Devizes

Article summary

Devizes ( ) is a market town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. It developed around Devizes Castle, an 11th-century Norman castle, and received a charter in 1141. The castle was besieged during the Anarchy, a 12th-century civil war between Stephen of England and Empress Matilda, and again during the English Civil War when the Cavaliers lifted the siege at the Battle of Roundway Down and the Parliamentarian Army of the West under Sir William Waller was routed. Devizes remained under Royalist control until 1645, when Oliver Cromwell attacked and forced the Royalists to surrender. The castle was destroyed in 1648 on the orders of Parliament, and today little remains of it. From the 16th century Devizes became known for its textiles, and by the early 18th century it held the largest corn market in the West Country, constructing the Corn Exchange in 1857. In the 18th century, brewing, curing of tobacco, and snuff-making were established. The Wadworth Brewery was founded in the town in 1875. Standing at the west edge of the Vale of Pewsey and the northwestern edge of Salisbury Plain, Devizes is about southeast of Chippenham and northeast of the county town of Trowbridge. The town has nearly five hundred listed buildings, some notable churches, a town hall and a green in the centre.

Key claims

1. date of birth: 1940 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
2. date of birth: 1944 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
3. date of birth: 1965 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
4. date of establishment: 1874 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
5. date of foundation: 1875 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
6. date of foundation: 1876 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
2. The record states that the date of birth is "1940". What evidence would count against this claim?
3. The record states that the date of birth is "1944". What evidence would count against this claim?
4. The record states that the date of birth is "1965". What evidence would count against this claim?
5. The record states that the date of establishment is "1874". What evidence would count against this claim?
6. The record states that the date of foundation is "1875". What evidence would count against this claim?
7. The record states that the date of foundation is "1876". What evidence would count against this claim?
8. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
9. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1375327127