A WINDOW on Wiltshire's heritage has been opened by a new book of photographs and a touring exhibition of fascinating prints.

A collection of 30 prints from Wiltshire County Council's photograph and print collection, dating back to the 19th century, are set to go on a tour of the county.

The exhibition provides an important historical record. Many of the prints are striking visual representations of some of the best-known places in Wiltshire.

The exhibition, called The Printers' Art, is touring venues throughout Wiltshire over the next year.

From January 6 to January 31 it will be in Devizes Library before moving on to Chippenham in February and Malmesbury in March.

The exhibition will continue to tour Wiltshire throughout 2005.

Images featured include a colour print showing Devizes Green from around 1840, and a mid-19th century print depicting a view of Calne from the canal.

There is also an 1824 print of Fonthill Abbey, near Tisbury by John Preston Neale, one of the most skilled early 19th century artists and engravers.

Fonthill Abbey was designed by James Wyatt for the Gothic novelist and wealthy eccentric, William Beckford, in 1796. The building was vast, with a central tower 280 feet high. However, much of it was destroyed when the tower collapsed in 1825.

The exhibition also shows that accidents on Britain's railway network are nothing new. One dramatic print in the exhibition depicts the carnage following a horrific railway accident near Downton.

The scene shows the aftermath of an accident on the Salisbury and Dorset Junction Railway at North Charford on June 14, 1884.

One of the railway carriages derailed after the train crossed a bridge over the river Avon, resulting in seven other carriages sliding down an embankment. Four people were killed and another 30 injured in the crash.

Museums officer for the county council, Paul Connell, said: "As well as historic photographs the collection includes many fine examples of prints of locations in Wiltshire. Many of the prints in the collection are also very appealing from an artistic point of view."

Meanwhile author Roberta Prince has written a new book called Malmesbury Photographic Memories. Ms Prince, the curator of the Athelstan Museum, has filled the book with 100 photographs from photographic publisher Francis Frith.

Ms Prince, whose particular interest is in Malmesbury's lace industry, has also added a number of fascinating photos provided by the Athelstan Museum.

Among the pictures featured are photographs of Malmesbury Abbey with the extensive orchard below, which has now become Cloister Gardens.

Another photograph of the abbey shows the inside of the porch.

Another familiar image is the Market Cross.

The octagonal vaulted cross was built in 1490 during the reign of Henry VII, and the picture shows it was as good a place to meet in 1924 as it is today.

Another photograph depicting a bygone age shows draper Frederick Compton's shop decorated to celebrate Queen Victoria's Jubilee in 1887.

Town councillor Charles Vernon, who is a keen Malmesbury historian, said he recommended the book to local people.

Coun Vernon said: "It has an interesting collection of photos and it illustrates exactly how in many ways Malmesbury has stayed the same during the past century.

"There are not many historical books on Malmesbury but I feel this is the best available so far."