Warminster Museum Column: The new Close

We are looking again at the area around the trough in the High Street.

The only place that the photographer could have been when he took this picture is behind the parapet around the Town Hall roof. The town council would have been very happy to allow him access, because it shows a major improvement in the town centre. The photograph was probably taken in 1906.

In March 1901, the Ship Inn, which occupied the space between Mr Webb’s shop and the Athenaeum, was closed. Demolition of the Ship and of the houses close by began very soon after. This provided a link between the High Street and Portway and in the days of horse-drawn traffic, this must have been very welcome because it avoided the rather steep hill joining High Street and George Street. You may notice signs on the wall of Mr Webb’s shop; one points the way to the Congregational Chapel and the other points the way to Westbury. In those days, there was no need to make this a one-way street.

Before this new road was constructed, the short road from Portway to the Chapel was, indeed, a close. It was referred to as Common Close. The council may have seen no need to cause confusion by changing its name, so the throughway is “The Close” even if it is not a close.

You may like to look at this picture closely. The photographer seems to be an early riser. You may disagree, but we think the photograph was taken at about 8.30am and that may explain why the streets are so quiet. It is unlikely to have been Sunday because Mr Webb seems to be open for business.