h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Wiltshire boasts two World Heritage Sites - the stone circles at Avebury and (most famously) Stonehenge. It's also home to the beautiful Salisbury Cathedral, the lions (and other animals!) at Longleat Safari Park, and of course the regency pleasures of Bath Spa. Tell us about your favourite places to go and things to know about Wiltshire!

Paully

I think it's in Wiltshire, it was something we always looked out for when driving down to Salisbury to see my grandparents, but somewhere there's a big chalk panda carved into a hillside. I'd be really interested if anyone could tell me more about it.

hmmm I think I know the person who could tell you that will phone them and see

Is this what you mean?

Panda Head

ah so I need only use those Link's for entries

It's really sad that it's gone, it was something we looked forward to as it meant we were nearly there.

Thanks for the link, I've always wondered what it was.

I was very intrigued myself about it thought you'd got confused with the white horse. It's a shame its no longer there I could have had a romantic walk up with bf to see it.

I've decided to take the reins on archaeology, Anglo-Saxon Wiltshire, Highworth and Swindon... whenever I have something I'll post it.

sounds good to me

Wadworth's 6X is brewed in Devizes

Looking forward to seeing your stuff, Mr Dreadful!



Paully

so who's writing up the Wiltshire entry?

Well maybe if we begin just by getting everyone who's writing *ANYTHING* about Wiltshire to post their work into this thread? That way we can have a good look at what's been done, what still needs to be done, and then hopefully someone will be able to claim the privilege for themselves!

Paully

That's a good plan.

A few snippets of stuff:
Devizes comes from an Anglo-Saxon word meaning "Boundary".
The 'worth' part of Highworth comes from the Anglo-Saxon word 'wrde' meaning 'farmstead'. The 'High' was added much later when the settlement became a town proper. It was once one of the most important market towns in Wiltshire.
Swindon's name derives from its entry in the Domesday Book where it is listed as "Swin Dun" or Swine Down, literally a hilltop pasture where pigs were kept.

Isn't Bath itself a World Heritage Site?

*sticking oar in*

Very good point, marred only by the fact that Bath isn't in Wiltshire.

Agggrrhh, of course. Was distracted by its inclusion in the first post!

Somerset I guess? (not that new fangled B&NES stuff either)

<>

That's a good point.

Paully... I think we need to get you a decent map.

Shushy! I'm reeling from the horrors of the Scottish regions/local authorities/counties/kingdoms issue at the moment!!!

Paully

I'm delighted to announce that we already have two County entries in Peer Review, waiting to receive any bouquets or brickbats that people might lob in their general direction! If you're currently either working on or contributing to a County entry of your own right now, you might like to have a quick look to see how some other researchers have tackled this challenge. They are: County Fermanagh (A6092606) and Norfolk (A6108473).

Hope you enjoy reading them!

Paully