Enjoy a guided town walk around Trowbridge, Wiltshire’s county town, and an owner-guided tour of Grade I Parade House.

Discover Parade House, a beautiful Georgian townhouse on Fore Street in the heart of Trowbridge. Rescued from redevelopment by the current owners, the house was built in 1720 for the wealthy cloth merchant, Robert Houlton. It has an elegant and symmetrical façade typical of the period. It was home to a succession of merchants in the 19th century before becoming the headquarters of Usher’s Brewery throughout most of the 20th century. The house has beautiful reception rooms, a sweeping staircase and grand ballroom. 

Parade House © Macleansimon, CC BY-SA 4.0 <<a href="

Later enjoy a guided walk around the town, the origins of which are Saxon. Although there was a settlement here on the River Biss before the coming of the Normans, it was only after the Conquest that Trowbridge began to gain importance. The first records of Trowbridge Castle date to 1139, when it was under siege. The motte-and-bailey Trowbridge castle no longer exists, but Fore Street follows the original castle ditch and Castle Street and the Castle Place Shopping Centre are named after it. Trowbridge has the earliest recorded royal market charter in Wiltshire and among the oldest in England. As the weaving industry began to grow, bringing prosperity to the town and throughout the medieval period, Trowbridge gained a reputation for high-quality cloth. In 1540 Trowbridge was said to have 'flourished by drapery’. There was also a thriving leather tanning industry. Our walk will include the town’s many handsome 18th century buildings erected by wealthy clothiers. Pevsner described the centre as a 'row of palaces'. Prominent buildings include John Cooper’s house, built in 1730 which Pevsner said was as grand as the palaces of Genoa; Polebarn House built by textile mill owner, brewer and clergyman John Clark in 1789 and the impressive Rodney House, which followed in 1790. The Blind House on the town bridge was used as a lock-up for ‘overnight guests’ during the 18th and 19th centuries. Lunch will follow our tours.

Tickets £68 including tea or coffee with biscuits at Parade House and a two-course lunch with tea and coffee at the Three Daggers Inn, Edington. Lunch options to be made available to attendees in November.