Malmesbury's Big Athelstan Dig

This year, 2024, is an important year in celebrating and commemorating King Athelstan who went on to be the First King of all England.

Athelstan is a very important person in the town....he was buried in the Anglo Saxon Abbey. As king he loved to visit the area and he was descendant of St Aldhelm who founded the abbey in the 7thc. He had connections to the people of the town which continues today with the Warden and Freeman. Many things including school and the local museum are named after him.

A group of local organisations, including the museum, the local history society, faith groups and the Town Council have come together to plan a series of events. Local archaeologists, with help professionals from 'Cotswold Archaeology' are creating a trail of test pits in c.15 gardens in the old town. The public will be able to visit the digs, get their hands dirty, and talk with professional archaeologists and town volunteers about potential interpretation of the finds. The results will be on display in Malmesbury town hall, with discussion of our Anglo-Saxon landscape and heritage.

To find out more about what's happening and the dig locations, visit the website and take a look at the digital map or pick up a printed copy from the tourist information in the Town Hall.