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
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
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
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
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