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Market Place, Wilton


Photo of Wilton, the Square c1965, ref. w166066

Reproduced courtesy of Francis Frith.

The Market Place, in the centre of Wilton, could be said to date from ‘time immemorial’.

Edward I (king from 1272 until 1307) referred to a charter for a market in Wilton having been granted by his ‘ancestors’. (1)

The market was a significant part of the economy of a town or city. Apart from being the place where a significant quantity of goods and services were traded, taxes on the market were a source of income for the local aristocracy.

The decline of Wilton’s market, and the decline of Wilton itself as a regional centre, was mirrored, if not caused, by the growth of Salisbury market, which was permitted by the city’s charter in 1227 (2)

The holding of the market in Salisbury was the subject of some controversy. In 1240, people in Wilton alleged that there was a market being held in Salisbury every day, when the charter only allowed for a Tuesday market. In 1274, people in Salisbury accused the bailiffs in Wilton of physically way-laying traders and forcing them to go to Wilton market rather than Salisbury (3)

In 1305, the king forbade merchants to trade in Salisbury on the days of Wilton markets.(4)

Wilton fair

The fair in Wilton dates back to at least 1212.

In 1288 it lasted from the 14th to the 21st of September. In 1300, it was said to last only from nine o’clock on St Matthew’s Eve (20th September) until nine o’clock on St Matthew’s Day (the 21st).

According to the Victoria County of History, there were various different fairs at various different times. There were fairs of Saint George and Saint Giles in 1751, and fairs in April, July, October and November in 1731.

By the 19th Century, the September sheep fair was the main fair in Wilton. At peak 100,000 sheep were brought to the Wilton Sheep fair.

  1. Page Date accessed 30 November 2009. [↩]
  2. ‘Salisbury: The market place’, A History of the County of Wiltshire: Volume 6 (1962), pp. 85-87. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=41787 Date accessed: 30 November 2009. [↩]
  3. ‘Wilton: Markets, fairs, agriculture and mills’, A History of the County of Wiltshire: Volume 6 (1962), pp. 17-21. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=41767 Date accessed: 03 December 2009. [↩]
  4. ‘Wilton: Markets, fairs, agriculture and mills’, A History of the County of Wiltshire: Volume 6 (1962), pp. 17-21. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=41767 Date accessed: 04 December 2009. [↩]

Posted in Street Names.

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By mattypenny – February 8, 2010

Lunn Poly, now Fone Solutions

Fone Solutions, was Lunn Poly
This building, on the corner of the High Street and Silver Street achieved some notoriety when Bill Bryson criticized it in his book Notes from a Small Island Lunn Poly, now Fone Solutions. He says:

In the centre of town, there stood a small building occupied by Lunn Poly travel agency. Upstairs the structure was half-timbered and quietly glorious, downstairs, between outsized sheets of plate glass covered with handwritten notices of cheap flights to Tenerife and Malaga, the facade had been tiled, tiled with a mosaic of little multi-toned squares that looked as if they had been salvaged from a King’s Cross toilet.
(1)

Bill Bryson is right, of course, but personally I find the mention of ‘cheap flights to Tenerife and Malaga’ irritating. It seems to me that he’s saying that it would be less ugly if the adverts were for, say, Tuscany and Provence.

Anyhow, the building was briefly ‘Credit Crunch Corner’. As such it made a regional news story. I wish I’d taken a photo of it then.

As you can see it’s now ‘Fone Solutions’.

  1. R18d-2005_02_02.pdf (application/pdf Object) [↩]

Posted in Buildings.

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By mattypenny – February 7, 2010

John Glen wins Salisbury Conservatives ‘Open Primary’

Congratulations to John Glen, and commiserations to the other 5 candidates.

John Glen - Conservative candidate

John Glen on the internet

Posted in Street Names.

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By mattypenny – January 31, 2010

Q&A with Jeremy Quin – candidate for Salisbury Conservative nomination

I’m pleased that all of the candidates for the Conservative nomination to be Salisbury’s next Member of Parliament have agreed to answer a set of questions for this website.

Jeremy’s introduction on the party website says:

Being able to help, and get results, for all constituents, is why I want to be MP for Salisbury. With a countryside and cathedral City background, married, with experience of a senior role in HM Treasury and 18 years in business/finance, I will work tirelessly and always put Salisbury first.

Why do you want to represent Salisbury?

Jeremy Quin - Conservative candidateI want to have the opportunity to serve what is a great community. I’ll never forget my first visit to Salisbury as a child, it is a stunning place and I found in my weeks campaigning that the people of the constituency are as warm and genuine as Salisbury is beautiful. To be able to serve them in the same tradition as Rob Key would be a dream come true.This bit of text will hopefully be invisible.This bit of text will hopefully be invisible This bit of text will hopefully be invisible

What would you most like to change in Salisbury?

