Wiltshire Photos by Hetty
26th April 2022
A visit with the u3a photgraphy group
The river walk starts on the old railway line
Old Bell Hotel
In the museum – a ceremonial shovel to start cutting the railway
17th March 2017
First we visited Malmesbury Abbey with the Stroud U3A church history and architecture group, then afterwards we followed a Malmesbury town trail. It is a town with over 1,000 years of history
The long stay car park is by the river, which almost encircles the town
The old part of the town is on a flat hill above the river
The Abbey House Gardens weren’t open, so we’ll have to come back another day.
On the steps up to the abbey are plaques with some history – these are the first few
The nave of the Norman abbey became the parish church, after the dissolution of the monasteries
This end was rebuilt
The entrance porch is highly decorated
Inside the porch
Each side of the door are apostles
It is very light inside
There is a mirror to look at the ceiling
Cotswold dragons
The crest of Henry VII (top)
15th century tomb of King Athelstan – first king of all England (died AD 939)
15th Century illuminated Bible
Link to more U3A church visits
Later we walked around the town
The tower of St Paul’s Without now serves as the bell tower for the Parish Church
The Tolsey Gate, where tolls were collected 1789 – 1854, and later became a lock-up
The Market Cross (1490) – were they still have markets
You can buy flowers at the sign of the watering can
Old Brewery and Water Tower
Tower House
Town hall and museum
Inside the town hall
Silver Street gets its name from the town mint that was here in the 11th and 12th centuries
One of the town gates used to be at the top of Back Hill Steps
Former silk mills
Goose Bridge
Wynyard Mill
This is a very old part of the town
13th century St Johns Hospital and almshouses
St Johns Bridge and former silk mills
Mill workers cottages
Kings House
Weavers cottages in Horsefair
St Mary’s Street
St Mary’s church is now a hall
The Triangle – the West Gate used to be here
Abbey Row
The Old Bell claims to be the oldest hotel in England – it originated as accommodation for the abbey in 1220
Town walls above the river
We will have to return on a brighter day to do the river walk