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Inside Section 2
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Roman Catholic
Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception
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 There
were no known Roman Catholics in Devizes before 1767 when there were
three. By 1861 there were about 20 worshipping at Chippenham. The
first Mass centre in Devizes was a disused warehouse in Monday Market
Street under Father Larive, a Salesian missionary. This was served
from Chippenham until 1864 and in 1865 the present church was opened.
At first it was an aisleless rectangular building of five bays which
was restored in
1887. In 1909 a chancel, sacristy and bell cote were added. From 1865
the Sisters of the teaching order of St. Joseph of Annecy had a school
in the church and, by 1868, in a separate schoolroom. Their convent is
close to the church.
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Some Background
to Devizes
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Devizes, situated in the heart of the
beautiful Wiltshire countryside is an historic market town with a
colourful medieval past. The town enjoys a rich heritage of fine
Georgian houses and a castle which stands on the site of a Norman
stronghold, built in 1080 by the Bishop of Salisbury - a nephew of
William the Conqueror. The original street pattern was laid to the
castle approaches, and still exists today.
The town's name is thought to have been derived from the latin 'Ad
Divisas' meaning 'at the boundaries' as the stronghold was built on
the border of the parishes of Potterne & Rowde - the Kings land and
Cannings - the Bishop's land.
Devizes, granted it's Royal Charter in 1141 by the Empress Matilda,
boasts 500 listed building within a quarter square mile. In the
streets around the Market square, one of the finest in the west of
England, are dozens of other interesting buildings, many of classical
design. Among the greatest attractions are the beautiful churches in
varying architectural styles. For a town of its size, Devizes is
unique in having two original Norman churches - St John's and St
Mary's.
St John's Alley contains fine jettied timber-framed houses believed to
be either Elizabethan or Jacobean. The cobbled alleyway originally
went through Wine Street to the castle entrance. |
The Market still operates every Thursday throughout the year. The
usual High Street shops can be found in The Brittox (from the
Norman-French for fortified gateway), and The Ginnel, Old Swan Yard
and Wharfside are quaint courtyards and alleyways housing craft shops
and specialist boutiques.
Devizes is the home of the Wadworth brewery
founded in 1875. The Northgate brewery, with it's impressive Victorian
Facade, was designed and built by Henry Wadworth in 1885, and is still
run as a family business. The sight of the Wadworth Shire horses
plodding their way around town delivering beer evokes memories of the
past.
The Shire horses have served Wadworth for
over one hundred years, and still deliver to Wadworth public houses
situated within two miles of the brewery. They are a familiar and much
loved part of the local scene.
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The Bear Hotel & Corn Exchange
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