Devizes

Devizes is a market town in the county of Wiltshire in southwest England, arranged around a central square with shops and historic facades. The streets in the town center show buildings from Georgian and Victorian times, while beyond the center a canal with locks runs through the countryside.

A Norman bishop built a castle here in the 11th century, connecting three Saxon parishes and forming the starting point for the later settlement. The town grew during the Middle Ages as a trading place for wool and grain, with the marketplace becoming the heart of urban life.

Visitors notice the regular farmers' markets on the central square, where local traders sell regional produce. The museum in town preserves prehistoric gold finds that visitors can view today.

The marketplace sits centrally and offers access to shops, cafes and public facilities within easy walking distance. Those wishing to visit the canal can use the towpath alongside the locks, where the ground becomes uneven in places.

The canal locks at Caen Hill form an unusual series of 29 consecutive steps, built in the 18th century to overcome the change in elevation. Boats take several hours to travel the entire stretch, which onlookers can watch from the bank.

Location: Wiltshire

Website: http://devizes-tc.gov.uk

GPS coordinates: 51.35278,-1.99583

Latest update: December 13, 2025 19:34