Athelstan Museum is situated in the heart of the ancient town of Malmesbury. This hill-top site has been occupied since at least the Iron Age period, and the museum displays a large range of items spanning the period from that time up to the present day. The museum is run entirely by volunteers and is a registered charity.
Thomas Hobbes Display
Malmesbury is very proud to be the birthplace of the philosopher Thomas Hobbes. We have a small display devoted to his life which includes a 1684 3rd Edition of his work Humane Nature,
Read more about him on our Thomas Hobbes web page . There is more information about him and associated local events at the Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury website.
Some key exhibits are a fine silver penny from the reign of King Athelstan, a hoard of Roman coins, and a watercolour of Malmesbury by J.M.W Turner.
The museum’s collection is on display in the Town Hall building, which can be found facing the Cross Hayes car park in the centre of town. Entry to the Museum is free and donations are welcomed.
The museum also owns the Julia and Hans Rausing Building, a converted Moravian Church, used for special museum events and can also be hired for other purposes.
What’s On
Rausing Building
The World’s Oldest Family Tree found in the Cotswolds
Rausing Building
History of the Warden and Freeman
Rausing Building
Finding Athelstan in Malmesbury
Rausing Building
Russia, 1812: Napoleon’s Greatest Defeat?
Rausing Building
