Wiltshire Museum

Welcome to the Wiltshire Museum, located in the historic market town of Devizes. This institution, originally founded in 1853 by a society of 'Wiltshire gentlemen,' is dedicated to recording the story of the people who have lived…

Every major collection has its 'first piece,' and for the Wiltshire Museum, it is the remarkable Britton Cabinet. Purchased in 1853 for the 'princely sum of one hundred guineas,' this collector’s cabinet belonged to the famous…

The core of the museum’s internationally significant collection comes from the excavations of William Cunnington and Sir Richard Colt Hoare. In the late 1700s and early 1800s, these pioneering archaeologists excavated hundreds of…

One of the most breathtaking displays in the museum is the collection of gold artifacts from the Bronze Age. These items, often referred to as the 'Gold from the Age of Stonehenge,' include exquisite jewelry and ceremonial…

The museum serves as the essential companion to a visit to Stonehenge itself. While the stone circle is a celestial calendar marking the solstice sun, the museum provides the human context. …

While Stonehenge is the most famous, the museum also houses significant collections from Avebury, the world’s largest stone circle. The landscape of Wiltshire is a ritual map, and the artifacts on display here help decode it. …

The museum is not just a repository of objects but also a center for historical scholarship. The library houses an extensive collection of books and manuscripts, many of which were originally kept in the Britton Cabinet. …

As we conclude our tour of the Wiltshire Museum, reflect on the incredible depth of time we have just traversed. We have seen the 'first piece' of a great collection, viewed the gold that once adorned the high-ranking figures of…