Athelstan Museum

Capturing the history of Malmesbury

Volunteers working for Athelstan

Support Us

On 1st April 2006 Friends of Athelstan Museum took over the museum from North Wiltshire District Council (NWDC) and since that time the visitor numbers have increased ten fold.

In 2007, due to alterations in Malmesbury Town Hall, the museum found itself in the exciting but difficult position of taking on a fifteen year lease and moving premises within the Town Hall. This demanded a complete refurbishment for our new shell accommodation.

After much hard work we acquired and moved into temporary accommodation some 50 yards or so from the Town Hall on the 31st August 2007 which allowed us to maintain a presence while our museum and also our special exhibitions continued. Also at this time we took over the collection from NWDC.

In June 2007 we launched an appeal for £288,000, the final capital cost was around £350,000.

We were delighted with the money we raised: £199,000 Heritage Lottery Fund, £10,000 North Wiltshire District Council, £32,000 The Jack Lane Trust, Henry Hoare Trust, Friends of Malmesbury Abbey, Malmesbury Community Trust, Malmesbury Carnival Fund, Local businesses, £31,500 local direct mailing appeals, membership, general donations, sales, Fund raising events, £7,500 voluntary labour, a total of approximately £280,000. Since then the Museum has raised a further £70,000 in Donations, Membership, In Memoriam, Gift Aid, and Landfill Grants bringing us to a grand total of £350,000. The museum no longer has any capital debts.

However, it costs an estimated £24,000 per annum to operate the museum and we receive no national or local government funding. We are reluctant to make an entry charge for those visiting the museum.

Ways to help

There are a number of ways you can help us to meet our running costs and these are very easy and simple:

Make a donation

Athelstan Museum relies on donations to support the running of the museum and continue our invaluable work in the community…

become a member

Members of Athelstan Museum are the backbone of our museum. Why not join us? Or donate a membership to a friend or relative…

corporate sponsors

Athelstan Museum has been generously supported by a number of organisations and businesses…

legacy donations

The museum has received a number of donations from the Estates of supporters of Athelstan Museum…

fundraising

Fundraising is essential to our sustainability and survival. The shop and various other museum activities raise money and we also work very hard to raise money through grants etc….

volunteering

The Museum is run by entirely by Volunteers. There are many different roles open to the volunteers…

Opening Times

The Museum is open 6 days a week:
Tuesday – Friday from 10.30am – 4.30pm,
Saturday from 10.30am – 4.00pm,
Sunday 11.30 am – 3.30pm.
Closed on Monday.

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Charles James Fox

Charles James Fox, 1749 – 1806, seems to have been a larger than life character. His father, who eloped with Lady Caroline Lennox, daughter of the Duke of Richmond was addicted to gambling but in spite of this amassed a large fortune as Paymaster General to the forces. He spoilt his son, Charles, and actively encouraged him in gambling and debauchery.

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John Scotus

William of Malmesbury records that In the late 9th century a monk – John Scotus – came to Malmesbury. He was a teacher but apparently held controversial religious views.

He was stabbed to death by his pupils with their styli; but whether it was the knives used to cut the quills or the containers for the quills is not clear. Neither is the reason for his murder. Was it the controversial theology or did he set too much homework? It may comfort teachers today to know that it has never been an easy profession.

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Hannah Twynnoy

Three centuries have passed since the shocking death of a young woman in Malmesbury, yet Hannah Twynnoy is remembered here in Malmesbury each day. Walk through Malmesbury Abbey Churchyard with the Market Cross behind you and you will see to the right Hannah’s small headstone with the sad epitaph:

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Turner Painting

The artist simply known the world over as ‘Turner’ needs no introduction. He is widely regarded as one of the most talented artists this country has produced. His connection to Malmesbury is not so widely known but in fact he visited the town three times, first in 1791 aged just 16, and made several sketches of the Abbey and its setting above the Avon.

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