Highworth
Highworth is an attractive market town six miles north of Swindon on the way to the Cotswolds. In the 18th century it was the most important town in north Wiltshire due to its thriving cattle industry and oriental mat factory. It had a much larger population than neighbouring Swindon and more than 2000 people lived there. The origins and layout of Highworth are medieval, with many historical 16th and 17th century features surviving to the present day.
Many of the town centre buildings date from the Queen Anne and Georgian periods of the 17th and 18th century, whilst the 15th century church, St. Michael's, dominates the skyline. The church was fortified during the Civil War - a cannonball which struck the church can be seen hanging inside it - and contains a memorial to Lieutenant Warneford, who was awarded the VC for destroying the first enemy Zeppelin in 1915.
The town sits to the north of Swindon, which is famous for its Brunel railway heritage and bustling town centre. Highworth itself is a jewel in the crown of Wiltshire where rolling countryside stretches as far as the eye can see and church spires signal sleepy distant communities.
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