Malmesbury Abbey — Attraction in Great Britain

What an amazing place ! I have wanted to visit here for years ! I can't begin to explain how excited I was to be here . Aethelstan should be enough to explain why WOW the man himself looking rather small I must say but glorious all the same explains why . That's not fair of course there is William too a statue of a rather dejected looking and lonesome monk reminded me of him . This place is great you have the Abbey statue and museum . I was treated to a practice session by the malmesbury singers which was cool the lovely lady that greeted me was great . You can see a Turner painting in the museum which reminded me of Constable painted in watercolour I believe . The simple Crucifix in Aldhelms chapel I thought was fantastic and made me think of Bernard's vanity of vanities this can't apply here beautiful simplicity . Maybe the best chapel I have visited . You can also see the Malmesbury Refecory Vulgate Bible 1447 which was amazing 600 years old and still looks...

Lovely place run by knowledgeable people, history is fascinating. Look at the model to understand that the spire and tower fell in 1500s and only half the building remains. It was bought for £1517 by a local business man /politician William Stumpe who wanted to use it for a factory but ended up building a factory in the grounds and donated the remaining Abby to become a church in 1541. King Athelstan's tomb is there, it's empty but he is thought to have been buried in the original abbey, which he supported.

Also worth a look are the stained glass windows designed by Burne June's, made by William Morris factory. ... And the strange watching loft, which noone was sure what it was for? Sick monks or keeping an eye on the many pilgrims that visited the abbey.

Free to enter donate to up keep or grab a cuppa from the cafe. Services on going so check...

We visited the abbey as part of a trip, mostly to see the Abbey Gardens (private, only open 6 days a year). The abbey obviously borders the gardens so was a great backdrop. The building is in a good state of repair which is nice to see, although most of the original abbey has been looted and demolished. The interior has some lovely stone work and some of the ceiling bosses are still painted. Athelstan's tomb (a medieval construction I think, certainly not Saxon) is inside and there are information boards on him and Anselm as well as some 15th century illuminated bibles. Staff inside were very friendly and this felt less dead than most churches I've visited, it felt like it was still a used and useful part of the community so good work to the Malmesbury team there. Lovely little cafe too with fantastic...