Athelstan 1100 Events

We couldn't let Athelstan 1100 pass without a feast!

Join us at our Feasting Hall in Malmesbury Town Hall. Anglo-Saxon three course catering is by The Old Bell and will include vegetarian options. There will be a Regia Anglorum presence and 'other things'. Looking the part is encouraged. Mead, Athelstan Ale and Wine will be available. It should be a great night!

In the spirit of Athelstan 1100 tickets are priced to cover just costs and are £35.00 each; The Old Bell is supporting the event in the same way.

This event is almost full. Book Now. 

On Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st July around 200 Anglo-Saxon re-enactors from Regia Anglorum will be in Malmesbury. They are setting up an Anglo-Saxon village in Malmesbury's beautiful St Aldhelm's Mead. Come and visit between 10:00am and 4:30pm for hands on experiences, demonstrations of Anglo-Saxon life and, at around 3:00pm each day, witness a battle re-enactment! Anglo-Saxon Malmesbury is free to attend.

Location and Access: St Aldhelm's Mead is located at the south of Malmesbury off the B4042. ///desktop.traps.reckoned. THERE IS NO ON SITE PARKING. Car Parking is in signposted Car Parks (1. Cross Hayes Short Stay, Two Hours Max. 2. Station Yard Long Stay. Two Hours Free 3. Waitrose Supermarket, 3.5 hours Max, store purchase required. 4. Event Parking. Weaver's Farm. Off the B4040. SN16 9JL. ///scrap.passes.thickens. (Open Saturday and Sunday 9:30am to 5:00pm). Routes to St Aldhelm's Mead will be signed. 

Five super short films inspired by Athelstan 1100. We've been working with Miranda Shirnia and the Malmebury Natural History Group and students from Boom Satsuma film school. Total running time 40 minutes.

Enjoy:

Finding Athelstan: A delightful drama filmed in Malmesbury's historic Courthouse. William of Mlamesbury, librarian at Malmesbury Abbey and the leading historian of his age, tells Athelstan's story to a young Abbey servant.

A Walk in Malmesbury in the Year 924: A delightful film writtena and narrated by Miranda Shirnia describing the flora and fauna in and around Malmesbury in the year 924 and how it compares to what we see today. Why 924? It is 1100 years ago since Athelstan, who had special relationship and who chose to be buried in Malmesbury, became king.

The Life and History of Athelstan: Malmesbury based author and historian Tony McAleavy introduces Athelstan in this super illustrated film.

Athelstan and Malmesbury - the Lasting Bond: Local historian Anne Goodyer illustrates the continuing presence of Athelstan in Malmesbury.

The Making of 'Athelstan - A United Kingdom': Meet the team behind the superb new production packing out the Abbey.

We started our summer 2024 Athelstan 1100 events in the glorious setting of Malmesbury Abbey and it is fitting we round off our month of cemmomoration and celebration of Athelstan becoming king with an Evensong at Malmesbury Abbey. Led by Rev. Oliver Ross. 

The Wessex Week team are taking centre stage in October with a fantastic programme of word, music, walks and entertainment. 

Go to https://wessex-week.org/ for more information.

Highlights include:

Saturday 19^th October:  Malmesbury Town Hall  (Assembly Room)  7pm: Richard Osgood 'The Shallow Grave' (part 2). 

An update on the local Saxon Burials dig, happening right now! Is the mystery solved? (Rumour has it that Time Team may be involved -but certainly our friends from Cotswold Archaeology).

Sunday 20^th October: 10.30am – 12noon (meet at the Town Hall): A Guided Walk with story-telling around the heart of Saxon Malmesbury with Athelstan 1100 Project Leader Campbell Ritchie:

Wednesday 23rd October:   Garden Room, Old Bell Hotel 6pm/7.30pm  Dinner/talk: Tony McAleavy: ‘The Stumpe Family of Malmesbury’. A ‘rags to riches’ story of England’s greatest social climbers!

Friday 25^th October: Wesleyan Room: Malmesbury Town Hall. 7pm: David Mitchell: ‘The North Wessex Way'. An ancient highway brought to life.

Saturday 26^th October:  Malmesbury Abbey. 7pm:  Tony McAleavy: ‘The building of Malmesbury Abbey’. The amazing story where (some of it) happened.

They’re Coming Home!

Save the Date! The finds from Malmesbury’s Big Athelstan Dig have been cleaned and the brilliant team at Cotswold Archaeology are busy assessing them. They’ll all be back on display in Malmesbury Town Hall in a special Athelstan 1100 event on the weekend of the 15^th and 16th March 2025 from 10:30am to 4:00pm. With explanations from the experts, more information about each of the test sites and the overall findings from the amazing Malmesbury's Big Athelstan Dig weekend in July. Free to Attend. We are looking forward to seeing you! 

Come and join Martin Watts, Director of Research and Engagement at Cotswold Archaeology, as he reveals the findings from last summer's Malmesbury's Big Athestan Dig. 

'What Was Found at Malmesbury's Big Athelstan Dig?' will be an entertaining illustrated overview of the finds from our thirteen test pits and what they tell us about Malmesbury and its developing history. 

Coming to the talk is free but you do need to Register and have a ticket.