Trowbridge

Trowbridge, a market-town of Wiltshire, on a rocky hill above the small river Biss, $12\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$ miles by rail SE. of Bath and 12 SSW. of Chippenham. A Norman castle at Court Hill has vanished. The fine Perpendicular church of St James (1475) has a spire 159 feet high; Crabbe the poet was rector from 1814 to 1832, and is buried in the chancel. A new town-hall, presented by Mr W. R. Brown, was opened by the Duchess of Albany in 1889; and there are also a market-house, public gardens, (1884), cottage hospital (1886), water-works (1873), &c. Trowbridge has been a seat of the woollen manufacture since Henry VIII.'s reign; and superfine broadcloth and kerseyere are largely manufactured. Pop. (1851) 10,157; (1891) 11,717.