Entertainment Swindon

The Campaign to Protect Rural England – Wiltshire (CPRE Wiltshire), the countryside charity dedicated to protecting, promoting and enhancing Wiltshire’s beautiful landscapes, is delighted to announce that acclaimed historian, author, broadcaster and podcaster Tom Holland will deliver a special public lecture to mark the charity’s Centenary celebrations on Friday 18th September 2026 at Salisbury Museum.

CPRE Wiltshire is the county branch of the national countryside charity CPRE. For 100 years it has worked to protect Wiltshire’s countryside, championing planning that respects the landscape, defending the county’s rich natural and historic heritage, and promoting a thriving, sustainable rural environment for future generations. Its work is made possible through the support of members, volunteers and donors who share a passion for keeping Wiltshire special.

Entitled From Standing Stones to the Swindon Roundabout: A History of Wiltshire, the lecture will explore the county’s remarkable story, from its prehistoric landscape and world-famous heritage to the challenges and opportunities facing Wiltshire today.

Tom Holland is one of Britain’s best-known popular historians. A familiar voice to millions as the co-host of the hugely successful The Rest Is History podcast and presenter of Radio 4’s Making History, he has earned a reputation for bringing the ancient and medieval worlds vividly to life for modern audiences. He is also a novelist, documentary maker and one of the UK’s most respected historical writers.

Raised just outside Salisbury in the village of Broad Chalke, Tom has a deep personal connection to Wiltshire and its unique landscape. His bestselling books include Rubicon, Persian Fire, Millennium, Dominion and Pax: War and Peace in Rome’s Golden Age, his most recent work, which examines the Roman Empire at the height of its power. His writing has been translated into more than twenty languages, and he has presented numerous television documentaries exploring the history of the ancient world and Britain’s past.

Alongside his work as an author and broadcaster, Tom is President of the Stonehenge Alliance, the campaign dedicated to protecting the internationally significant landscape around Stonehenge by opposing the proposed road tunnel. His longstanding commitment to the conservation of Wiltshire’s historic environment makes him an especially fitting speaker for CPRE Wiltshire’s Centenary year, celebrating one hundred years of campaigning to protect the countryside that makes Wiltshire so distinctive.

The evening is one of the highlights of CPRE Wiltshire’s Centenary programme and, unlike many members-only events, is open to everyone. The charity hopes the lecture will introduce new audiences to its work and inspire support for the next century of protecting Wiltshire’s countryside.

Members are invited to attend free of charge as a thank you for their continued support, while guests are warmly welcomed for £15 per ticket, which includes a reception with wine and canapés before the lecture.

Event Details

From Standing Stones to the Swindon Roundabout: A History of Wiltshire

Speaker: Tom Holland

Venue: Salisbury Museum, The Close, Salisbury SP1 2EN

Date: Friday 18 September 2026

Reception: 6.00 pm

Lecture: 7.00 pm

Limited parking for disabled visitors is available outside the museum and should be booked in advance by contacting Salisbury Museum on 01722 332151.

Tickets can be booked online at:
https://www.ticketsource.com/the-campaign-to-protect-rural-e…

For anyone with an interest in Wiltshire’s extraordinary past, its treasured landscapes and its future, this promises to be a fascinating and thought-provoking evening with one of Britain’s leading historians.