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Historic Towns & Picturesque Villages

Chevin Woods near Otley, West Yorkshire

Otley

in the county of West Yorkshire

A picture of Ingham

Ingham

in the county of Lincolnshire

Pictures of Marlborough

in the county of Wiltshire

About Marlborough

Dramatic chalk downs extend from Berkshire into rural Wiltshire, they are particularly rich in pre-historic remains and shelter a wealth of charming market towns and pretty villages, featuring buildings from almost every period of British architectural history.

Marlborough is a market town situated on the old coaching route between London and Bristol, lying between the towns of Hungerford and Calne. The town grew up around an 11th-century Royal castle, it was granted a charter in 1204 by King John who had been married in the castle chapel.

Today, this lovely old town oozes with atmosphere as you walk down a wide High Street lined with Jacobean and Georgian buildings, with projecting upper floors over colannaded walkways. Some of the buildings have bays of mullioned windows, with doorways leading out onto cobbled pathways. Mostly, the buildings date from the middle of the 16th-century when a fire destroyed much of the High Street.

The delightful High Street is flanked at either end by a Church - at the west end lies the lovely Perpendicular Church of St.Peter and St.Paul. In spite of the fact that this church is now redundant, from the exterior it looks very much as it did when Cardinal Wolsey was ordained there in 1498. It is however preserved through a local trust and is open as a tourist centre. The chancel and sanctuary remain as they were at the end of the 19th-century, in the North aisle there is a cafe for visitors, and there is an Arts and Crafts shop. Events are regularly held here, these include a farmers market, art exhibitions and concerts.

St.Mary's Church at the opposite end of the High Street remains Marlborough's parish church. This was mentioned in the Doomsday Book, but the only visible part of the Norman church is the West Door. Parts of the church still show the result of damage from the turbulent days of the Civil war when refuge was sought here by Marlborough's Parliamentarian troops, bullet's found in the framework of the bells when the Tower was being restored in 1884 are a legacy of this time. The church was almost completely rebuilt following the fire of 1653 thus, this is the church we see today.

The town is famous for its college which was founded in 1843, the college buildings stand beside Castle Mound, where there have been discoveries of Stone Age and Roman remains. On the down-lands surrounding the town lie the Iron-Age Hillfort of Banbury Castle, and the White Horse, one mile south-west, is believed to have been cut in 1804.

Marlborough is a lively town where there is much of interest. It has notable hotels, one the Ivy House is a handsome Grade II listed building originally built for the Earl of Aylesbury in 1707 as Marlborough Academy, a school for boys. It is built around a cobbled courtyard, and retains many of its original features.

This town is perfect for exploring the beautiful surrounding Wiltshire countryside, Savernake Forest, Silbury Hill, Stonehenge, and Avebury Stone Circles are all within easy reach. For those that wish it, there is a Sundial Trail which is worth following, it picks out the foremost historic and picturesque sites in the area.

Marlborough offers a good selection of shops, plenty of inns, cafe's and restaurants. It hosts a number of annual events, these are normally published in the town Library and the Tourist Information centre.

Recommended towns & villages near Marlborough

Silbury Hill, Avebury.

Avebury (171 Pictures) a Picturesque Village in the county of Wiltshire

(5.5 miles, 8.8 km, direction W of Marlborough)

The village of Avebury is world famous for its spectacular stone circle, which some consider more spectacular than Stonehenge. The pretty village also has a 15th century church,.....

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Lacock (150 Pictures) a Picturesque Village in the county of Wiltshire

(16.9 miles, 27.2 km, direction W of Marlborough)

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Wantage (8 Pictures) a Historic Market Town in the county of Oxfordshire

(17.4 miles, 28.1 km, direction NE of Marlborough)

Wantage is a small historic market town in Oxfordshire, famous for being the birthplace of King Alfred the Great, who was born there during the 9th century, though the site of the.....

Riverside inn, River Thames, Lechlade, Gloucestershire 2009

Lechlade (38 Pictures) a Historic Market Town in the county of Gloucestershire

(18.9 miles, 30.4 km, direction N of Marlborough)

This pleasant little market town, set beside the upper reaches of the Thames, is dominated by the elegant spire of the beautiful parish church of St.Lawrence..

Malmesbury

Malmesbury (157 Pictures) a Historic Market Town in the county of Wiltshire

(19.9 miles, 32.0 km, direction NW of Marlborough)

The town stakes its claim to be the oldest borough in England on the fact that it was granted a charter in the year 924 by King Edward..

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Complete A to Z of towns & villages in England

Nearby attractions..

Avebury Ring, Wiltshire

Avebury Ring (61 Pictures)

(4.9 miles, 7.8 km, direction W)

This is the largest and one of the most spectacular stone circles in the world, it certainly eclipses Stonehenge, for not only is.....

Silbury Hill - ancient burial ground

Silbury Hill (20 Pictures)

(5.6 miles, 9.0 km, direction W)

There are many fanciful theories about Silbury Hill, the massive conical hill described as the highest artificial mound in.....

Entrance to Avebury Manor, Wiltshire

Avebury Manor & Garden (12 Pictures)

(5.9 miles, 9.4 km, direction W)

Avebury Manor is a 16th century manor house built on the site of an old monastery. The rich interior of the house shows original.....

A picture of Crofton Beam Engines

Crofton Beam Engines (2 Pictures)

(6.1 miles, 9.8 km, direction SE)

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A picture of Ashdown House

Ashdown House (1 Pictures)

(9.8 miles, 15.8 km, direction NE)

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Ludgershall Castle, Wiltshire

Ludgershall Castle (10 Pictures)

(11.8 miles, 18.9 km, direction SE)

Romantic, ruined motte and bailey castle, with building works in stone. Parts of the castle date to the 12th-century, it was.....

A picture of Vale of White Horse

Vale of White Horse (8 Pictures)

(12.7 miles, 20.5 km, direction N)

The beautiful Vale of the White Horse is the region lying between the River Thames and the Berkshire Downs. It is an area.....


All attractions in Marlborough
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