Royal Wootton Bassett’s best know landmark the Town Hall was built at the end of the 17th Century, it owes its existence to the political ambitions of the Hyde family (the Earls of Clarendon) who presented the building to the town, and also had the market charter renewed.

The upper floor of the hall was a council chamber built on 15 pillars, while below there was a store room for market goods and also a Blind House or lock-up, in which drunks were detained overnight. The building was extensively restored in 1889 when the Blind House disappeared.

The Town Hall now houses a museum which generally opens Wednesdays & Saturdays 10.00 – 12.00 for most of the year. At present they have a small exhibition on the history of the town hall in the Exhibition Room, next to town council office reception, in The Manor House, Lime Kiln SN4 7GJ.

If you are interested in local history then you may like to be a Museum Steward, for further information, please visit the Royal Wootton Bassett Town Hall Museum website