Wiltshire

Towns & Villages

MALMESBURY

Malmesbury Abbey - Photo: Pat Brophy CCL

This picturesque hilltop market town near Swindon is virtually surrounded by water and bridges.





One of the oldest boroughs in England with a charter dating to the 9th century, it is dominated by the gaunt ruins of Malmesbury Abbey containing the tombs of King Athelstan, grandson of Alfred the Great, and its 8th century founder, the Saxon abbot St. Aldhelm.

A surviving part of the abbey, now the parish church, possesses a medieval manuscript bible.





‘Hobbes Cottage’ is said to have been the birthplace of the 16th century philosopher Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679).





The town centre has a 40ft high Tudor market cross.

Malmesbury Cross -
Photo: Colin Smith CCL