Wiltshire
OS Grid Ref: SU188691
A-Z Index of Marlborough
The Wiltshire plateau is an area particularly rich in prehistoric remains and names like
Stonehenge and Avebury, just tens of miles from Marlborough, are recognised throughout the
world. The earliest visible sign of early occupation of this ancient site is provided
by the mound in the grounds of Marlborough College. This seems likely to be of a similar
age to the striking Silbury Hill only five miles to the west fo the town.
The Iron Age burial bucket known as the "Marlborough
Bucket" - decorated with humand heads and animals on sheet bronze - was
found near to the entrance to St Margaret's Mead and provides further evidence of human
occupation here.
The vicinity of Marlborough was important after the occupation of the British Isles by the Roman
legions after AD53. Mildenhall, only
two miles east of the town, was the junction of several
important roads and Roman coins have been discovered at Tinpit to the east as well as in Herd Street,
The Parade, and near The Mound. After nearly 400 years, the Roman legions were returned to Rome to
defend the dwindling empire from the attack of the barbarian hordes and Britain was left open to
settlement by the Saxon raiders.
Modern Marlborough began to take shape when the Saxons settled and developed the area around
The Green. To ease their commings and goings, two early river crossings were constructed at
Isbury Lane and, the descriptively named, Stonebridge Lane.
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William I established a mint in marlborough and the last six types of silver pennies of his reign
and the first of William II were made here.
The name of the town appears as Maerlebi or
Maerleber on these Norman coins.
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Saxon rule was abruptly ended with the fall of King Harold on the field of battle in 1066. William
I, styled "Conqueror", took control of the town and its
surrounding lands the following year. The King commanded Roger, Bishop of Sarum, to construct a
motte topped with a wooden bailey on Marlborough's pre-historic mound from whence the conquerors
could control the area. The Bishop completed the castle about 1100 and it was rebuilt in stone
from around 1175. The Norman King himself would travel through Marlborough as he set about the
conquest of the West Country in 1068 and Agelric, Bishop of the South Saxons was imprisoned here
on 1070.
A priory of White Friars was established here in 1316 on the site now occupied by the boarding house of
Marlborough College.
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A charter of King John, dated 1204,
permitted the Borough an eight-day fair annually, to commence on
the Vigil of the Assumption of Our Lady during which the townsfolk might
enjoy the liberties and quittances customary in the fair at Winchester. He also commanded
that weekly markets may be held here on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Seaa also: Hiring fairs
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Marlborough Castle became a royal residence, housing both monarch and the royal court, and
William I established the neighbouring forest as a royal hunting ground. In 1110, Henry I and his
court kept his Easter while the crusading Richard I, Ceur de Lion,
gave it his brother John in 1186 and Henry II negotiated with the King of Scotland here. King John not
only married in the town, but spent so much time here that he established a royal treasury here.
Henry III also made his wedding vows at Marlborough and summoned Parliament to assemble here. It was
this Parliament which passed the Statute of Marlborough granting
rights and privileges to small land owners and limiting the right of the monarch to take possession of land -
it is this statute, law of the land for seven centuries, which prohibits any man from seizing the goods of
his neighbour for an alleged wrong without permission of the Court.
see also;
MARLBOROUGH CASTLE
PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION
The castle, so favoured by the early medieval monarchs, fell into decay by the end of the 14th century
but was still the property of the Crown until Henry VIII's youngest offspring and only male successor,
Edward VI, passed the castle and Savernake to the Seymours - relatives of his mother. The monarch also
founded the Grammar School in 1550 which has been the coeducational school since 1947.
When disagreement between King and Parliament turned to bloodshed, the Seymours held the Castle for King
Charles but the town, like many others, threw its lot in with Parliament. The King established his
headquarters at nearby Oxford and the resistance of this Parliamentarian enclave could not be tolerated;-
A Town the most notoriously disaffected of all that Country, otherwise, saving the obstinacy and malice
of the inhabitants, in the situation of it very unfit for a garrison this place the King saw would prove
quickly an ill neighbour to him, not only as it was in the heart of a rich County, and so would
straighten him, and even infest his quarters.
