Malmesbury Abbey

The earliest monastic activity in the area of Malmesbury is said to be the arrival of an Irish or Scottish hermit called Maildubh sometime in the seventh century AD. Maildubh is said to have founded a school and a monastic community. It was to this school that St Aldhelm, a relation of King Ine of Wessex was sent. St Aldhelm became abbot of Malmesbury Abbey in the later seventh century. Under the saint's guidance the Abbey flourished. Although Aldhelm left Malmesbury to become Bishop of Sherbourne, his body was returned to Malmesbury Abbey for burial.

Noted accounts of the events of the early medieval period were written by William of Malmesbury who had lived in the Abbey since childhood. It is from William that we know of the early attempts at flight made by another Malmesbury monk, Eilmer. A window commemorating his flights can be seen in the vestry.

The Abbey expanded from 1260 under William of Colerne. His building programme included a kitchen and two stone built halls, provision of a fresh water supply, new Lady chapel and a chapel dedicated to St Aldhelm. Royal visits by Henry III and Edward I demonstrate the importance of the Abbey, and the Lord Abbot, by the thirteenth century.

In the period since the Abbey’s suppression in 1539 many buildings have been lost including most of the cloister buildings, the presbytery, the north west tower and the spire. However, many of the Abbey church's finest architectural features survived the dissolution of the Abbey in 1539. This is in part because the whole complex was bought by a wool manufacturer, William Stumpe. Stumpe gave the monastic nave to the people of Malmesbury to be the parish church.

The surviving church buildings have no documented dates but are Norman in style with later additions. The core of the building is formed by six Norman bays with cylindrical pillars which support arches. A parvise can be found above the south aisle via a narrow stairway. The space is used to display some the fine illuminated manuscripts from the Abbey collection. Another unusual architectural feature is the watching loft, also above the south aisle. It has been suggested that this was used by monks for retreat as they could see and hear the services but remain alone. Also to be found inside the church is the tomb of Athelstan.

From the exterior the south porch demonstrates the best of church sculpture of the Norman era. Scenes from the Old and New Testaments feature in the inner doorway while the out arch has a continuous moulding. Evidence has been found of painting and guiding on two of the porch walls.

Click images to enlarge