Wiltshire

Wiltshire (abbreviated Wilts) is a large southern English county. Considered as a ceremonial county, it is landlocked and borders the counties of Hampshire, Dorset, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire, and contains the unitary authority of Swindon. The county town is Trowbridge, situated in the west of the county at {{coor dms|51|19|11|N|2|12|32|W|}}. The county covers 84,612,062 acres (3476 km²)

History

Wiltshire is particularly well-known for its pre-Roman archaeology. The mesolithic, neolithic and bronze age Celtic tribes that occupied southern Britain built settlements on the hills and downland that cover Wiltshire. Stonehenge and Avebury are perhaps the most famous neolithic sites in the UK.

Related Topics:
Roman - Archaeology - Mesolithic - Neolithic - Bronze age - Celtic tribes - Stonehenge - Avebury

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In the 6th and 7th centuries Wiltshire was at the western edge of Saxon Britain, as Cranborne Chase and the Somerset Levels prevented the advance to the west. In 878 the Danes invaded the county, and, following the Norman Conquest, large areas of the country fell into the hands of the crown and the church. In the 17th century English Civil War Wiltshire was largely Parliamentarian.

Related Topics:
6th - 7th - Saxon - Cranborne Chase - Somerset Levels - Danes - Norman Conquest - 17th century - English Civil War - Parliamentarian

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