Warminster facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Warminster
Market Place, Warminster
Warminster
Population	18,173 (2021 Census)
OS grid reference	ST875455
Unitary authority	Wiltshire
Ceremonial county	Wiltshire
Region	South West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Warminster
Postcode district	BA12
Dialling code	01985
Police	Wiltshire
Fire	Wiltshire
Ambulance	Great Western
EU Parliament	South West England
UK Parliament	South West Wiltshire
List of places UK England Wiltshire 51°12′18″N 2°10′52″W / 51.205°N 2.181°W / 51.205; -2.181

Warminster is an old market town in south-west Wiltshire, England. It sits on the western edge of Salisbury Plain. In 2021, about 18,173 people lived in the town.

The name Warminster first appeared in the early 900s. The main church, St Denys, started being built in the 1000s. The High Street and Market Place have many beautiful buildings. These include the Athenaeum Centre, the Town Hall, and St Lawrence Chapel. You can also find many unique shops there. Several Army bases, called the Warminster Garrison, are located near the town.

What Does the Name Warminster Mean?

The name Warminster comes from old words. The first part, Wor, comes from an Old English word. This word meant "those who watch or protect." It might have been linked to an ancient fort called Battlesbury Camp.

The town's name has changed over time. In the early 900s, it was called Worgemynstre. In the Domesday Book, it was written as Guerminstre. The second part of the name, minster, comes from an Old English word. It means a monastery, nunnery, or a main church. Saxon settlers gave this name to the town in the 600s.

A Look Back: Warminster's History

How Did Warminster Begin?

Pit Mead Roman villa mosaic, an old drawing by Catherine Downes

The main town of Warminster started in the Anglo-Saxon period. But people lived in this area much earlier. There is proof of ancient settlements nearby. These include Iron Age hill forts like Battlesbury Camp and Cley Hill. Also, two Roman villas and Roman coins have been found here.

By the 900s, Warminster had a royal estate and an Anglo-Saxon church. Most people living there worked for the estate. In the 1100s, the royal estate was given to new lords. This is when the town began to grow. A market was set up in Warminster in the 1200s. By 1377, it was the tenth largest town in Wiltshire.

Warminster During the Civil War

During the English Civil War, from 1642 to 1645, Warminster saw some fighting. A leader for the "Roundheads" (the Parliament's army), Henry Wansey, was surrounded in Warminster. Another force tried to help him and had a small battle nearby. By 1646, the town had been damaged by supporting the Roundheads.

Growing Strong: Warminster's Prosperity After the Middle Ages

The market was key to Warminster's success. By the 1500s, it was known for its wool, clothing, and malting (making malt for brewing). These trades were the town's main economy until the 1800s. The market also had a big trade in corn. In 1830, it was the second largest corn market in western England. Farmers had to bring a sack of corn from each load for customers to see.

Warminster had many places for visitors to stay. In 1686, it was ranked fourth in Wiltshire for places to stay. It had 116 beds for travelers. By 1710, there were about fifty inns and pubs. The town was quick to improve its roads. It used the Turnpikes Act to make seven roads better.

By the late 1700s, many homes were built without proper permission. These homes were often crowded and not well-built. A minister from the 1800s described them as having dirt floors. He said piles of rubbish made the local stream dirty, causing diseases. But by 1833, with help from local leaders, the area became clean and respected.

Warminster in the 1800s and 1900s

The town centre was changed after 1807. George Wansey, a cloth maker, left money to improve the town. This money was used to knock down houses and make roads wider. In 1851, a railway line opened from Westbury. Then, in 1856, the line went on to Salisbury. The railway greatly hurt the town's market. Shops and inns lost most of their customers, and local businesses struggled.

The High Street, Warminster, around 1905

In 1907, a group tried to promote the town. They made a town guide and advertised in national magazines. However, they couldn't agree with Lord Bath on where to build a new hotel.

The main office and factory for luxury glove makers Dents moved to Warminster in 1937. It has been there ever since.

