Devizes Market Place and Landmarks

The Market Cross was designed by Benjamin Wyatt and was given somewhat begrudgingly by Lord Sidmouth.  He was Member of Parliament for the Borough from 1784 to 1805 and Prime Minister from 1801 to 1804. Apparently (and not unusual for a politician) he seemed to have forgotten an earlier promise to erect a cross way back in 1797, but the townspeople managed to persuade him and in 1814 the Cross was built.

The Fountain is a memorial to T. H. Southeron Estcourt, who founded the Wiltshire Friendly Society in 1828 and was Member of Parliament for Devizes from 1835 until 1844 and for North Wiltshire from 1844 until 1865. Friendly Societies were invaluable to the working classes, enabling them to provide mutual assistance when in financial need. Estcourt worked tirelessly for the Society, firstly as Secretary and then President.  His interest in the poor was a life-long one and he became President of the Poor Law Board in 1858. The fountain was funded by subscriptions from a grateful public in 1879. The fountain was the first use of the public water supply in the town and needed some last minute modifications because of the pressure.

There's a lively weekly market on Thursdays. A market has been held continuously in the town since the 14th century and for the last three hundred years that has been on a Thursday. That market thrives today.