The traffic – especially the lorries in and out of Churchfields.

How would you encourage more business and jobs into the area?

Encouraging people to live and work here is easy – the schools, local NHS and quality of life sell themselves. What constrains us is the constant balancing of higher growth and protecting the very quality of life that we all value. South Wilts needs both more private sector jobs and more affordable housing but development must be sensitive to local concerns.

What do you think of the plans for the Market Place?

I have been assured by Salisbury Vision that plans will be subjected to full consultation – which is critical. Although there are aspects of the scheme that I think are just over-the-top and I don’t like, I am of course pleased by the prospect in principle of investment in the city centre – but can we please fill all the potholes and fix the pavements first!

And the plans for Stonehenge?

I’m in favour of the new visitor centre. Its gone on embarrassingly long and we should get on with it. Better tourist facilities at Stonehenge may though have a negative impact on time spent by day-trippers in Salisbury: we need to persuade more visitors to use Salisbury as a hub for longer stays.

How could the transport links in and out of the city be improved? What should take priority – road or rail?

So much money and time has been spent on addressing this issue that I’m reluctant to come out with my own sweeping answers – but I have already been told several intriguing ideas by local residents that don’t appear to have made it into the expensive reports! This is a huge problem for the city and will be a major ongoing issue for any successful candidate.

Which previous Conservative leader do you most admire? Why?

Churchill (no explanation required!) and Robert Peel (Prime Minister in the 1840s) who was prepared to put the welfare of the people of the country above all other considerations, whatever the dire personal and political consequences.

What’s been the worst failure of the Labour government?

Due to their borrowing on our behalf every child owes £22,500 from birth in national debt and they are still borrowing a stack of pound coins the height of the cathedral spire every 6.5 seconds – if this goes on services we all rely on will come under real threat.

What has been the most significant achievement by the Labour government?

Independence of the Bank of England – which means the Governor can and does criticise the Government for getting it wrong.

Should we have a referendum ‘about Europe’? When? What question should be asked?

We need to get powers returned to the UK. If we fail to turn the tide it may come to a future referendum though we must try on behalf of all the people of Europe to reverse the federalist express first. In negotiating with the EU we must remember that the UK is one of the world’s top trading nations and a major European market to which they need access – this is NOT a one-way discussion!

Would you maintain the minimum wage?

Yes

What are the advantages and/or disadvantages of ‘Open Primaries’?

There are huge advantages. The Conservative candidate if elected will serve all the people of this constituency and all of them are being given a role in selecting who that will be.

Would you support Proportional Representation?

No. I think it leads to weak Government and it reduces the electorate’s ability to dump failure.

Is ‘big business’ spoiling football? Should the government be more involved?

I regret that football has become so money dominated but this is an international issue – for the Premier League to have the best players they have to pay for them. I don’t think we want heavy Government interference but I do think that sporting events play a huge role in the life of the nation and I am not at all sure enough of them are available on free-to-view TV.

What is your favourite piece of music?

A Fairytale of New York by Kirsty MacColl and the Pogues

What is your favourite film?

Slumdog Millionaire

What is your favourite book?

Do I get the Bible and Complete Works of Shakespeare for free? If so Captain Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres

What is your favourite view of the Cathedral?
From the city side approaching through the High Street gate to the close – that was from where I first saw the cathedral, it made a huge impact then and still does now.

I’m afraid I won’t accept comments on any of these political postings. The main reason for this is that there isn’t now time for the candidates to reply. If you do want to take something up with any of them, I’d suggest either the candidate’s own website or the meeting on Sunday 31st. Sorry.

Posted in Salisbury News.

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By mattypenny – January 30, 2010

Q&A with Victoria Atkins – candidate for Salisbury Conservative nomination

I’m pleased that all of the candidates for the Conservative nomination to be Salisbury’s next Member of Parliament have agreed to answer a set of questions for this website.

Victoria’s introduction on the party website says:

One of England’s top 100 criminal prosecutors, I work in the real world, speaking up for the decent majority. I will campaign to protect rural life; fight to strengthen local health, education and care services; support Salisbury’s businesses and jobs.

Why do you want to represent Salisbury?

Victoria Atkins - Conservative candidateIt is the quintessence of England: stunning landscape, steeped in history. Although not lucky enough to have been born here, I feel a real affinity with this area. I grew up in a market town in the English countryside, and the nearest city had the third highest spire in the country, so living in Salisbury would be stepping up in the world! I understand the rural way of life and have close connections with the armed forces. My husband, Paul, and I would love to make our home here. This bit of text will hopefully be invisible and so will this and so will this and so will this

What would you most like to change in Salisbury?