Between 1937 and 1965, the military presence in Warminster grew a lot. New camps, barracks, and training schools were added.

Places of Worship in Warminster

Church of England Churches

The Minster Church of St Denys

St Denys's Church is the oldest church in Warminster. It is believed to have been a "minster" church, meaning it was a very important church in the 900s. The church was rebuilt in the 1300s. In 1889, most of it was rebuilt again, with a longer main area.

As the town grew in the 1800s, two more churches were built. Christ Church was built in 1831 for the south of the town. St John's was built in 1865 in the southeast. All three churches are special historic buildings. St Denys' and St John's are Grade II* listed, and Christ Church is Grade II listed.

The Town's Own Chapel

The chapel of St Lawrence is on the High Street. It has been a smaller church connected to St Denys since at least 1290. Its tower is from the late 1200s or early 1300s. The rest was rebuilt in 1855–57. The townspeople bought the chapel in 1574. This made it a special church not fully controlled by the Church of England. Trustees manage it for the town.

Other Churches and Faiths

Methodists built a chapel on George Street in 1804. It was rebuilt in 1861. This group joined with the United Reformed Church in 1983 to form the United Church. Another church, a predecessor of the URC, opened in 1720. By 1829, it had 900 members, so it was rebuilt in 1839.

The Baptist chapel on North Row was built in 1810. It was made of red brick. By 1829, it had 250 members. Its inside was updated around 1850.

St Giles' Garrison Church, for the military, was built in 1968.

St George's Roman Catholic Church was built in 1922.

College and Convent History

James Erasmus Philipps, a vicar of St Denys, started a college for young men in 1860. It became St Boniface Missionary College. Its building was made much bigger in 1901 and 1927. From 1948 to 1969, it was a special college for students after their first degree. Today, its buildings are part of Warminster School.

Philipps also helped start a group of nuns, the Community of St Denys, in 1879. The nuns ran St Monica's School for Girls. This school later joined with another to form Warminster School in 1973. Today, the order helps by giving grants to others.

Important Buildings and Structures

Portway House

Warminster has one Grade I listed building, which means it's very important historically. This is Portway House, built in 1722 for a rich cloth maker. It's made of Bath stone and has beautiful ironwork from 1760.

Other important Bath stone houses include 38–40 Market Place. These are from the late 1700s or early 1800s. The Chantry, at 34 High Street, is also notable. Both are Grade II* listed.

More Grade II* listed buildings are the churches of St Denys and St John. Also, Byne House (1755) and Warminster School (1708) are listed. Wren House, from the 1720s or 1730s, is a great example of an early Georgian house. The Pound Street maltings, used for making malt, were rebuilt in 1879. The Athenaeum Centre, built in 1857, is Wiltshire's oldest working theatre. It has been showing films since 1897.

In the town, there is a tall stone obelisk. It was put up in 1873 to remember the enclosure of the parish.

Warminster Town Hall

Warminster Town Hall was designed around 1837. It was paid for by the 5th Marquess of Bath. Its front looks like a smaller version of Longleat. It has a bell, clock, and a coat of arms. The local council sold the building in 1979.

How Warminster is Governed

Warminster is part of the parliamentary constituency of South West Wiltshire. This area has been represented by Andrew Murrison from the Conservatives since 2001.

There are two main levels of local government. Wiltshire Council is the main authority for the county. Warminster Town Council has 13 elected members.

Before 2009, the West Wiltshire District Council was another level of local government. It was then removed.

Warminster's Location and Surroundings

	Bath	Westbury	Market Lavington
	Shepton Mallet		Shrewton
		Warminster
	Wincanton	Shaftesbury	Salisbury

Warminster is in south-west Wiltshire, close to the border with Somerset. Six hills surround the town. These hills offered protection to early settlers. Warminster is also near the old Selwood Forest.

A small river called The Were flows through the town. It joins the River Wylye on the south-east side of Warminster.

The small villages of Bugley and Boreham are now part of Warminster's suburbs.

How Many People Live in Warminster?

