Wilton
Wilton, as the name implies, was once the county town of Wiltshire or Wiltunscire as the Anglo Saxons named it. It was an important political centre and Wilton Abbey was built in the 8th century. Wilton was mentioned in the Domesday book and was a convenient stop off point on the trading routes. With the decline of Old Sarum in favour of the rise of Salisburu, Wilton went into relative decline as the traders stayed there instead. With the rise of the wool, cloth industry and especially the new industrial processes, Wilton began a new chapter after the arrival of 2 French Weavers began an association with the manufacture of carpets. After a period of growth, the Wilton Royal Carpet as it became known was one of the premier manufacturers of carpets in the country. Wilton House is situated on the edge of the town and is the ancestral home of the Earls of Pembroke, built on the site of a former abbey with the land awarded to the family during the dissolution of the Monasteries by Henry VIII. The building has been built and renovated over the centuries and has some opulent state rooms. The house ranks very highly among Country Houses and is known for its elegant gardens including the Palladian bridge. Wilton has a nice relaxed atmosphere with some good shops, restaurants and is well worth a visit. |
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