Editing Devizes (section)

{{Short description|Town in Wiltshire, England}}
{{For|the constituency|Devizes (UK Parliament constituency)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox UK place
| type = [[Market town]] and  [[civil parish]]
| official_name = Devizes
| static_image_name = Monument and Fountain, Market Square, Devizes - geograph.org.uk - 1022953.jpg
| static_image_width = 
| static_image_caption = [[Market Place, Devizes|Market Place]]
| static_image_2_name = DevizesArms.PNG
| static_image_2_width = 100px
| static_image_2_caption = Arms of Devizes
| coordinates = {{coord|51|21|10|N|01|59|45|W|type:city(10000)_region:GB-WIL|display=inline,title}}
| os_grid_reference = SU0061
| population = 16,834
| population_ref = (2021 Census)<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Devizes (Parish) (E04012689) |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/southwestengland/admin/wiltshire/E04012689__devizes/ |website=citypopulation.de |date= |access-date=29 October 2022}}</ref>
| civil_parish = Devizes
| unitary_england = [[Wiltshire (district)|Wiltshire]]
| lieutenancy_england = [[Wiltshire]]
| region = South West England
| country = England
| constituency_westminster = [[Melksham and Devizes (UK Parliament constituency)|Melksham and Devizes]]
| post_town = Devizes
| postcode_district = SN10
| postcode_area = SN
| dial_code = 01380
| website = {{URL|https://www.devizes-tc.gov.uk/|Town Council}}
}}

'''Devizes''' ({{IPAc-en|d|ᵻ|ˈ|v|aɪ|z|ᵻ|z}}) is a [[market town]] and [[civil parish]] in [[Wiltshire]], England. It developed around [[Devizes Castle]], an 11th-century [[Norman architecture|Norman]] castle,<ref>[http://www.devizesheritage.org.uk/the_green_and_crammer_photogalleries.html Devizes Heritage: The Green and Crammer] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100425040429/http://www.devizesheritage.org.uk/the_green_and_crammer_photogalleries.html |date=25 April 2010 }}</ref> and received a charter in 1141. The castle was besieged during [[the Anarchy]], a 12th-century civil war between [[Stephen of England]] and [[Empress Matilda]], and again during the [[English Civil War]] when the [[Cavalier]]s lifted the siege at the [[Battle of Roundway Down]] and the  [[Roundhead|Parliamentarian]] Army of the West under Sir [[William Waller]] was routed.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-02-28 |title=Battle, Roundway Down 1643 |url=http://www.devizesheritage.org.uk/battle_of_roundway.html |access-date=2024-06-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120228224818/http://www.devizesheritage.org.uk/battle_of_roundway.html |archive-date=28 February 2012 }}</ref> Devizes remained under Royalist control until 1645, when [[Oliver Cromwell]] attacked and forced the Royalists to surrender. The castle was [[Slighting|destroyed]] in 1648 on the orders of Parliament, and today little remains of it.

From the 16th century Devizes became known for its textiles, and by the early 18th century it held the largest corn market in the [[West Country]], constructing the [[Corn Exchange, Devizes|Corn Exchange]] in 1857. In the 18th century, [[brewing]], curing of tobacco, and [[Snuff (tobacco)|snuff]]-making were established. The [[Wadworth Brewery]] was founded in the town in 1875.

Standing at the west edge of the [[Vale of Pewsey]], Devizes is about {{convert|10.5|mi|km}} southeast of [[Chippenham]] and {{convert|11|mi|km}} north-east of the [[county town]] of [[Trowbridge]]. The town has nearly five hundred [[listed building]]s, some notable churches, a town hall and a green in the centre.