Essential Hotels > England > Wiltshire > Malmesbury

Malmesbury is a scenic and historic market town in the county of Wiltshire. It is within the boundaries of the beautiful Cotswolds, lying somewhere between Bristol and Oxford. Malmesbury is a very old settlement. Its origins date back to the early Britons, and the area once held an Iron Age fort. It has a hilltop position, offering a natural defensive position, as well as a wealth of natural springs, providing an essential resource. These factors made it popular with settlers. After the Saxon invasion of England, Malmesbury was granted borough status by the Saxons, and it is arguably the oldest borough in England. It was obviously a significant town, and was listed as such in the Domesday Book.

Malmesbury had a formidable religious standing, primarily centred around the towering abbey. Built during Saxon rule, the original Malmesbury Abbey was famously larger than Salisbury Cathedral. A notorious story regarding the abbey pertains to a medieval monk, who attempted to fly from the top of the building using a homemade glider. He succeeded in travelling over 200 feet, but unfortunately broke his legs on landing. Malmesbury Abbey is still the most famous structure in the town, although its façade is somewhat changed, the original Saxon building having been rebuilt in later centuries.

As a religious area, Malmesbury attracted pilgrims. One of the town’s medieval sights is the Market Cross, which sits in the middle of the town square. It was reportedly constructed so as to keep the poor dry during inclement weather. Moving along its timeline, Malmesbury was later involved in several Civil War skirmishes. Many visitors to this part of Wiltshire come to enjoy Malmesbury’s heritage.

Another popular draw is that the Cotswolds. The Cotswolds is a beautiful hilly region spread across the middle of England. It broaches into several counties, including Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Somerset, Warwickshire, Wiltshire and Worcestershire. The Cotswolds encompasses rolling limestone hills and pretty-as-a-picture villages, all ripe to be explored. A popular method of traversing this designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is via the Cotswold Way Footpath. The footpath covers over 100 miles and showcases numerous historic sights along the way.