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Things to do in Westbury, Wiltshire

The Wiltshire town of Westbury is most famous for its White Horse carved into the chalk hillside.

Westbury White Horse and Bratton Camp Iron Age Fort
Westbury White Horse and Bratton Camp Iron Age Fort © Jenny Thompson - stock.adobe.com

Just above the White Horse is the site of an Iron Age hill fort called Brattan Castle which indicates how long this area has been settled.

Memorial gardens © Geoffrey Kneale
Memorial gardens © Geoffrey Kneale

Westbury is 18 miles south-east of Bath in an area known for its pretty and historic towns. It is sometimes known as Westbury-under-Plain, being beneath the cliffs of Salisbury Plain.

Westbury has a population of around 14, 000 people and is on the busy A350. The town is centred around the old marketplace and has a magnificent Town Hall built by Sir Manasseh Massey Lopes.

Old police station © Geoffrey Kneale
Old police station © Geoffrey Kneale

All Saints Church dates back to the 14th century and remarkably has the third heaviest peal of bells in the world!

It also has a copy of the Erasmus Bible, the original Greek text which was used for later translations. The 16th century clock was built by a local blacksmith and has no face.

Town Hall © Geoffrey Kneale
Town Hall © Geoffrey Kneale

The town has a good range of cafés, restaurants, takeaways and several supermarkets; pubs including the Angel, the Bell, the Crown Inn, the Horse and Groom and the Railway Inn, all in historic buildings.

Local pub © Geoffrey Kneale
Local pub © Geoffrey Kneale

The Westbury Railway Station is an important hub for trains where lines interconnect from London, Exeter and South Wales.

Things to Do in Westbury

The Westbury Golf Club was formed in 1973 and offers mature parkland links at the foot of the famous Westbury White Horse.

Parish Church © Geoffrey Kneale
Parish Church © Geoffrey Kneale

Westbury Swimming Pool is England's longest surviving pool, donated to the town in 1887 by mill owner Abraham Laverton. He also built the lovely almshouses which can be seen at Prospect Square.

Take a walk up to the Westbury White Horse, the largest in Wiltshire, which has splendid views from the hill.

Prospect Square in Westbury, Wiltshire
Prospect Square in Westbury, Wiltshire © Nigel - stock.adobe.com

It's the ideal place for a picnic or to fly a kite. Hang gliders, paragliders and model aeroplane clubs use the hill for their various sports.

Other local attractions include the magnificent estate of Longleat with its safari park, railway and maze.

Longleat House
Longleat House © Snowshill - stock.adobe.com

History of Westbury

The bones of prehistoric pliosaurs have been discovered at clay pits in the area.

View from Westbury White Horse
View from Westbury White Horse © iredding01 - stock.adobe.com

Historians believe the figure of the White Horse was cut into the chalk in the 1720s but local legend says it was cut in 878AD to commemorate the victory of King Alfred over the Danes.

One explanation is that it is on the location of an earlier White Horse, now obliterated. Either way, it is an interesting and historic sight.

Paragliding at Westbury in Wiltshire
Paragliding at Westbury in Wiltshire © Jenny Thompson - stock.adobe.com

Westbury was mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086 as having 500 inhabitants.

Paragliding at Westbury in Wiltshire
Paragliding at Westbury in Wiltshire © Jenny Thompson - stock.adobe.com

During the Middle Ages, it thrived on its wool trade and had several woollen mills and clothiers. Although the mills are now closed the Bitham Mill and the Angel Mill on Edward Street are now converted into residences.

In 1877 a hoard of gold coins was discovered during repairs to Bremeridge Farm. They had been buried in the courtyard one on top of the other with no sign of a container.

Fields of Wiltshire from Westbury hill
Fields of Wiltshire from Westbury hill © Jenny Thompson - stock.adobe.com

The historic Westbury Sheep Fair was an important event for sheep and horse-trading but it died out in 1945.

The Army Officer Selection Board has been located at Leighton House since 1949.

 

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