The Domesday Book survey in 1086 counted 104 households in Warminster. Most were craftspeople working for the royal estate. By 1377, the population grew to 304 people who paid a special tax. This made Warminster the tenth largest village in Wiltshire. In 1665, there were 354 households, about 1,800 people. By 1781, the area within the main roads had 2,605 people.

Warminster's Economy and Jobs

Since Warminster is in a fertile area, its early economy was mostly farming. Growing cereals was very important. An observer in 1879 said Warminster was "in the midst of a fine corn-country." The town's market was the main support for its economy from the 1500s to the 1800s. Besides cereals, wool, clothing, and malting were also traded.

Warminster's clothing trade suffered a lot in the early 1800s. There wasn't a suitable river to power new machines during the Industrial Revolution. At the same time, its malting trade declined but remained important. In 1855, the Pound Street Maltings were built. Today, malt is again made there.

When the railway line opened in 1851, it greatly hurt the town's market. Shops and inns lost most of their business. In 1860, Warminster was described as "a clean-swept, semi-aristocratic, decidedly poor place." However, by that year, the town started new businesses. These included brewing and iron-founding, which eventually helped the town recover. For example, the Woodcock Ironworks started in the 1870s to make farm machines.

In the 1900s, Warminster's economy became more linked to the British Army. Other new businesses also came, like poultry farming and shoe making. In recent times, the tourism industry has grown. Places like Longleat and Center Parcs Longleat Forest now employ many people.

Fun Things to Do in Warminster

The boating lake at the Pleasure Grounds

Warminster has a library, a museum, a theatre, and a sports centre with a pool. There are also many independent shops and restaurants. The town has a lively community, including a singing group called 'The Athenaeum Singers'. Every year, there's an illuminated carnival and a vintage bus run.

The Athenaeum is a historic building from 1858. It's Wiltshire's oldest working theatre. It used to be a place for talks, plays, and concerts. Now, it's a theatre and community hub. The Lakeside Pleasure Grounds have play areas for kids, tennis courts, a skate park, and a boating lake. This park opened in 1924.

About 4 miles (6.4 km) west of town is Longleat. This is a large country house owned by the Marquess of Bath. Its estate includes Longleat Safari Park, which opened in 1966. It was the first drive-through safari park outside Africa. It has over 500 animals, including lions and giraffes. Nearby, Longleat Forest also has a Center Parcs holiday village.

Media and News in Warminster

The Warminster Journal is the local newspaper. It has been published every week since 1881. It covers news from Warminster and nearby villages. The town is also covered by the Wiltshire Times, another weekly newspaper.

Local TV news comes from BBC West and ITV West Country.

BBC Radio Wiltshire is the local radio station for the county. Warminster Community Radio (WCR) is a local station that broadcasts on 105.5 FM and online. Warminster also has a commercial radio station on 107.5 FM. Since 2019, this station has been owned by Bauer Radio. In 2020, it became Greatest Hits Radio.

Military Presence in Warminster

The British Army has a base in Warminster called Waterloo Lines. This is home to several Army training schools. It also houses a large part of the Headquarters Field Army. The site is home to the Headquarters Small Arms School Corps and Headquarters Infantry. These groups manage recruiting and training for the Infantry. Harman Lines is a smaller base nearby. In 2013, parts of the Royal Tank Regiment were based there.

Battlesbury Barracks is near the ancient Battlesbury Camp. It is home to the Royal Dragoon Guards, an armoured cavalry regiment. From 2005 to 2020, soldiers from the Yorkshire Regiment were based here. The regiment was given the freedom of the town in 2012.

Getting Around: Transport in Warminster

Warminster is where two main roads meet: the A36 and the A350. Both roads now go around the town to the south and east. There is a service area where these roads meet. The A303 is about 7 miles (11 km) south of the town. Junctions 17 and 18 of the M4 are about 22 miles (35 km) to the north.

