Westbury residents and visitors can now embark on a fascinating journey through the town’s rich history, thanks to a new series of heritage boards installed at key locations around the town.
Following the success of the first board installed outside the library in 2023, which received enthusiastic feedback from the community, the town council’s Vision for Westbury committee commissioned four additional boards. These new boards have been made possible in part by funding from the Wiltshire Towns Programme grant, a scheme dedicated to enhancing town centres through creative projects.
Ben Griffiths, Westbury Town Council’s town engagement and development officer, said, “The committee identified four key locations with the vision of creating a heritage trail connecting all five boards. We collaborated with the Westbury Heritage Society, who provided historical text and photographs relevant to each site.
“The new boards can now be found at the Swimming Pool, the Market Place, the Churchyard, and Alfred Street to go with the first one at the library.”
The new heritage trail is designed to be both informative and interactive. Each board features a QR code that visitors can scan using their smartphone cameras, directing them to the ‘Explore Wiltshire’ app. Through the app, users can access additional content about Westbury’s history. Although Westbury was only recently added to the app, it has quickly become one of the most viewed locations, highlighting the community’s keen interest in local heritage.
This initiative is part of a broader effort to increase footfall in the town centre and boost local engagement. “Projects like this help to raise the profile of Westbury, drawing in visitors and locals alike, while also helping to revitalise the town centre,” added Ben.
“For those who prefer not to use the app, printed maps showing the locations of the boards are also available. So why not take a stroll and explore the stories that have shaped Westbury into the town it is today?”
Pictured above: Ben Griffiths from Westbury Town Council, Mayor cllr Jane Russ and cllr Mark Bailey
Pictured below: The boards at the Swimming Pool (1), the Library (2), the Market Place (3), the Churchyard (4), and Alfred Street (5).
