New trail showcases the best of Devizes's history

Natasha Morabito, who lives in Lymington, has worked throughout the latest lockdown to pull together an interactive trail to be enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.

The tour was created for the Secret Stories app - a new project by Ordnance Survey to encourage people on mapped adventures.

Starting at the Market Place, the Devizes tour takes would-be historians on a walking tour of the town - with different periods of history highlighted via the app.

Natasha

Natasha said: “I wanted something that wouldn’t be too long, around two hours, that would suit everyone. With lockdown, it was a bit trickier doing the research, as usually I would go to a library and speak with people, but almost all of it was done over the internet.

“I spent a lot of time researching before choosing the final stories to include in the app.

“The trail is intended to be for all ages, it’s quirky history rather than textbook history and was a lot of fun to put together.”

One of the stories features Brownston House – on New Park Street. The house was home to Sir Wadham Locke, the MP for Devizes in the mid 1800s. His daughter Fanny defied conventions of the day when she travelled with her husband Henry, an army officer, during the Crimean War. She later published a diary of her thoughts during her time away, which was read by many back in England.

However, some judged her for being unladylike and she was pointedly “snubbed” at the Royal review of her husband’s regiment after the war.

The dramatic tale of Henry Vincent, who was chased out of Devizes, is also included in the new trail. The chartist was trying to convey his campaign for the right to vote – as at the time only men who owned property could vote - but the locals were not a fan of his message.

Vincent concentrated his efforts on recruiting supporters for the Charter in the West Country and South Wales. He was not always welcomed by local people and in Devizes he was attacked and knocked unconscious.

Trying to speak outside the Bear Hotel, in the Market Place, he was promptly chased out of town by a furious mob, who chucked sticks and stones at him.

Further tales, such as the history of Devizes’s star-shaped twist on the Simnel cake, and the story of William the Conqueror’s son Robert Curthouse, who was imprisoned at Devizes Castle, also feature.

Natasha added: “I thought it was important to include all kinds of stories, from all sorts of people and classes. To walk in their footsteps around Devizes, and see what happened to them, is quite special.”

“The Wiltshire research made me realise how people in England were shaped as a whole. Even in the smallest of rural villages or towns, people’s lives were shaped by much bigger decisions they had no control over. There’s still much more to find out, but I am hoping this can be a good starting point for both locals and visitors to Devizes alike.”

Search Secret Stories on your app store to find out more about the trail.