Trowbridge

Trowbridge is the county town of Wiltshire in the West Country of England.

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 a 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.

Get in

By train

Trowbridge is on the Wessex Main Line [3] which runs from Bristol to Weymouth.

See

Eastern gatehouse of Farleigh Hungerford Castle

• Farleigh Hungerford Castle, Farleigh Hungerford village, nr Trowbridge, [1]. daily 10AM-6PM. The remains of this very grand castle are in the Frome valley just 3 miles out of Trowbridge. The castle dates from the 14th century and was occupied by the Hungerford family for 300 years. It contains some rare medieval wall paintings. The surrounding village is the epitomy of rural southwestern English charm. Adults £3.80, children £1.90.  edit

• Trowbridge Museum, The Shires, Court Street,, ☎ +62 1225 751339 ([email protected]), [2]. 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 Issac Pitman's home town and there is an exhibit about his life and times. Free.  edit

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!).

• Beijing Palace, 10 Silver Street, ☎ 01225 781188. A mix of Chinese and Thai food, Beijing Palace offers a popular lunch menu option as well as the expected standard Chinese and Thai dishes. Evening set menu is around £13 but generous with portions. The restaurant is vegetarian and serves soy meat alternatives.  edit

Drink

Plenty of local watering holes the best of which are the recently relaunched Rose & Crown (2011) and The Stallards.

Get out

• 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 thew 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.

This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!