Athelstan Museum is situated in the heart of the ancient town of Malmesbury. This hill-top site has been occupied since at least the Iron Age period, and the museum displays a large range of items spanning the period from that time up to the present day. The museum is run entirely by volunteers and is a registered charity.
The Museum is named after King Athelstan, first King of all England who is buried in Malmesbury. Much more about Athelstan can be found on our King Athelstan and Athelstan 1100 Exhibition pages.
Some key exhibits are a fine silver penny from the reign of King Athelstan, a hoard of Roman coins, and a watercolour of Malmesbury by J.M.W Turner.
The museum’s collection is on display in the Town Hall building, which can be found facing the Cross Hayes car park in the centre of town. Entry to the Museum is free and donations are welcomed.
The museum also owns the Julia and Hans Rausing Building, a converted Moravian Church, used for special museum events and can also be hired for other purposes.
News
Celebrating 1100 years since Athelstan’s coronation
4th September 2025 marks 1100 years since the coronation of King Athelstan in Kingston upon Thames. Kingston shared our celebrations last year and on 18th August a walk set off from Malmesbury to arrive at Kingston on 4th September.
Led by Mayor of Malmesbury, Cllr Stephen James, Athelstan Museum showed its support for the event.
Information about Kingston’s celebrations is on https://www.kingston.gov.uk/your-council/your-kingston-newsroom/kingston-2025
OGILBY MAP ON SALE
Copies of the 17th century Ogilby map of the route from Oxford to Bristol are now on sale in the Museum Shop.
To learn more about the significance of this map to Malmesbury have a look at our Roads page.
TURNER 250
2025 is the 250th anniversary of the birth of JMW Turner. Events are planned all over the country as described by the BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce9nvl42x2go
Do come and visit our very own Turner painting and read all about it here.
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Our Collection
What’s On
Athelstan Museum
Warden and Freemen of Malmesbury
Rausing Building
The Dauntsey Doom Painting and the Reformation
Rausing Building
The Dauntsey Doom, Heaven & Hell, and the art of the Last Judgement
Rausing Building Venue Hire
Our recently refurbished venue, The Julia & Hans Rausing Building (formerly The Moravian Church) is available for hire throughout the year for talks, concerts, workshops, meetings or conferences.
This modern, light and spacious hall provides excellent audio and visual equipment which includes projector, sound (including a loop for the hard of hearing) and variable lighting modes. Tables can be arranged conference, workshop or theatre style for your event. Kitchen facilities are available.