Warminster is a town in western Wiltshire, England, by-passed by the A36, and near Frome and Westbury. It has a population of about 20,000 and is part of the West Wiltshire district. The town's name is believed to be derived from the name 'Were-minster'. The River Were runs through the town and can be seen running through the middle of the town park. The Minster church of St Denys sits on the River Were. The town was originally called "Minster-on-the-Were", this in time was shorted to Wereminster, which eventually became Warminster. The name Warminster first occurs in the early 10th century.