These are my stories They are pieced together from many sources - but all the mistakes are my own Rosemary Hawkes	SECRET TROWBRIDGE local histories inspired by original research into the history and pre-history of Trowbridge Town Hall	from a private collection
SOURCES Wiltshire Times, February 1900 The Annals of The Yeomanry Cavalry of Wiltshire, H. Graham, 1908 Trowbridge in Pictures 1812-1914, ed. M. Landsdown, M. Marshman, K. Rogers, 1979 Trowbridge Postcards & Ephemera www.flickr.com/photos/93838966@N02/	The boer war memorial at Trowbridge town hall The South African War Memorial was commissioned by the Trowbridge South African War Committee. The memorial was cast by Singers of Frome, and made in bronze with a black lacquer inlay, framed in oak. Singers would have been quite famous in 1903, as theirs was the foundry which had cast the wonderful statue of Boadicea by Thornycroft, which had been installed near Westminster Bridge only a year before. Singer’s invoice to the Trowbridge South African War Committee Courtesy of Frome Museum https://fromemuseum.wordpress.com/collection/metalworking/singers/ The bill was paid for by public subscription, at a cost of £80, a sum which would now be equivalent to well over £8,000. The memorial was unveiled by Lieutenant-General Lord Methuen, on 21^st November 1903. A note from Col. Long, on Imperial Yeomanry headed paper, addressed Trowbridge Barracks TROWBRIDGE POSTCARDS AND EPHEMERA (www.flickr.com/photos/93838966@N02/) Most of the regimental officers joined him in the barracks over the next few days, some of them so keen that they rode into Trowbridge on the day they got their telegrams, fresh from the Boxing Day hunt, and still wearing their hunting pinks. Within a week, some two hundred men had enlisted, and by the middle of January there were upwards of three hundred men and two hundred and fifty horses. So many men volunteered that three squadrons were formed. This was more than twice the number that could be accommodated in the barracks. Many of the volunteers to be billeted out in the town, and a large number were quartered in the military hospital. The weather throughout January and February 1900, when the new recruits were training, was dreadful, with incessant rain making the parade ground completely unsuitable for cavalry training. Col. Long showed his determination and ingenuity by hiring in a circus tent to provide a riding school under cover. Colonel Long in military uniform, standing outside the improvised riding school THE ANNALS OF THE YEOMANRY CAVALRY OF WILTSHIRE (H. Graham, 1908) The three companies of Wiltshire Imperial Yeomanry were paraded on 26^th February 1900, the day before embarkation. Colonel Long took the salute, before making the journey to Liverpool Docks, to wave them off on the troopship Cymric. The final parade of the Wiltshire Imperial Yeomanry at Trowbridge Barracks TROWBRIDGE IN PICTURES 1812-1914 (ed. M. Landsdown, M. Marshman, K. Rogers, 1979) The people of Trowbridge gave the whole contingent of volunteers a magnificent send off, with a hundred torch bearers lighting their way to the station, and the whole route lined with cheering crowds. On what was a cold and dark February evening, the men of the Wiltshire Imperial Yeomanry marched off to the South African War, with the band of the Volunteer Regiment marching behind to play them out.	A happy incomer from London, with an academic background and a very supportive husband, I started by researching the history of Trowbridge Town Hall. I was soon beguiled by the colourful history and curmudgeonly character of this under-appreciated, and quietly beautiful, West Wiltshire town. All My Life (Lennon & McCartney) There are places I remember All my life – though some have changed Some forever – not for better Some have gone – and some remain All these places have their moments With lovers and friends – I can still recall Some are dead – and some are living In my life – I’ve loved them all