What are the opening hours?

Tuesday 10:30am - 2:30pm Wednesday 10:30am - 2:30pm Thursday 10:30am - 2:30pm Friday 10:30am - 2:30pm Saturday 10:30am - 4:30pm Sunday 10:30am - 2:30pm

Athelstan Museum Malmesbury

Name: Athelstan Museum Malmesbury
Address: Town Hall, Malmesbury, SN169BZ, GB
Telephone: +44 1666 822143
Price range: $$

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Athelstan Museum Malmesbury

Capturing the history of Malmesbury

30/01/2026

A Friday treat for art lovers: our collection includes works dating from before 1940, and the notable exception that’s normally on display is our Turner watercolour.

Many other works are not normally on display, but we can discuss making an appointment to view items for research purposes.

Visit this weekend, or email us via the address on our website if you’d like to enquire about viewing an item.

29/01/2026

Looking ahead: our What’s On programme includes talks, workshops and club events across the year at the museum and the Rausing Building.

If you like evenings out with a local twist, we’ve got a Quiz Night coming up on 13 February 2026 (7.00 pm) at the Rausing Building.

Check our website “What’s On” page for details and what’s coming next.

28/01/2026

Behind every open door at Athelstan Museum is a team of volunteers. We’re run by volunteers, and without them the museum would not exist.

Volunteering can include front desk sessions, supporting the shop, helping with the collection, or getting involved in specific projects. No previous museum experience is needed.

If you’d like to meet new people, learn about the town’s history, and support a well-loved local institution, we’d love to hear from you.

Interested? Get in touch via our website volunteering page.

27/01/2026

Before fire engines had flashing lights and sirens, firefighting was hard, heavy work.

One of our collection highlights is an 18th-century fire pump, a 4-man manual engine (more strictly, a pump). It was recently returned from loan, conserved, and is now on display in the Tourist Information Centre.

It would have been taken to a fire by horse and cart, then dragged as close as possible. Water was brought in buckets from the nearest source, poured into a reservoir, and four people pumping as hard as they could forced water up the hose onto the flames.

Next time you’re in Malmesbury, pop in and look out for it. What’s the most surprising thing you have learned about how people tackled fires in the past?

26/01/2026

We’re closed on Mondays, but we’re open the rest of the week for a proper wander through Malmesbury’s stories.

Entrance is free and donations are very welcome, as we do not receive any government funding.

If you’re planning a visit, remember:

Children 16 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian

Dogs on a lead are welcome 🐾

See you from Tuesday.

Save this post and plan your visit tomorrow.

23/01/2026

Families: join us tomorrow for History Club. 👋

History Club – Moving Pictures
📅 Sunday 25 January
🕜 1.30pm to 3.30pm
📍 Rausing Building
✅ Free children’s event for ages 4 to 11 with an adult
✅ Booking not required

These are fun, interactive sessions where children learn about local history through hands-on activities. Come along and join the fun.

22/01/2026

A little shop with a big local heart. 🛍️

Did you know we have many lovely things for sale in our Museum Shop, right in the reception area? We aim to stock work by local authors and artists where possible, with a wide range that is constantly being updated.

What you might find:
• Local history books
• Greetings cards and postcards
• Gifts including bags, jewellery, and children’s items
• Mainly sustainably sourced manufactured products

Best of all, every purchase supports the Museum.
Next time you visit, have a browse and treat yourself or pick up a thoughtful gift.

Tell us in the comments: are you a book-buyer, card-collector, or gift-hunter?

21/01/2026

Have you met our TYGER? 🐯
When you visit, you can feed our TYGER by putting a coin in his mouth and hearing him roar. Donations help keep the Museum open and support our work in the community and surrounding villages.

If you cannot visit in person, you can also donate via our website. Thank you for helping us care for Malmesbury’s stories.

https://www.athelstanmuseum.org.uk/support-us/make-a-donation/

20/01/2026

Step into wartime Malmesbury.

Our exhibition Malmesbury & World War Two explores the parts of the war that shaped everyday life locally, from rationing and civil defence to evacuees and prisoners of war, with items from our collection and loans from local contributors.

If you have an hour this week, pop in and discover the stories behind the objects.
Find us at Athelstan Museum, Town Hall, Cross Hayes, Malmesbury, SN16 9BZ.

19/01/2026

This week at Athelstan Museum 🌿
We are closed on Mondays, but we are open the rest of the week and entry is free (donations always welcome).

Opening hours
• Tue to Fri: 10.30am to 4.30pm
• Sat: 10.30am to 4.00pm
• Sun: 11.30am to 3.30pm

What to look out for this week:
• Our exhibition Malmesbury & World War Two
• A free children’s History Club session on Sunday 25 January, 1.30pm to 3.30pm in the Rausing Building

Plan a visit and bring a friend who loves local history.

16/01/2026

Looking for hands-on history in Malmesbury? Our Learning programme is all about making the Museum a place to explore, talk, make and discover together.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family visits
Families are welcome, with activities you can enjoy together. We also run school holiday workshops for children and their adult carers, with themes linked to Malmesbury’s history. Past sessions have included lace making, fossil hunting, weaving and model building (small charge applies).

🧭 Groups, clubs and special access
We’re a small museum, so groups are encouraged to get in touch in advance. It’s also worth asking if special access can be arranged, including out-of-hours youth group visits, study sessions (for example textiles or costume), or even activities tailored to a group’s needs.

🏫 Schools and outreach
We welcome school visits (please allow 4 to 6 weeks’ notice). Workshops can be arranged in the Julia and Hans Rausing building, with topics including WW2, Saxons and Vikings, and Toys through the ages. We also offer outreach visits and loan boxes, with topics including The Roman Coin Hoard, Saxons and Vikings, and WW2.

📧 Interested in bringing a group or class? Email us at [email protected]

15/01/2026

During the Second World War, an elegant country house on the outskirts of Malmesbury became something very different: a war factory producing radar equipment.

The electronics company EK COLE (makers of radio products) moved from Southend into Cowbridge House to support the war effort.

In our collection, we hold photographs, documents and artefacts connected to the EKCO works, including pieces of radar equipment.

If you love uncovering the hidden stories behind familiar places, this is one to seek out in the Museum.
And if you’d like to go deeper, we also have the book ‘You’re One Of Us Now’, telling the story of the EKCO factory at Cowbridge, available via our shop.

🔎 Next time you visit, ask us about EKCO and Malmesbury’s wartime role.

Address

Town Hall
Malmesbury
SN169BZ

Opening Hours

Tuesday	10:30am - 2:30pm
Wednesday	10:30am - 2:30pm
Thursday	10:30am - 2:30pm
Friday	10:30am - 2:30pm
Saturday	10:30am - 4:30pm
Sunday	10:30am - 2:30pm

Telephone

+44 1666 822143

Website

http://www.athelstanmuseum.org.uk/

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