Earliest known evidence of settlement in the immediate Malmesbury area. Reference to ‘Caer Bladon’ meaning ‘fortified place of the Bladon [name for one of the surrounding rivers]’.

Saxon invasion of the region. Malmesbury becomes part of Wessex (the ‘West Saxon’) comprising Hampshire, Wiltshire and Somerset.

Maildulph, a Celtic monk, founds a Hermits Cell at the site of the present Abbey. The town’s name likely derives from him.

Aldhelm ordained as a priest and becomes the 1st Abbot of Malmesbury Abbey, proving to be both influential and famous. He was later canonised as a Saint.

Aldhelm builds the first organ in England in Malmesbury Abbey.

May 25th: Aldhelm dies. A five-day feast and fair held at St. Aldhelm’s Mead took place on the 31st March every year for 840 years in honour of him.

Malmesbury has its first sacking at the hands of the Danes. It is practically destroyed but St. Aldhelm’s Church is apparently spared.

Malmesbury is given the Charter by Edward the Elder – a high honour and the first bestowed on any town.

Athelstan, first king of all Britain (as it was then), starts the ancient institution of the ‘Commoners of the Kings Heath’ or ‘Old Corporation’ as a way to reward the Malmesbury men (and their descendants) that had fought alongside him.

Athelstan dies and is buried in Malmesbury Abbey. The actual location of his remains is no longer known, but his tomb is located in Malmesbury Abbey.

Eilmer, a monk of Malmesbury Abbey, attempts the first recorded human attempt at flight in history. His ‘glider’ carried him for about a furlong before he crashed.

William of Malmesbury is born. He would become one of the greatest historians of his era and he produced a number of high quality, accurate works on Saxon history.

The Castle of Malmesbury is built by Roger le Poer (Bishop of Salisbury). It immediately caused friction with the Abbey monks due to its proximity and was eventually destroyed after the Abbot made an appeal to King John.

Malmesbury is again sacked and ravaged, this time by the aggressor Robert Fitzhugh.

The present stone Abbey building is completed, after being under construction for about 35 years.

The Spire of Malmesbury Abbey falls during the night, a sign of the state of decay that the Abbey had reached.

The Market Cross, at one end of Malmesbury High Street, is built as a meeting place and place of shelter.

December: 847 years of Benedictine religion and education comes to and end in Malmesbury with the coming of The Reformation.

William Stumpe, a rich clothier and ‘business tycoon’ of the era who owned much of the Abbey land and buildings, turns the old nave of the Abbey into a parish church for the community and helps to preserve the Abbey in the form we recognise today.

Thomas Hobbes, the famous English Philosopher, is born and spends his childhood in Malmesbury.

Charles I re-granted the Charter of Malmesbury, this time with additional privileges.

Malmesbury has key role in the English Civil War. It changes hands at least 5 times due to its strategic location. The Abbey is further damaged in conflicts, as is the area of Westport. An aggressive siege by Colonel Massey in May 1644 sees an end to the town’s role in the war.

October 23rd: Hannah Twynnoy, a maid from the White Lion Inn, is killed by a tiger that escapes from a nearby travelling circus.

Charles James Fox, the prominent British Whig statesman, holds the office of High Steward of the Old Corporation of Malmesbury.

The first main portion of the Town Hall is built. It was eventually bought by the Borough Council in 1920.

The original St. Aldhelm’s Church is built, with the present building being completed 8 years later.

December 17th: Grand opening of Malmesbury train station.

New Malthouse is erected in Malmesbury.

Lady Suffolk sets up a lace school at the Kings Arms Hotel in Malmesbury to try and prevent the production of Malmesbury Lace from disappearing.

Athlestan Cinema opens. Later it would double as a Bingo Hall.

Linolite Ltd. moves into the old mill, producing filament light strips and hose clips for aircraft during the Second World War.

September 8th: Last passenger train runs from Malmesbury train station.

Goods stop trading via the Malmesbury branch line and the track is lifted in 1963.

Dyson opens a research centre and factory at the top of Tetbury Hill. It remains a R&D facility at present.