Malmesbury, Wiltshire

Location Map

Malmesbury is a town in Wiltshire

Other current and historical names

Location and coordinates are for the approximate centre of Malmesbury within this administrative area. Geographic features and populated places may cross administrative borders.

Malmesbury in historic gazetteers

Gazetteer of the British Isles (Edinburgh: Bartholomew, 1887). John Bartholomew

Malmesbury.-- market town, Wilts, on river Avon, 16 miles NW. of Swindon and 94 W. of London by rail, 325 ac., pop. 3133; P.O., T.O., 2 Banks. Market-day, Saturday. This is a pleasantly situated, ancient, and highly interesting town. William of Malmesbury refers to its monastery having been founded in 670. Of several relics of antiquity existing in the district the best known is the abbey church, the ruins of which are very interesting. Brewing and silk mfr. are the industries of the place. William of Malmesbury (12th century) was precentor of the abbey; and Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679), the philosopher, was a native. Malmesbury is a corporate town, and the governing charter (8th William III.) recites previous charters of Athelstan, Henry IV., and Charles I. It returned 2 members to Parliament until 1832, and 1 member from 1832 until 1885.

Malmesbury in the Domesday Book

A village in Cicementone hundred, in the county of Wiltshire.

Six manors recorded in Domesday.

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