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George, Lord Digby was depatched from Oxford at the head of four hundred horse on the 24th November, 1642,
to march southwards and take the town. He chose to parley with the town rather than attack and the townsfolk
took this opportunity to throw up defences and to recruit reinforcements from the country roundabout until they
could command seven hundred, albeit poorly armed, men. With the defences thus bolstered, Lord Digby recieved
the town's defiant reply;-
The King's Majesty ..... providing he were attended in Royal and not in war like wise, should be as welcome
to that Town as ever was Prince to People; but as to delivering up the good Town of Marlborough to such a
traitor as Lord Digby they would sooner die.
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Colonel Ramsay, the commander of the Parliamentarian defenders of the town is said to have taken refuge in the
Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin with his men. Local tradition tells that the
marks of the Royalists' bullets can still be seen on the north elevation of the church's tower and it is
certainly true that bullets were found in the framework of the bells when the tower was repaired in 1884.
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The parley concluded thus, a number of skirmishes between the townsfolk and Digby's forces ensued but the town
was captured as the Cavaliers infiltrated it through its many small alleyways. Much looting followed and many
of the buildings were burned. One hundred and twenty of the town's defenders were taken prisoner and marched
in captivity to the Royal headquarters at Oxford.
The Town was later abandoned by the Royalists and took no further part in the Civil War.
THE GREAT FIRE OF MARBOROUGH, 1653
The close proximity of tightly huddled medieval timber houses, roofed with thatch, was a continous threat to
town and village alike. Thus it was that Marlborough developed and redeveloped, new buildings often taking the
place of those devoured by flame. During the 17th century the town saw three great
fires, most serious of all
The Great Fire of Marlborough on
April 28th, 1653, which consumed no less than two hundred and fifty houses in this small place.
In 1679, fire swept through the town again, and again in 1690. The three conflagerations finally caused
Parliament to act to alleviate the risk of recurring fires in the town by passing a statute to
"prohibit the covering of houses and other buildings with thatch in the
Town of Marlborough".
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Traces of Neolithic and Roman Occupation have been found on the Castle Mound.
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Marlborough castle was built on the mound in the grounds of Marlborough College which is now known as Castle Mound
on the orders of King William I (the Conqueror) who also established a
mint at Marlborough an had Savernake, about a mile to the south-east, established as a Royal Forest and hunting
ground.
King John was married to Isabella (Avice) of Gloucester in the castle chapel in 1189 and he granted the town
its first charter in 1204 (the present charter dates from 1575). Henry III summoned his last parliament at the
castle in 1267 when the Statute of Marlborough which curtailed royal prerogative was passed.
The castle fell into decay by the end of the 14th century but was still the property of the Crown until Henry VIII's
youngest offspring and only male successor, Edward VI, passed the castle and Savernake to the Seymours - relatives
of his mother. the Seymours held the castle for King Charles during the Civil War though the town threw its lot in
with Parliament and was captured by Royalist forces from oxford.
Marlborough castle was rebuilt in the 17th century, and again in the
17th. It now forms part of Marlborough College.
see also;
MEDIEVAL MARLBOROUGH
The borough of Marlborough held a common seal in 1353 and its ancient arms were confirmed in 1565.
| Parliamentary Representation |
The borough returned two members of parliament from 1295 until 1867 and one member thereafter until 1885 when it was merged in the East Wiltshire Division. It is now in Devizes.
ADMINISTRATION
Until the early 19th century, public whippings and even brandings were common
methods of dispensing justice and keeping law and order. Marlborough's stocks and whipping post still
exist and are kept at the Town Hall. As the empire made possible by the explorations of the Tudor period
flourished, penal servitude, being "...transported beyond the seas"
in a time when many folk had never left the village of their birth, on the King's colonies became more common.
1692 1 shilling paid to the Constable for whipping Coleman's boy
1771 John Hillier was publicly whipped for an error that he had fallen into about a silver pepper-box
One day five culprits also received a whipping, two for stealing iron, another for stealing a brass pot, another for converting butter to his own use, while the fifth was found in the hand of another man's pocket.