Warminster railway station opened in 1851. It is a stop on the Wessex Main Line. Two train companies serve the station:

• Great Western Railway runs regular trains to Bristol Temple Meads, Cardiff Central, Southampton, and Portsmouth Harbour. You can reach London Paddington by changing trains at Westbury.
• South Western Railway runs trains between London Waterloo and Yeovil Pen Mill, going through Salisbury.

Warminster's bus services are run by First Bristol, Beeline Coaches, and FromeBus. These routes connect the town with Bath, Frome, and Salisbury. Berrys Coaches runs a special route called Superfast 3 between Taunton and London.

Sports and Activities in Warminster

Warminster has a long history of sports. Many clubs started in the 1800s. Warminster Cricket Club began in 1838. Its facilities are shared with the local hockey and table tennis clubs. The West Wilts Hockey Club started around 1899 and has many adult teams. The architect John Henry Taylor designed the town's Elm Hill golf course in 1891.

Warminster Town Football Club started around 1878. Their field was updated in the 1990s. They play in Division One of the Western League. The town has a swimming club that started in 1907. Warminster Rugby Club began in 1977.

Newer additions include the Warminster Sports Centre, the Warminster Running Club, and the Wessex Blades Fencing Club.

Schools in Warminster

Warminster has several primary schools. It also has two secondary schools: Warminster School, which is an independent school founded in 1707, and Kingdown School, which became an academy in 2011. Nearby, Bishopstrow College helps international students get ready for boarding school.

Public Services in Warminster

Utilities for the Town

Wessex Water provides Warminster's water and sewage services. The water in the town centre is quite hard. SSE plc is the company that provides both electricity and gas.

Healthcare Services

The town has one main doctor's office, the Avenue Surgery. The small Warminster Community Hospital has an inpatient ward. It is run by Wiltshire Health and Care LLP. The closest minor injuries unit is in Frome. The nearest general hospitals with emergency departments are Salisbury District Hospital and the Royal United Hospital in Bath. Ambulances are provided by the South Western Ambulance Service.

Police Services

The town is served by Wiltshire Police. They have a station at The Avenue, near the fire station. The old police station was at Station Road, but it was not suitable anymore.

The former Warminster Police Station on Station Road

As of June 2020, the local police team includes:

• A Neighbourhood Inspector (for Warminster and nearby towns)
• A Neighbourhood Sergeant (for the same area)
• One Police Constable (PC)
• One Special Constable (SC)
• Three Police Community Support Officers (PCSO)

Sometimes, you might see the Ministry of Defence Police and Royal Military Police in town. This is because Warminster Garrison and the Salisbury Plain training area are patrolled by all three police groups.

Fire Services

Warminster has a fire station at The Portway. Its retained firefighters are part of the Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service. They respond to emergencies when they are called.

Warminster Community Fire Station and engine (2010)

Famous People from Warminster

• William Aldridge (1737–1797), a minister
• Freddie Bartholomew (1924–1992), a child actor
• Rupert E. Billingham (1921–2002), a biologist
• Benjamin Buckler (1716–1780), an expert on old things
• Beryl May Dent (1900–1977), a physicist
• Henry Huntingford (1787–1867), a scholar and clergyman
• John Philipps, 1st Viscount St Davids (1860–1938), a politician
• Henry Wansey (1751–1827), a wool maker and traveler

Twin Towns

Warminster is connected with these towns:

• Flers, France
• Warminster, Pennsylvania, United States

UFO Sightings in Warminster

Warminster was a place where many UFOs were reported in the 1960s and 1970s. The first sighting was on December 25, 1964. Arthur Shuttlewood recorded many more sightings over the next year. He gave his notes to the Daily Mirror newspaper. This made the town famous for UFO sightings. It led to a BBC documentary in 1966, several books, and conferences about UFOs.

Images for kids

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  Pit Mead Roman villa mosaic, an old drawing by Catherine Downes

• 

  The High Street, Warminster, around 1905

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  The former Warminster Police Station on Station Road

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  Warminster Community Fire Station and engine (2010)

See also

In Spanish: Warminster para niños