Market Place, Devizes

Market Place is a <a href="/facts/Town_square/G9AhtLRh">town square</a> in the centre of <a href="/facts/Devizes/I2uY5lfV">Devizes</a> in Wiltshire, England. In a northwards direction it merges into Northgate Street heading towards the <a href="/facts/Wadworth_Brewery/k6XVbHR7">Wadworth Brewery</a>, while southwards St John's Street connects it to the <a href="/facts/Devizes_Town_Hall/DglV343u">Town Hall</a>. 
It was sited close to the historic <a href="/facts/Devizes_Castle/zL3LoY2j">Devizes Castle</a>, but it was not until the demolition of its outer fortifications that it could fully develop. During the eighteenth century the area developed many <a href="/facts/Coaching_inns/7fKFjv87">coaching inns</a> as it was located on one of the main routes between the capital London and the fashionable <a href="/facts/Spa_town/m4Gp2VDH">spa town</a> of <a href="/facts/Bath%2c_Somerset/mHppKuoG">Bath</a>. From 1857 to 1966 it was served by <a href="/facts/Devizes_railway_station/l1KsBs32">Devizes railway station</a> in nearby Station Road.

Buildings facing on to it today include The Shambles <a href="/facts/Market_hall/A4KhHta0">market hall</a>, the <a href="/facts/Victorian_era/HQxGp7wh">Victorian</a> Corn Exchange and several banks. While some of the old coaching inns have been converted to other uses, the square still prominently features the Bear Hotel, Pelican Inn and <a href="/facts/Black_Swan_Hotel%2c_Devizes/l3AhS942">Black Swan</a>. The Market Place also contains the <a href="/facts/Market_Cross%2c_Devizes/FfKwPjIr">Market Cross</a> built in 1814 to a design by <a href="/facts/James_Wyatt/W5axhUcR">James Wyatt</a> and the Estcourt Fountain, erected in 1879.

Market Place, Devizes open-in-new

Market Place, Devizes