Hear how our Bath Spa University placement student, Helen, is getting on...

Hello!

So, Linda and I have been at placement at Wiltshire Museum for two months now. Since we have been here, we have created a banner which you can now see on the front of the Assize Court railing and we have spoken to some of you in the Shambles at Thursday market! Many people stopped by to ask for updates on the Court. We can tell the building is important to you all as you were all asking for updates on its progress and use.

We have recorded Several Oral Histories about the Assize Court Building. I have had three sets of interviews both in person and on Zoom.

The interviewees have all been lovely people who have many wonderful and fascinating stories about their time with the Assize Court Building. It is wonderful to hear different perspectives from those who interacted with the Court buildings in different ways, whether they sat on the jury, worked for the police, the press or lived a stones throw away from it. Peter and Marion Hughes have been neighbours to the Assize Court building for 62 years and have seen it through all walks of life.

Did you know that the Assize Court was almost turned into a night club after it closed? That would have brought a whole new spin to the town if it had taken place!

And that members of the Devizes community had a mock court session after it closed?
Many people have little memories that build up the bigger picture of the court and it will be wonderful for us to eventually share the stories of the Assize Court with the Oral History book planned.