@athelstanmuseum.bsky.social
The Athelstan Museum, Malmesbury, Wiltshire. Capturing the History of Malmesbury, burial place of St Aldhelm and King Athelstan, birthplace of Thomas Hobbes, and much more...
A year ago Cotswold Archaeology were digging in the garden of Malmesbury URC in looking for the home of Thomas Hobbes.
On 28th March, CA will display the finds from the dig and give an illustrated talk as part of the Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury festival. Full details and tickets below.
How about Edwin, brother of King Athelstan. Arrested and sentenced to exile.
(OK he was then given a boat with inadequate oars, but hey..)
TEATIME TALK What has Town Twinning done for us? Wednesday 25 February 2026 2.30pm at The Rausing Building - Old Moravian Church, Oxford Street, Malmesbury SN16 9AX Julia Bowen will tell us about the history of Twinning in Malmesbury from post-war reparation to the present day. What does Twinning bring to the communities which are linked? Doors open at 2.15pm. Tea and cake is served at 2.30pm. The talk starts at 3.00pm. Tickets £8, including tea & homemade cake. See website for more details or visit Museum.
Tickets for our next TeaTime Talk are available now online or in the Museum
www.athelstanmuseum.org.uk/events/
Also available on the door
#Malmesbury #Wiltshire
Image of Malmesbury Abbey spire being struck by lightning.
Malmesbury Abbey’s spire was struck by lightning, which superheated the moisture in limestone such that it literally exploded.
Just saying…
Details and tickets available here…
www.thomashobbesofmalmesbury.org/recent-event...
THOMAS HOBBES of Malmesbury FESTIVAL 2026 After Dinner Performance and talk *John Aubrey In Conversation... John met his friend Thomas as a child. Now in his senior years, he travels forward in time to tell us about Thomas, his life and times, and with intimate knowledge of Malmesbury people, life changing events, scandals and intrigue..." John O'Brien with Tony McAleavy DINNER & PERFORMANCE Sat 28th March 7.00pm for 7.30pm Malmesbury Town Hall SN 16 9BZ Hot buffet dinner Bar available Tickets £35 Tickets are on sale until 22nd March from Malmesbury Town Council www.malmesbury.gov.uk (go to What's On and then Community Events)... or in person at the Tourist Information Centre Counter, Malmesbury Town Hall, SN 16 9BZ Tel: 01666 822143. There is also a direct link from here: www.thomashobbesofmalmesbury.org Please note: The caterers are providing a wide range of dishes. including vegetarian options, however if you have any specific allergies or questions, please email us at hobbesofmalmesburysoc@gmail.com or ask when buying your ticket at the TIC. More Festival events on www.thomashobbesofmalmesbury.org
Part of the upcoming Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury Festival.
A special Thomas Hobbes Dinner and Performance.
The United Reformed Church in Malmesbury, venue for the International Thomas Hobbes Conference.
THE THOMAS HOBBES FESTIVAL 2026
Friday 27th - Sunday 29th March 2026
We are hosting Malmesbury's first International Philosophy CONFERENCE on Thomas Hobbes. All welcome.
There will be a DINNER & PERFORMANCE at Malmesbury Town Hall.
Over the weekend, there will be TALKS, WALKS and lots more.
Malmesbury based historian and author Tony McAleavy presents an entertaining introduction to the Life and History of King Athelstan, the first King of England. This short film was made for Explore Malmesbury by students at Boom Satsuma Film School, Bristol.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcVk...
Meet the author: Sophie Cleverly Saturday 14 March 11am Malmesbury Library Sophie Cleverly was born in Bath in 1989. She has a BA in Creative Writing and an MA in Writing for Young People. Her book series Scarlet and Ivy and The Violet Veil Mysteries are published by HarperCollins worldwide, as well as being translated into 9 different languages so far. Aside from writing, she can often be found listening to symphonic metal, watching fantastical TV and struggling to find her way out of her ever- increasing pile of books. Book your free place at Malmesbury Library 01666 823611 or use the QR code. “A true page-turning, nail biting mystery.” “Very clever hidden clues in the story, so you can solve the mystery too!” “I could not put this book down.” This is the story of how I became my sister…
I'll be at Malmesbury Library in March!
05.02.2026 13:11 — 👍 3 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0Not sure about the new research. We have known this in Malmesbury for many many years.
