For nearly 150 years, the famous Wadworth brewery shire horses have been a well known and much loved part of Devizes heritage.

The horses have been a familiar sight to many as they diligently worked their way around the town delivering barrels of beer to local pubs.

Last year, the brewery relocated out of town to a new site in Folly Road. This week, residents have become aware that the horses were recently moved to Wales and that the famous sight of the dray horses will never again be seen in the town.

Wadworth & Co. has blamed this decision on cost pressures and the government. Be that as it may, many are unsurprised by this move as the writing was clearly on the wall following the relocation of the brewery out of the town, despite the company’s assertions to the contrary and their well publicised plans to build new stables for the horses. 

This is an underhand and disrespectful move by Wadworth. They have intentionally acted in secrecy - ‘gagging’ their employees and even apparently ensuring that the news is embargoed until their press release. They are fully aware that there will be a public backlash. Let’s show them they’re not wrong! 

Wadworth - we ask why you didn’t show some respect to the people and traditions of Devizes and allow the horses to have a final tour around the town? Why was Devizes not given the opportunity to say a proper goodbye to these much loved horses and to this iconic Devizes tradition?