Wiltshire place-names
By Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2017-01-02. Revised by Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2018-07-24.
County description
The Historic Counties Trust describes Wiltshire as follows:
Wiltshire is a downland rural county of the West Country. In the south of the county is Salisbury and in the north is Swindown. Between the two lies the great expanse of Salisbury Plain. Southern Wiltshire is known for pretty towns and villages. It is a wealthy agricultural land. In its middle is the City of Salisbury. Salisbury was a mediæval "new town", built around an ornate cathedral; the cathedral with the highest spire in Britain. The cathedral close, in which are the most exclusive houses in town, is renowned. The origin of the city is found on a hill to the north; Old Sarum, a city since the iron age, now abandoned. North of Salisbury is Salisbury Plain, some 300 square miles of uncultivated chalkland. Much of the Plain is used by the army for training. The Plain is home to Stonehenge, and many ancient burial mounds and manmade features whose origins are lost in the mists of time. North of Salisbury Plain are the villages and fertile fields of the Vale of Pewsey, dividing the Plain from the Marlborough Downs to the north. Marlborough has widest main street in the country. The Marlborough Downs have their own collection of prehistoric structures; most famously the Avebury ring and Silbury Hill, a prehistoric manmade hill. Swindon lies in the north, an ancient town, turned 20th century New Town.
Main Towns: Amesbury, Bradford-On-Avon, Chippenham, Devizes, Lacock, Malmsbury, Marlborough, Salisbury, Swindon, Wilton.
Main Rivers: Avon, Wylye, Kennett, Nadder, Bourne.
Highlights: Avebury; Salibury Cathedral; Stonehenge; Wilton House.
Highest Point: Milk Hill, 294.74 m.
Area: 3548.29 km2.[1]
Lists and gazetteers
- Dobson, R. B., ed.; Taylor, J., ed. Rymes of Robyn Hood: an Introduction to the English Outlaw (London, 1976), p. 305
- Gover, J.E.B.; Mawer, Allen; Stenton, F.M. The Place-Names of Wiltshire (English Place-Name Society, vol. XVI) (Cambridge, 1939), pp. 331, 425.
Background
- British History Online: Victoria County History – Wiltshire
- The Historic Counties Trust: Historic Counties Descriptions
- Wikipedia: Wiltshire.
Notes
- ↑ The Historic Counties Trust has kindly allowed me to quote its county descriptions in toto. I have converted square miles to km2 and feet to meters.