Malmesbury Abbey, Benedictine abbey in Malmesbury, England
Description
Malmesbury Abbey is a medieval monastery church in the English town of Malmesbury in Wiltshire. Built from pale stone, the church displays several arches with fine carvings, and its south entrance holds reliefs of biblical scenes dating from the 12th century.
History
Aldhelm established the monastery in the year 676 as a small priory, which later grew into a major center of learning. By the 11th century, the abbey held the second largest library in Europe, before much of the building was dismantled during the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII.
Culture
The name honors Aldhelm, a 7th-century scholar who served as Bishop of Sherborne before founding this monastery. Visitors today find the grave of King Æthelstan inside, whose resting place has been maintained here for over a thousand years and is often marked with fresh flowers.
Practical
The church is open daily to visitors and also serves as the parish church for regular worship. Guided tours explain the building history and the remaining Norman features, with most areas accessible without steps.
Did you know?
In the early 11th century, the monk Eilmer jumped from the abbey tower with homemade wings and flew roughly 200 meters (656 feet) before breaking both legs on landing. This attempt is considered the first documented human gliding experiment in history.
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Abbey House Gardens
71 m
The Old Bell Hotel and Restaurant
35 m
Malmesbury Market Cross
97 m
St Aldhelm's Roman Catholic Church
251 m
Town Hall
162 m
The Rose And Crown Public House
429 m
Malmesbury War Memorial
227 m
St Pauls Bell Tower
83 m
Abbey House Water Tower
83 m
70 And 72, High Street
388 m
92, High Street
423 m
76 And 78, High Street
402 m
St Marys Hall
256 m
94, High Street
423 m
Abbey House and attached rear wall
84 m
Tower House
161 m
25 And 27, Horsefair
304 m
18 And 20, St Johns Street
396 m
33, Abbey Row
179 m
Numbers 3 And 5 And Attached Wall
100 m
Cross Hayes House And Attached Wall, Railings And Gate Posts
242 m
2, Silver Street
265 m
Numbers 19 And 21 And Attached Front Railings
99 m
32 And 34, West Street
327 m
St Johns Court
446 m
80 And 82, High Street
408 m
24 And 26, Horsefair
339 m
Court House To Rear Of Number 27 And Attached Wall
435 mDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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