beneath the 10 acres which this great castle covers. castle great this which acres 10 the beneath

march with me.” with march

locked up in dank cells, massive and impregnable, lying lying impregnable, and massive cells, dank in up locked

more you will have to to have will you more

these prisoners are even taken inside our castle, they’ll be be they’ll castle, our inside taken even are prisoners these

Bridewell Street on your left. your on Street Bridewell

you want to learn learn to want you

in festering sores, men see more dark than daylight. If If daylight. than dark more see men sores, festering in

born here! But if if But here! born

Street, and head right, crossing the road into into road the crossing right, head and Street,

can or watchtower containing the prison where, covered covered where, prison the containing watchtower or can

had royal babies babies royal had

- barbi wooden a there’s Then ditch. deep foot twenty a Take the footpath into the main road, Long Long road, main the into footpath the Take

place? And we’ve we’ve And place?

into the castle. Halfway along is a drawbridge crossing crossing drawbridge a is along Halfway castle. the into

plaque 8) as follows.” as 8) plaque

stored in this very very this in stored

Here’s a great wooden raised walkway leading back back leading walkway raised wooden great a Here’s

and limb, so some of you may want to take the easy route (to (to route easy the take to want may you of some so limb, and

England were once once were England

Bretasche, others La Brutax but you can call it the Brittox. Brittox. the it call can you but Brutax La others Bretasche,

steep and it might make you puff unless you’re sound in wind wind in sound you’re unless puff you make might it and steep

the crown jewels of of jewels crown the

“Look towards your left and there’s what I call the the call I what there’s and left your towards “Look

say the best in Wiltshire. The next section of our tour is very very is tour our of section next The Wiltshire. in best the say

Do you know that that know you Do

Centre.

It’s a beautiful church, with stone work to be proud of, some some of, proud be to work stone with church, beautiful a It’s here. here.

John’s Street. Walk 40 paces to the Crown Crown the to paces 40 Walk Street. John’s in Devizes! in have kept council council kept have

Henry III. You’d never believe the things that have happened happened have that things the believe never You’d III. Henry and Earls of England England of Earls and

About turn and go to your right into St St into right your to go and turn About

altar after claiming sanctuary following a bitter row with King King with row bitter a following sanctuary claiming after altar battle have swirled swirled have battle

3

Kent and Justice of the Realm, was dragged in chains from the the from chains in dragged was Realm, the of Justice and Kent castle the tides of of tides the castle

5 5 “One night in St John’s church, Hubert de Burg, Earl of of Earl Burg, de Hubert church, John’s St in night “One ditches. Around this this Around ditches.

of earthworks and and earthworks of and with a halter about his neck. his about halter a with and

by a double line line double a by

door? long days, the Chancellor of England, arrayed in chains chains in arrayed England, of Chancellor the days, long

the town is encircled encircled is town the Question: Question: How many nails can be found in the the in found be can nails many How Stephen and his troops set siege to Devizes. After three three After Devizes. to siege set troops his and Stephen

entrance gates and and gates entrance Now, here in Castle Lane, before this great gateway, gateway, great this before Lane, Castle in here Now,

the Baptist and built in the year of our Lord 1130. Lord our of year the in built and Baptist the

stone. It has three three has It stone. the Empress has returned to England to claim the throne. throne. the claim to England to returned has Empress the

the Garrison or Castle Church, named after John John after named Church, Castle or Garrison the

Hazelbury carrying carrying Hazelbury quickly took the opportunity to get himself crowned. Now Now crowned. himself get to opportunity the took quickly

a medieval hall house on your right. Step inside inside Step right. your on house hall medieval a

through from Box or or Box from through French husband. So, Henry’s nephew, Stephen of Blois, Blois, of Stephen nephew, Henry’s So, husband. French

“We’re now standing in St John’s Court, there’s there’s Court, John’s St in standing now “We’re

stone. Watch your backs! There will be carts coming coming carts be will There backs! your Watch stone. as Empress Maud, was living in Normandy with her her with Normandy in living was Maud, Empress as

Anyway, he’s started using this new art of building in in building of art new this using started he’s Anyway, You see, when Henry I died his daughter Matilda, known known Matilda, daughter his died I Henry when see, You

family - know what I mean! I what know - family few years - from 1139 - 1154, if you want to be precise. precise. be to want you if 1154, - 1139 from - years few

nephew, the Bishop of Lincoln - sort of keeping it in the the in it keeping of sort - Lincoln of Bishop the nephew, There’s been a terrible civil war going on here for the last last the for here on going war civil terrible a been There’s

nephew, the Treasurer and Bishop of Ely and his other other his and Ely of Bishop and Treasurer the nephew, that you can imagine. imagine. can you that

he can speed read the mass. His son is Chancellor; his his Chancellor; is son His mass. the read speed can he got every sort of fortification and modern appliance of war war of appliance modern and fortification of sort every got

realm. The King, Henry I that is, favours him because because him favours is, that I Henry King, The realm. important medieval fortresses in the west of England. It’s It’s England. of west the in fortresses medieval important