I’m a Conservative, and so I want to help conserve the magic of Salisbury. However, one thing which is desperate for improvement is the creaking road network. Salisbury constituency deserves a road network fit for the 21st century, including a city bypass and fewer potholes.

How would you encourage more business and jobs into the area?

I have spoken to local businesses large and small in the last couple of weeks. From Qinetiq to Bird and Carter Delicatessen in Fish Row, they tell me that the private sector needs the next Conservative government to address stealth taxes and business rates to help them survive this recession.

The public sector is a vital employer in the constituency. My priority as Salisbury’s MP will be to ensure that Salisbury gets its fair share of shrinking public spending, to maintain our excellent health and education provision, and the world-class defence industry, securing local jobs in the process.

What do you think of the plans for the Market Place?

I have discussed the Salisbury Vision at length with local councillors, businesses and market traders. The plans for the Maltings and Churchfields Industrial Estate, in particular, are commendable. Overall, the investment is welcome and the revised plans are realistic but attractive – who needs expensive Italian marble?!

And the plans for Stonehenge?

It’s a crying shame that a country so proud of its heritage has failed to protect and present this extraordinary monument. If only the money spent on consultations and fees over the years had, instead, been spent on fixing the problems of preservation, access and visitor facilities! It is good to see, therefore, that Wiltshire Council has now approved a new Visitor Centre. Let’s get on with it!

How could the transport links in and out of the city be improved? What should take priority – road or rail?

Labour stopped Salisbury’s bypass, despite the region’s desperate need for this road. Campaigning for a bypass will be one of my priorities as your Member of Parliament. In terms of rail, the rail links are generally good, but passengers pay high fares, so should receive a first class service, including wi-fi. I don’t see why the people of Salisbury should have to choose between rail and road – I would prioritise both.

Which previous Conservative leader do you most admire? Why?

I am tempted to say Margaret Thatcher, as she was one of the first women to train as a barrister at my set of chambers! However, I most admire John Major. People often forget that he governed the country with a tiny majority, and managed to achieve a great deal. He was decent and honest, and left a golden economic legacy and the foundations of peace in Northern Ireland.

What’s been the worst failure of the Labour government?

Where to start?! Destroying what was a strong pension system; selling our gold reserves at a quarter of the current price; squandering the opportunity to reform public services; it goes on and on. If I had to pick one, it would have to be the £178 billion deficit we’ll have to fix after the Great Recession.

What has been the most significant achievement by the Labour government?

Probably building on John Major’s good work in Northern Ireland. It’s easy to forget how recently we were under sustained serious threat from Irish terrorism. The peace process must continue, for all our sakes.

Should we have a referendum ‘about Europe’? When? What question should be asked?

Tony Blair and Gordon Brown promised us a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, and we should have had one before it was ratified. This was a terrible betrayal of the British people. Now Parliament has ratified the treaty, it’s too late. But if an ounce of British power is ever transferred again, it must be only after a referendum.

Would you maintain the minimum wage?

Yes.

What are the advantages and/or disadvantages of ‘Open Primaries’?

I know from my website and lots of my conversations around the constituency that Open Primaries are great for engaging people in politics. It’s definitely good to be open and give people a choice. But perhaps we should ask Simon Cowell to help us stage a more audience-friendly event: for example, a Question Time format would allow interaction between the candidates and really show us all thinking on our feet.

Would you support Proportional Representation?

No. You only have to look at Italy and Japan to see how PR takes power away from people and hands it to party elites. I’d rather that the people of Salisbury decide who they wanted to represent them, rather than a set of backroom deals in London. And PR enabled the election of the BNP to the European Parliament last summer.

Is ‘big business’ spoiling football? Should the government be more involved?

Well, football is big business and has been for a while. It’s attracted rich men as owners and investors, and always has. Some of them invest serious amounts of money in their clubs, for the long term, others less so. I don’t think that government should intervene. It’s a private industry.

What is your favourite piece of music?

Fly me to the Moon, Frank Sinatra

What is your favourite film?

The Thomas Crowne Affair, with Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo

What is your favourite book?

The Code of the Woosters, by PG Wodehouse

What is your favourite view of the Cathedral?

The view across the meadows from the cottage I am staying in, here at Stratford-sub-Castle.

I’m afraid I won’t accept comments on any of these political postings. The main reason for this is that there isn’t now time for the candidates to reply. If you do want to take something up with any of them, I’d suggest either the candidate’s own website or the meeting on Sunday 31st. Sorry.

Posted in Salisbury News.

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By mattypenny – January 30, 2010

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