By Tim Lambert
1086 Trowbridge is a little village with a population of about 120
1139 By now a castle exists at Trowbridge
1200 Trowbridge is allowed weekly markets and it soon grows into a busy little town. Trowbridge is also allowed annual fairs.
1540 Trowbridge is famous for its wool industry. John Leland said it ‘flourished by drapery’. However, Trowbridge is still a small town with a population of only around 1,000.
1750 By now Trowbridge is growing rapidly and it has a population of around 3,000. The wool industry is continuing to flourish.
1700 A body of men is given powers to pave, clean, and light the streets of Trowbridge
1757 Blind House is built to house prisoners
1789 Polebarn House is built
1790 Rodney House is built
1801 Trowbridge has a population of 5,799. By now it is a medium-sized town and it is growing rapidly.
1813 Isaac Pitman is born in Trowbridge
1824 Trowbridge gains gaslight
1831 The population of Trowbridge has risen to nearly 11,000. The wool industry is still the main industry in Trowbridge.
1848 The railway reaches Trowbridge
1861 Market House is built
1870 A hospital opens Trowbridge
1874 Trowbridge gains a piped water supply
1884 The Peoples Park opens
1940 County Hall is built
1951 The population of Trowbridge is nearly 14,000
1974 Castle place Shopping Centre is built
1981 The population of Trowbridge is 23,000
1982 The wool industry in Trowbridge ends
1990 Trowbridge Museum opens. Shires Shopping Centre opens.