WHERE did George Eliot reside? Which precocious artist was doing portraits aged only six? How did Ruth Pierce's wrongdoings get discovered, and what did the Queen do here in 1990?

The answers to all these questions can be discovered by following the Devizes Town Trail, much of it marked by circular blue Heritage Plaques on buildings of architectural merit throughout the centre of town.

Invest in the booklet on the Town Trail, available at the Visitor Centre 01380 729408 and you will discover that once Devizes had a castle that was said to be one of the largest in Europe.

Starting from the Market Place, the guide tells you about the many fascinating buildings, and directs you to hidden places that could easily be missed, such as St John's Alley, and Morris Lane.

Another trail to discover is devoted to Devizes in the Middle Ages. Go into the Visitor Centre to find the first of the Medieval Town Trail plaques, which are not so easy to spot as the blue ones.

Finding the next one along the route is a bit like a treasure hunt. Again, details are in a free leaflet. All the answers can be found on the plaques.

If these trails encourage you to learn more about Devizes in ancient times, visit the Museum in Long Street, open 10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday and 12pm to 4pm Sunday (01380 727369).