West Wiltshire District Council’s Warminster Town Centre Conservation Area Character Assessment, Informative Document, Consultation Draft/Cabinet Draft, of December 2006, includes the following notes:
General Character And Plan Form
The Warminster Town Centre Conservation Area is centred on the linear element of the town, which runs west to east from West Street to East Street with four roads leading off in a northerly or southerly direction.
Warminster has historically functioned as a market centre. Nevertheless, even in the early 20th century Warminster was very rural in character. The later growth of the town has resulted in a much larger, more urban, settlement, but within the conservation area Warminster has retained reference to its rural surroundings as well as its retail focus.
The most actively commercial streets have not changed since the 18th century namely:
Market Place
High Street
East Street (previously called East End)
George Street (previously Chain Street)
Silver Street
Salisbury Plain has historically provided sheep pasture, consequently other historic routes into the town, such as Newport and Imber Road, may have originally been drovers routes, used to herd flocks to market or to lower pastures for the winter. The town’s well-established roads also put Warminster on the map as a coaching stop on a number of important trading routes. Whilst potentially influencing the linear plan form of the town this also opened the way for other industries to develop. In particular there was the malting industry that benefited from both the corn market and the successful agriculture industry.
These uses and historic routes, as well as the topography of the surrounding lands, have shaped the development, layout and building forms within the Conservation Area.
A number of commercial industries and activities have left their mark on the appearance and character of the town. Historically the most important industry within Warminster was the corn market, which flourished for over 600 years; however, for the vast majority of time it was an open market, and there is no obvious physical evidence of it remaining within the current conservation area.
Other uses and influences on the development and character of the town include:
Malting – at its peak there were 36 malthouses within the town and a number of these buildings have been retained. The town was probably one of the most important centres for this industry in the South West. One traditional malting, in Pound Street, is still in operation today and is internationally acclaimed for its product.
Inns and Taverns – Passing traders and the coaching resulted in a high demand for refreshment and accommodation within the town. This has both influence the architecture and building arrangements within the town and is responsible for a number of the courtyard layouts. A number of these 18th and 19th century buildings remain in use as public houses and hotels.
Cloth/wool trade – As well as bringing wealth to the town the cloth trade has left a number of weavers’ cottages and distinctive buildings. Later the town became well known for leather glove manufacturing.
Building Materials – Warminster is characterised by rubble stone cladding and bricks that were quarried and manufactured locally. This industry no longer functions making it harder to source matching materials for new development.
Ecclesiastical Influences – Amongst the normal array of Church of England, conformist and non-conformist churches there was a burgeoning centre for religious training in the town. A men’s missionary and an equivalent convent for women were established in the 19th century. They were inward looking institutions but outwardly they had an impact on the architectural character of the town and later an influence on some of the educational institutions.
Longleat Estate – Not far from Warminster is Longleat the seat of the Marquess of Bath. There is evidence that over the centuries the Longleat Estate has played an influential role, directly and indirectly in the growth and character of the town. One example of this is in the founding of Lord Weymouth’s Grammar School. Today it is responsible for attracting visitors to the area.
The Railway – Until the establishment of the railway in the mid to late 19th century it was difficult for some forms of manufacturing to function efficiently due to the cost of obtaining coal. The coming of the railway line is also seen as damaging to the corn trade and other local industries that relied on road traffic and transportation.
Military – There is also a large military presence within the town. Despite the close physical proximity of the army barracks and School of Infantry, the army’s infrastructure is hidden by the landscape and does not have a visual impact within the town.
Modern Housing Development – The form of Warminster as a whole is now dominated by large residential suburbs, reflecting the popular environment, which attracts people to the town as a place to live, rather than the success of the commercial centre, it once was.