Westbury House, St. Margaret`s St,Bradford on Avon
In 1767 a Clothier named Joseph Saunders had workshops and a dye house adjoining the house. By 1788 Joseph Phelps was leasing it and attempting to convert a carding engine for scribbling. Three years later a mob attacked the house with stones. Phelps and his neighbours reacted by firing on the mob and killing 3 people. The engine was seized and burnt on the Town Bridge. Three years later Phelps was dead and a Dr. Bethell had taken it on. It was his son,. Richard who was later to be Attorney-General and eventually Lord Westbury. Thomas Timbrell a Banker in Bradford and Trowbridge became the owner in the early 18th Century and the workshops were let to Samuel Mundy & Co., which also occupied the factory at the Chantry. There was a large Dyeing business run from the site for many years under the name of Spackman and Timbrell. The trade continued under Moore and Co. until 1903. One of their large buildings is today used by the community as St. Margaret's Hall.The House was afterwards occupied by Mr. George Spencer, and later by Mr. Charles S. Adye.
 
Westbury House 1905
 
The War Memorial was unveiled on august 2nd 1922 by viscount Long of Wraxall. it stands in memory of the 126 town people who died during the 1st. World War.
 
 
 
1837 Map of Town . Westbury House (no.1106) , Prebend house (1101) and Quakers Meeting House (no.1109)
This Indenture made the 18th November 1718 between John Clark of Bradford, Chimest and John Baskerville of the same, Clothier of the one part and John Shrapnell of Bradford, Clothier.for 5 shillings discharge to John Shrapnell all that parcel of pasture ground containing in length 57 feet and in breadth at the east 12 feet and at the west end thereof breadth 8 feet bordering a piece of ground belonging to Charles Hinton divided by a wall on the south side and another piece of ground of the said Charles Hinton on the east and having a piece of ground belonging to Mr Thresher divided by a wall on the west end and a yard called the Quakers Meeting House Yard and the north side thereof and rangeth from a now wall lately erected by the said Charles Hinton near the said Meeting House four... within the end of the said wall straight along to the White line made in the said wall divideth Mr Threshers ground with free liberty to and from the said John Shrapnell and heirs to erect a wall on the said .. of the said Charles Hinton unto the last mentioned wall ... from the now dwelling house of the said John Shrapnell in St. Margarets Street ... were amongst the lands of Manasseth Whitehead by Edward Baily and by him sold to John Whatly and by him conveyed unto Edward Davis and Richard Burcombe by them unto the said John Clark and John Baskerville and now in the possession ... granted unto the said John Shrapnell

extract from Rev. W.H. Jones`s History of Bradford on Avon:
On the introduction of the spinning jennies, and the carding machines, no disturbance had arisen, however much men may secretly have murmured them. But when a step further was taken, then their broke out iuto open resistance. On the evening of 14, 1791, a tumultuous mob of nearly 500 persons
assembled before the house of Mr. Phelps, an eminent clothier of the town who lived in the first large house on the right hand after passing the bridge, on the road from Bradford to Trowbridge. [This house was later on occupied by Dr. Bethell, and in it his son Richard, afterwards Lord Westbury and Lord Chancellor, was born. Hence its present name, Westbury House.] It was afterwards occupied by Mr. George Spencer, [but now by Mr. Charles S. Adye.] There are still to be seen in the garden wall facing the street traces of the holes through which Mr. Phelps and his friends fired upon the rioters. [The Author seems to have been mistaken: I find no trace of these holes on the inner side of the wall.']
The matter of complaint was, that he had converted one of his old carding engines into a scribbling
machine, which the hand-scribblers believed would eventually throw them out of employ. A demand was, therefore, made by the mob that Mr. Phelps should deliver up the machine into their hands, or else pledge himself never more to work it. On his refusing to do so the rioters began to throw stones, whereby many who by this time had come to the assistance of Mr. Phelps were seriously wounded. They continued their assault until not only all the windows of the house were broken, but much of the furniture damaged. Feeling that their lives were in danger, Mr. Phelps and his friends fired on the mob, and a man, a woman, and a boy were killed, and two others dangerously wounded. Still the tumult was unappeased, and, as the only means whereby to save the further effusion of blood, Mr. Phelps surrendered the obnoxious machine into their hands, and they burnt it upon the bridge. Some of the principal rioters were subsequently captured, and sent to take their trial at the ensuing assizes. The coroner's inquest which sat on the slain bodies, returned a verdict of ' justifiable homicide.' The prisoners' names were Samuel Norman, James Bryant, William Greenland, and Benjamin Derrett. Against Derrett no bill was found-The rest were acquitted.
Memorials in Holy Trinity Church:
BETHELL GEORGE ; a Magistrate for the County of Wilts, (d. March 26, 1795) : and SARAH, his wife (d. Jan. 7, 1777) ; also ELIZABETH, their daughter (died in infancy).
BETHELL JAMES ; of Lady Down (d. April 24, 1831), and ELIZABETH, his wife (d. Feb. 7, 1820) ; - also SAMUEL, their second son (d. Feb. 7, 1831),
It is with this latter family that Sir Richard Bethell, late Attorney- General, [afterwards 1st Lord Westbury, and Lord Chancellor] is connected ; he being the son of Dr. Bethell - (a brother of the above-named 'James Bethell ')- formerly of Bradford and afterwards of Bristol.