Place, Westbury, late 18th century.
Westbury Conservative Club (Ferndale House), Alfred Street, Westbury, early 18th century.
The Old Vicarage, Alfred Street, Westbury
Bitham Mill, Westbury, North Block, early 1868.
Bitham Mill, Westbury, NW Block, early 19th century.
Bitham Mill, Westbury, 1803 and 1829.
20, Edward Street, Westbury, early 19th century but indications of possible 17th century timber framed house.
Harlees fish and chip shop and High Street, Westbury.
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