Waiting…

…beneath the 15th century Market Cross, Malmesbury

“Atop a perfect flat hill encircled by the River Avon at the southern entrance to the Cotswolds, sits Malmesbury, said to be the oldest continually inhabited town in England. Malmesbury is rightly called the "Queen of Hilltop Towns" being England's oldest borough with a rich history over 1000 years. Perched on top of a cliff-flanked hill almost completely surrounded by water, it might well be the country’s best naturally defended inland location. The hill is also dotted with freshwater springs, which would not only have sustained settlers but were considered to be holy wells as far back as the seventh century.” www.cotswolds.info

A visit to Malmesbury today with the local history society, for a guided walk of the historic town. Having already visited the Abbey, we concentrated on the town itself, wandering the medieval streets and following the path of the town walls which date back to the 13th century (extra photos show the medieval houses tumbling down to the town wall below).

One of the most interesting stories we were told today, was the tale of Hannah Twynnoy, who in 1703 was rumoured to be the first person in Britain to be killed by a tiger, after it escaped from a travelling circus! Her tombstone can be found in the Abbey’s grounds. If you would like to know more about the town’s history and Malmesbury Abbey itself, here’s a link to my previous visit to the town.