Civil War Patterns

civil war patterns

The Town Of Marlborough, Wiltshire

Marlborough is a pleasant market town in the old Kennet District of Wiltshire. It is controlled these days by Wiltshire Council. In 1204 the town was granted a Royal Charter by King John giving Marlborough its official market town status.

The first sign of humans living in the area of the town is a tumulus rumoured to be the burial site of Merlin, now in the grounds of Marlborough College. An Iron Age burial bucket and Roman coins have also been found in the area. Marlborough first appears in written records in 1087 in the Domesday Book.

The effects of the Civil War in 1642 can still be seen in the town, which supported the Parliamentarians. Royalist troops invaded Marlborough, looting and starting fires. 120 people were taken prisoner and marched to Oxford, bound in chains. Battle scars can be seen on St Mary’s church.

The Great fire of Marlborough happened in 1653, totally ruining 250 dwellings. Two more fires swept the town in 1679 and 1690 causing an Act of Parliament to prevent the thatching of houses. The rebuilding after the Great Fire led to creating the new High Street which now has a claim to fame of being the widest in England.

In Norman times, a mint was established in the town to make the William I and William II silver pennies. Coins are no longer minted in the town and the minting of them moved to London.

The Merchant’s House on the High Street is notable for its original room pattern. Owned by a silk merchant, the wall paintings are of great interest.

The town has a twice-weekly market in the High Street on a Wednesday and Saturday selling local produce and crafts, and a French market is put on once a year. Once a month there is also a Farmer’s market.

Annual town events include a summer jazz festival and the October Marlborough Mop Fair. The Mop Fair was originally held as a recruiting fair for agricultural workers looking for work, but it is now a funfair.

Nearby is the beautiful and ancient Savernake Forest, full of beech trees. In May, bluebells cover the floor and they look fantastic against the fresh green of the trees. William I established the forest as a favourite hunting ground and many royals after him enjoyed the forest and its bounty of deer.

Marlborough is an attractive town in the chalk downlands of Wiltshire that is well worth a visit. Salisbury, Devizes and Newbury are not far away and can be easily visited from the town of Marlborough too. Accommodation Salisbury such as hotels Salisbury are easy to find and the city is delightful – a great place to tie in with a trip to Marlborough Wiltshire.