Salisbury, the Royal Chaplain and Number Two in the the in Two Number and Chaplain Royal the Salisbury, “You’re now standing at the approach to one of the most most the of one to approach the at standing now “You’re

Now this great castle was built by one Roger, Bishop of of Bishop Roger, one by built was castle great this Now

my tour of inspection. I’ll explain as we travel. we as explain I’ll inspection. of tour my

If you like, you can march round with me as I’m making making I’m as me with round march can you like, you If

it’s the best in Europe and that’s a fact! a that’s and Europe in best the it’s

Cross back over the road towards St John’s Church. John’s St towards road the over back Cross a mound surrounded by a fenced courtyard. But this one, one, this But courtyard. fenced a by surrounded mound a

tanners and the odd skinner flourish. skinner odd the and tanners Before this one, a great three storey wooden tower sat on on sat tower wooden storey three great a one, this Before

St John’s Alley, tucked away on the left. Here, cordwainers, cordwainers, Here, left. the on away tucked Alley, John’s St There’s been a castle in Devizes for sometime, you know. know. you sometime, for Devizes in castle a been There’s

Cross St John’s Street at a safe place and you’ll discover discover you’ll and place safe a at Street John’s St Cross “My name is Tobias Midwinter, Captain of the Guard. Guard. the of Captain Midwinter, Tobias is name “My

the Crown Centre. Crown the

is an armed soldier. armed an is Castle now. About turn and rejoin the trail at at trail the rejoin and turn About now. Castle

sounds and imagine - standing next to you you to next standing - imagine and sounds

your right you’ll see what has happened to the the to happened has what see you’ll right your

surrounds you - shut your ears to traffic traffic to ears your shut - you surrounds

back and proceed to the end of Castle Lane. On On Lane. Castle of end the to proceed and back

fountain. Close your eyes to what what to eyes your Close fountain.

For some splendid views of the Castle double double Castle the of views splendid some For

Stand facing the Bear Hotel from the from Hotel Bear the facing Stand

Lane.

4

1

Cross the road and halt at the top of Castle Castle of top the at halt and road the Cross

2

famous displayed. Can you name them? name you Can displayed. famous

THE SOLDIER’S TALE ... TALE SOLDIER’S THE Question: Question: On which building are the faces of the the of faces the are building which On

