HISTORIC TRAIL
The third event in this year's Warminster Carnival programme, an historic trail about Warminster, conducted by Danny Howell, was held last week [Sunday 10 September 1989]. The leisurely stroll about the town centre was blessed with fine weather and attracted 41 people.
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The trail started in the Central Car Park and made its way via The Avenue to Station Road, East Street, Market Place, Chinn's Yard, Weymouth Street, High Street and North Row, before returning to the car park. En route Mr. Howell pointed out 25 historical points of interest, some serious and others amusing.
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He commented on the appearance and architecture of two buildings at the eastern end of the Market Place, namely the Post Office and the National Westminster Bank.
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The latter, he said, was built exactly 60 years ago, in September 1929, replacing the old premises of Frank Knight, jeweller and watchrepairer.
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The bank's facade, in the Renaissance style, is in cingrit stone from Corsham, and the rest of the fabric comprises bricks made at Crockerton and Trowbridge. The architect was Mr. Palmer. The front originally had two matching doors, one each side of the three ground floor windows. The west door has since been removed, making way for a night safe.
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The site of Wilson and Kennard's old shop, on the south side of Market Place, was occupied in the 1700s by a pub called 'The Bush.' During the same period, there was a pub in the High Street called 'The Bird In Hand.'
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These were two common English pub names and gave rise to an advertising slogan which has since entered the English language as a colloquial saying - "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush", meaning that a drink at the Bird In Hand pub tasted twice as good as one in the Bush inn.
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Over 130 years ago a row of houses and shops were situated on the south side of High Street, in front of St. Lawrence's Chapel. They were demolished in 1856. One of them was the premises of a photographer and china dealer, Thomas Targett. While William Henry Fox-Talbot, of Lacock, is remembered as the father of photography, Targett was the first person in the county to exploit the commercial side of photography as a business.
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Mr. Howell said he was proud that this honour fell to Warminster, but added that he had so far been unsuccessful in discovering any of Targett's photographs.
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A vote of thanks for an interesting walk was given by Carnival Chairman Dick Goodenough. There was no charge for taking part but a collection afterwards raised £20 for carnival funds.
