WILTON, Wiltshire, a market-town, a municipal and plirliamentary borough, and the seat of a Poor-Law Union, in the parish of Wilton, is situated near the river Wily, in 51° 4' N. let., 1° 51' W. long., distant 3 miles W. by N. from Salisbury, and 84 miles W.S.W. from London. The population of the parliamentary borough in 1851 was 8607. The borough is governed by a mayor, aldermen, and burgesses, I and returns one member to the Imperial Parliament. The living is a rectory in the archdeaeonry and diocese of Salisbury. Wilton Poor Lew Union comprises 22 parishes and townships, with an area of 55,304 acres, and a population in 1851 of 10,742.
Wilton is a place of great antiquity, and its former importance is indicated by the circutnetanee of its having given name to the county, which is called in the Saxon Chronicle Wiltuuseire. It was the scene of one of Alfred's earlier battles with the Danes in 871. Wilton was the occasional residence of the West Saxon kings; and an abbey for nuns existed here at an early period. The town was pluudered and burnt by the Danish king Sweyn, in the reign of Ethelred II., 1003, but it appears to have so fur recovered as to be a place of import ance at the time of the Conquest. It was for a time (909-1045, or later) the seat of a bishoprio formed by the dismemberment of the diocese of Sherbourne, and afterwards reunited with it, just before the removal of the see to Sarum.
Wilton stands on the tongue of land formed by the junction of the Nadder and the Wily. The town consists chiefly of one long street, on the road from Salisbury to Hindon and Mere. The old church, formerly the abbey church, is now only used as a place of sepulture. The new church, erected in 1842, at a cost of nearly 30,000/. by the Right lion. Sidney Herbert, M.P., is a very elegant and highly-finished edifice in the Lombardie style, with a detached campanile. There are places of worship for Independents and Methodists; an endowed and a parochial school. Opposite the old church is the county cross.' The town-hall is an ancient plaiu brick building. Wilton was formerly famed for its carpet manufacture : this branch of industry has declined, but is still carried on to some extent, and some beautiful fabrics are produced. The market is not held regularly. There are two yearly fairs; one of them, one of the greatest sheep fairs in England, is held on September I 2th, the other on May 4th.
Near the town is Wilton House, the seat of the Earl of Pembroke, a mansion of incongruous architecture but imposing appearance, standing in a noble park, in which are also extensive gardens. The house contains a fine collection of paintings and antiquities, and a valuable library.