• Besides Tobias Midwinter’s DEVIZES medieval route, there are many fascinating areas and things to look • A Town with a fascinating, turbulent and at in the historic town of Devizes ... often historically significant past. A town which has seen over the years many bloody battles, royal presence, prosperity and • Devizes Museum Visit the Story innovation, much of which is still evident of Devizes Gallery at the Wiltshire today. Museum in Long Street. The award- winning museum is nationally important • This walk around the centre of the old town and features Gold from the Time of DEVIZES will give you an insight into what Devizes Stonehenge. meant and how it evolved during the Middle • The Kennet and Avon Canal remains Ages. Follow the plaques around the town a major feature of Devizes. Don’t miss to discover the fascinating past of Medieval visiting the Wharfside area and the TOWN Devizes. Kennet and Avon Canal Museum, walk- ing the towpath or the spectacular Caen • The trail starts at the Market Place at the Hill flight of locks, one of the longest in building behind the fountain. Europe. MEDIEVAL • On Thursdays a traditional market is • Look for the plaques mounted on walls at held in the Market Square and the indoor points of special significance and noted in Shambles. this text with a red number. TRAIL I’m gone. here awhile and rest. Inside, above the en- Question: What did the Sexton’s cottage used Move On.” trance door you can see a carved pelican - a to be? 8 At Hare and Hound Street. wonderful bird is the pelican! From the town of For the rest of us, pass the cottage called “Here we are at the outer ditch of the town and this church you can see our downs stretched ‘Tower Lee’ and catch a splendid view of beyond it is nothing; nothing except wild wastelands out about the town. the castle and its grounds on our right. called the Wastelands of Bishop Cannings From the church gate we turn right and Keep moving - stop puffing! - for 500 manor and the first bit of wasteland that you get travel along to New Park Road to is Southbroom or Gorseway as my men call it - paces. This leads to the New Park, 11 the deer park “You now stand at the very summit of the some of them come back scratched to pieces.” of the castle surrounded by bank and ditch. fortifications of the castle, 122 metres (pardon Proceed slowly forward up Sheep Street. It’s full of stags, hinds and wild boar. One day my Norman!), above sea level. The gallows “Keep close to me to avoid the vagabonds and I saw a boar ripping dogs left and right before stood here and at your feet, in unconsecrated rogues and we reach Monday Market Street which he was taken down. Falcons and hawks are ground outside the town’s boundaries, suicides as the name suggests is where the original town flown here by the rich and mighty, arrayed in were buried. market took place on a Monday. Here stands the the finest with their leather gloves, holding their Town Cross. 6 Look back - from here you can see why birds high. This is private land and poaching is ‘Castrum ad Devizas’, the castle on the 9 There’s a Thursday market here and, as in many severely punished. Some of those that languish boundaries, was built. It stands on a naturally towns (until around the 13th Century that is), a in the Bretasche are there for poaching. defensive site, firm on a spur of land above a Sunday one as well - yes, Sunday trading! Besides The other deer park lies to the southwest of the great wide moat. Built of stone, as I said, from the market with its booths, stalls painted signs town, known as Old Park, stretches for some Box with timber from the forests of Melksham selling everything from eggs and salt to knives and 600 acres. The hunting’s good in Devizes. and Chippenham. white broadcloth (or Devizes blankets as they’re 12 Continue along New Park Street to The workers that have toiled here - craftsmen, called), is the Michaelmas Fair. Couch Lane stone masons, labourers - they Here jugglers, stilt-walkers and “Couch Lane or Lane Leading to the Cow give thanks every day in their dancing bears all vie for your Meadow. Excuse me, for this is where the own church (which we’ll arrive Devizes Castle during one of it’s many farmland comes very close to the town. In fact, at later) for Roger, Bishop and sieges; this time Count Hervey is under more than 90% of the people in Europe (and Statesman, who built this lavish attack by the Wiltshire rustics in 1141. A probably Devizes as well), live and work on the place.” romanticised view of events taken from an engraving in Waylens ‘History’ of land or so I’ve been told by the priest. This is Turn left down Hillworth 1859. where animals graze for dairy supplies - Road back toward Long we call them ‘whitemeats’ and they go to Street. the castle for our betters. The great outer “On a dark night in the year of our ditch of the castle crosses half way up the Lord 1140, a sadistic Flemish lane. I like it best in spring when the cow mercenary, one Robert FitzHubert, monk parsley is out. You have to watch your burner, accompanied by a small but step here because they throw all their capable band of men well versed in the rubbish or on the street and pigs and dogs strategies of war, moved along this road scavenge. We’re nearly done!” and using leather thronged scaling 13 Continue to Northgate Street ladders, climbed the walls which ran along “We’ve reached (I think I can small beer!) here and gained access to the castle. the northeast entrance to our town. It’s Some of the sentinels guarding the south locked soon after the curfew bell is rung, gate which is further up Long Street on then citizens and travellers are safe for your right, were probably attacked as they the night. In the morning, it is opened and dozed. However, a few weeks after the daily life of the town commences once taking the castle, cruel Fitz was tricked and more. The night watchmen stationed here removed from his conquest and then hung collect tolls - only travellers pay these in view of the castle walls. There were lots charges because in 1141, Queen Matilda of hangings in Devizes and that’s why this granted the citizens of Devizes place was known as Gallow’s Ditch. freedom for land tolls, ferry Here we are back in Long Street. To your tolls and fair tolls for their ser- right is the great south gate and entrance The present day layout of Devizes town vices in winning back the town centre still closely resembles the medieval during the struggles between plan. (Plaque waypoints are shown in blue). her and Stephen. There is still a castle near the original site albeit a private residence built in the 19th We salute her cunning and Century (right). strength - once she dressed as a soldier and led her attention and you can stop and enemies a merry old dance buy a chewit - a simple baked and another time she escaped meat pie. When your belly’s full by playing dead and being you can thank God by stepping into the church carried out of town in a coffin. which you can see in front of you. Talking of struggles, I must get back to work On your right before you get there is a Porch so if you want to come with me we’ll walk back House a medieval domestic house built by a rich into the Market Place - that’s the ‘new’ market merchant in 1450. There are lots of rich merchants place. This is part of the outer bailey of the in Devizes.” castle and came into use as I got older and the to the castle and town. castle fell into disrepair. It is the largest 7 There’s a hostelry just a few hundred yards 10 “Come into my church, St Mary’s Church, funnel-shaped market place in the west of further on which is called the Southgate.” England. Question: Which gorbal is thought to be Henry? Go to your left and then right into Well, I’m sure you want to discover more about Devizes because history marches on as I must Bridewell Street.ridwell? do, so - St Mary the Virgin’s Church. My wife comes here Question: What was the Bridewell? and my brother; Mrs Beery, the alewife, merchants FAREWELL - they all step through this fine 12th Century door “If you can imagine flying like a witch on a which is open for the likes of you and me. It’s my broomstick above Devizes you would see the favourite church, the Town Church. I have watched ‘D’ shape of the town. A series of streets run men walking precariously across scaffolding 91 from the outer arc back to the upright - a town feet above the earth, hoisting stone by using a new plan that will survive for hundreds of years after windlass, to create this house of God. Let’s pause