DOWNTON, a town in the hundred of the same name,
in the county of Wilts, ninety miles from London. There was a castle here in former times. It has some trade in making paper, and in linen goods. It is an ancient burghage tenure borough belonging to the Earl of Radnor, and one of those recently disfranchised. The inhabitants amounted in 1801 to 2426, in 1811 to 2624, in 1821 to 3114, and in 1831 to 3652.