30.01.2026 16:53 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Quiz Night Light supper included, bar available. Prizes, Raffle, Fun! Friday 13th February 2026 7pm - 10pm Rausing Building, Malmesbury (Old Moravian Church) £12.50 per person. Tickets available in the Museum Teams of 4 In support of the Athelstan Museum, Malmesbury.
Our annual renowned Quiz Night is coming up in February. Details below!
#quiz #museum #events #Malmesbury
The clue was:
Grandson of Alfred the Great who reigned from 925 to 939 as the First King of all England. (A)
(We could discuss the start date, but close enough that a few more than 1 should have got it, surely.)
Look who is an answer on Pointless this evening!
#Athelstan
Lowest score on the board with 1 point. Shame on you all (or at least 99 of the 100 people surveyed)
Athelstan Museum Malmesbury. History Club Free interactive workshops for children aged 4 - 11 years old. Moving Puctures Join us in the Rausing Building, Sunday 25th January 1.30 - 3.30 pm. (All children must be accompanied by an adult) Donations welcome.
Please note that our children’s History Club workshops have moved to Sundays.
Here are the details of the next one this Sunday.
#History #children #whatson
#Malmesbury #historyofcinema
👇 Latest from Wiltshire
Daniel's Well in Malmesbury is to be preserved for generations to come.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cr57v1lz39po?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
We are looking forward to presenting this event, in conjunction with Malmesbury #Athelstan1100 and Wessex Week.
12.01.2026 16:09 — 👍 9 🔁 4 💬 1 📌 1Henry Beauclerc and Henry Plantagenet. They were not numbered by contemporaries. They were retrospectively numbered after the 14th century, after the 3 Edwards in a row started the concept.
10.01.2026 21:35 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Actually, regnal numbering wasn’t a thing until the 14th century. It only began because there were 3 Edwards in a row, therefore called I, II and III.
Before that, kings with the same name were differentiated with by names. Hence William the Conqueror and William Rufus.
king of England, when the border with Scotland was finally fixed in its current place.
10.01.2026 20:07 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Not denying that there aren’t subtleties to this, but just pointing out why the academic consensus is for Athelstan.
The bits he didn’t rule directly were not in the former Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.
The later borders of England are a red herring, unless you think that Henry VIII was the first
At the risk of removing the over complications…
927 was the first time that all the former Anglo-Saxon kingdoms were ruled directly by the same king, Athelstan.
Listen in to @historyextra.bsky.social to hear @davidwoodman45.bsky.social talk to @djmusgrove.bsky.social about Æthelstan, the too-long overlooked first king of England:
08.01.2026 18:18 — 👍 5 🔁 3 💬 1 📌 011 actually…
06.01.2026 16:09 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0We may not be niche enough for you?
19.12.2025 22:18 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
Sculptured stone tomb effigy of a bearded man, eyes closed, lying on his back, head resting on a pillow, wearing a crown, brooch, tunic and cloak
Athelstan, son of Edward the Elder, grandson of Alfred the Great and first to claim the title REX TOTIUS BRITANNIAE
(King of all Britain) died in AD 939 and was buried at Malmesbury in #Wiltshire
His grave site is unknown, this cenotaph in Malmesbury Abbey dates to the 15th century
#TombTuesday
Broken orange tile in a display case stamped with the letters TPF in the bottom left hand corner
An orange tile stamped with the letters TPF
A Roman roof tile from Minety #Wiltshire stamped with TPF
Possibly TEGVLARIA PVBLICA FECERVNT (made by the public tile works)
This in turn could suggest civic production for the nearby town of CORINIVM (Cirencester)
📷 Dec 2025 in the excellent @athelstanmuseum.bsky.social Malmesbury
#FindsFriday
Model of Medieval Malmesbury in the Athelstan Museum
Effigy of King Athelstan in Malmesbury Abbey depicting a bearded man with flowing hair and crown, the face being damaged
Malmesbury abbey by night, the outer walls being illuminated, gravestones in foreground
The Iron Age hillfort of Malmesbury is less well known today, though it is commemorated in the excellent @athelstanmuseum.bsky.social (which you should all visit)
The Saxon king Athelstan himself is buried near to where the Norman Abbey now stands
📷 Dec 2025
#HillfortsWednesday
Just to note that Malmesbury is in #Wiltshire.
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27.11.2025 18:43 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Please see our website for tickets and full details.
www.athelstanmuseum.org.uk/event/athels...
Tickets also available in the Museum Shop.