The Town of Warminster, Wiltshire

The town of Warminster, Wiltshire, England lies in thetown was caught between supporters of the monarch
western part of the county. It currently has aand those of the parliament. In fact, it changed hands
population of around 17,300 people. It sits astride thefour times during this time period.
River Were, which runs through the town itself. It isWarminster was of great assistance during the First
also a part of the West Wiltshire district, with theWorld War, when troops of the Commonwealth
origins of its name believed to have derived fromcountries of Canada, Australia and New Zealand were
'Were-Minster.'encamped in the town and its environs. Interestingly, it
The history of the town goes back to at least the 10this near to the prehistoric man-made formation,
century, when its name was first noted in the historicalStonehenge. There are also five main suburbs near
records of the day. Though it was first settled in athe town.
serious fashion in the Saxon period of England, there isThe ceremonial county and small unitary district of
evidence of Iron Age settlement around the borders ofWiltshire, in which Warminster resides, lies in the
Warminster.southwestern part of the country. It is a completely
Like many other towns in the region, its prosperitylandlocked county, with the famous Salisbury Plain -
followed along with the growth of the wool tradesite of Stonehenge - lying within its midst. Additionally, it
which took place in the latter part of the Middle Ages.is within Wiltshire that the main training area of the
Warminster also had a vigorous corn market at theBritish Army is located. Both the town and the county
time. During the English Civil War of 1642 to 1645, theare classic examples of English life and living.