Wall collapses at former pub in Wilton town centre

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 23 Oct, 12:32 · Archive

Part of an external wall collapsed at the former Six Bells pub in Wilton on Friday morning, prompting police to evacuate the building at around 9am on 23 October. Officers closed the surrounding area as a precaution while the structure was assessed for safety. North Street was closed between Market Square and King Street, causing traffic to build up as motorists were diverted through Wilton. Wiltshire Town Council warned the public of no through access in the town centre.

Wiltshire Police said the evacuation was carried out for public safety and referred the incident to the relevant authorities. Emergency services remained at the scene during the assessment. The full extent of the damage has not yet been confirmed, nor has it been announced how long North Street will remain closed.

Residents expressed sadness at the damage to the well-known building, which holds memories for generations of people in the town. One resident claimed on social media that the wall had been 'bowing badly for months', although this has not been independently verified.

How it is being reported

• Shocking photos show huge hole left in former pub after evacuationWiltshire Police evacuated people after a former pub collapsed.Wiltshire Times · 23 Oct, 11:57
• Shocking photos show huge hole left in former pub after evacuationWiltshire Police evacuated people after a former pub collapsed.Gazette & Herald · 23 Oct, 11:57
• Shocking photo shows huge hole left in former pub after wall collapsesWiltshire Police said the evacuation was carried out for public safetySalisbury Journal · 23 Oct, 11:00

In this story: Six Bells pub · Wilton · North Street · Wiltshire Police · Wilton Town Council

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem