Sarsen stone cutters goggles

These steel framed goggles were used by the Free family who had a sarsen stone cutting business at Fyfield from the 1850s to 1939. Sarsen-working became an important small industry on the Marlborough Downs from 1850 to World War Two. The stone was used for house building and as setts

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Map of Wiltshire – John Speed

Our Archive and Library houses an intricate 1610 map of Wiltshire by famous cartographer John Speed (1552-1629). Speed's visually impressive maps of both county and country were renowned and sought-after worldwide. This stunning map of Wiltshire was produced for Speed's series of county maps in the atlas "The Theatre of

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Phil Harding’s Scout Uniform

A Scout Uniform, Shalbourne (Marlborough) Troop, which once belonged to archaeologist and TV broadcaster, Phil Harding. Alongside a picture of Phil and a friend in said uniform, performing scout duites in the 1960s. The uniform and acompanyments include:  brown shirt with various badges, including 'archaeologist' badge leather belt hat with

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WW2 in Devizes: The Home Front

This remarkable photograph shows the Parade held to celebrate 'Salute the Soldier Week' in early June 1944. US troops from their base on the outskirts of Devizes paraded through the town. Days later, they were in action in Normandy during the D-Day landings. Video: Online talk about the Home Front

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Pages from a Prisoner of War 'Diary' about life in the camp in Devizes

WW2 in Devizes: Prisoner of War Diary

Although referred to as a diary, it is more accurately described as a humorous account of the daily life of a prisoner, written in rhyming German. The diary was created by Herrmann Hildenstein,  who wrote the rhyming verse and Herrmann Gensler who illustrated it with watercolour drawings.  These two men

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Display case with objects buried with the Upton Lovell Shaman.

Upton Lovell Shaman

Buried in a barrow at Upton Lovell, the Shaman was a metalworker and religious leader, in touch with the spirit world. He was buried in his ceremonial cloak, decorated with pierced animal bones. These would have jangled as he walked and danced. He carried a magnificent dark coloured battle axe,

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Lacock Cup

The Lacock Cup was originally made as a drinking cup for feasting in the late medieval period and was subsequently used as a chalice at St Cyriac’s Church in Lacock until the mid 1980s. It is  one of England’s most important silver objects as it is a rare survival of

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Women’s Land Army

Photograph of 'Land Girls' on a Wiltshire farm close to Devizes. The Women's Land Army boosted agricultural production during the Second World War as men left to serve in the armed forces. We have a recording by Jean Davis that gives a vivid picture of being a Land Girl, listen

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Frontispiece of Wiltshire Words by Dartnell and Goddard, 1893

Wiltshire Words – Dartnell and Goddard

A Glossary of Words used in the County of Wiltshire by George Edward Dartnell and the Rev. Edward Hungerford Goddard, MA, published for the English Dialect Society in 1893. This book records dialect words used in Wiltshire in the 18th and 19th Centuries. It is a fascinating record of the

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Wiltshire’s Grape Cups

The Museum has in its collection several small pottery vessels that belong to a category of small ceramic containers found with Bronze Age burials, known as incense cups. They were given that name by Sir Richard Colt Hoare of Stourhead in his book Ancient Wiltshire published in 1812. Colt Hoare

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