Even women did not escape whipping:
Mary Price who was publicly whipped for stealing an apron.
1807 Eleven prisoners for transportation were sent from our Town Gaol to Bristol to embark for some of his Majesty's plantations in the Colonies.
BYLAWS
of bygone times
All inhabitants shall sweep before their houses every Saturday night.
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In the 20th and 21st centuries we speak
placidly of dwindling Church attendances; in previous centuries, the attitudes of our forebears were
very different and in Marlborough the civil authorities sought to remove the temptation offered by
public houses during Church services;-
An inn holder shall not entertain in his house any Townsmen on Sundays or Holy Days during
the time of Common Prayer or sermon, on pain of a fine of ten shillings. Any Townsman found in such a place
shall be sent to prison at the pleasure of the Mayor.
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Law and order were rough an ready in times gone by and the citizen was expected to take an active part in
enforcing them before boroughs and counties were obliged to establish regular constabularies;-
Every inhabitant shall have continually in readiness Clubs, Bills or Pikes for suppressing
outcry, breach of the peace, or outrage and assisting the Mayor and other officers of the Borough in executing
their duties.
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CHAMBERLAINS' ACCOUNTS
The Chamberlains' Accounts of Marlborough give an interesting insight into the administration of the town during
previous centuries;-
1578 For making the Ducking Stool. seven shillings and sixpence.
1579 Paid for an iron to burn vagabonds through the year.
1586 Paid for making new stocks. Paid for two thumb manacles.
1604 Paid Chessam for whipping a rogue.
1609 Paid for whip cord and whipping two wandering people and sending them to Manton.
1613 Fourteen persons, including six women, were convicted of petty larcenies and were whipped until they bled.
1615 John Martyn was indicted as a incorrigible rogue and convicted to be burned in the left shoulder with letter R and whipped.
1652 Paid for a pair of new Maces. �16.00.
...these maces are still in use at Town Council ceremonies
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The Town Cryer was responsible for all manner of minor duties other than announcing the news of the day;-
1804 Paid Town Crier for crying the donkey not to run on the Green.
Paid Town Crier for crying Mad Dogs twice.
Paid Town Crier for whipping two Irish Men, one stealing shurt, the other for telling a lye to the Mayor.
Paid the Town Crier for crying the cows not to run the streets by night.
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see also;
THE 19th CENTURY
The Marlborough Downs are used to train race horses.
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N.J. Reed R.N. &
'The Royal Wiltshire'
Lifeboat
A Marlborough Lifeboat Captain, N.J. Reed R.N., his wife and daughter raised a huge donation of
£400.00.00 for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution for the purchase of a new lifeboat
and transporting carriage. 'The Royal Wiltshire', as
the craft was named, was proudly exhibited in Marlborough on 17th June, 1864.
Launched at Dover on 25th August 1864, the lifeboat saw 14 years' service on the Dover station
between 1864 and 1878 and was was launched nine times on service to rescue twenty-two lives.
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HIRING FAIRS
of the 19th century
The first records of Hiring Fairs at Marlborough date from 1831 but their occurence on the Saturday
preceding and that following the Old Michaelmas Day indicate their distant origins which must have long
preceeded England's adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1751. The ancient customs of annual hiring
and firing have lapsed and the Hiring Fairs have become pleasure fairs in modern times.
See also: Marlborough Fair & Markets
The Savernake Hospital was established in 1872.
see also;
THE TOWN CRIER
Until about the turn of the 20th, a fair was held in Marlborough during May at which the inhabitants of the town joined hands to dance through the town. At the end of the dance various items were thrown into the river, accompanied by the mysterious chant "The tailor's blind and he can't see so we will thread the needle."
SAMUEL PEPYS
The diarist Samuel Pepys stayed at the 'Hart', now Duck's Toy Shop, Tudor Tea Rooms and Conservative Club, on June 15th 1668. He recorded how his wife was well pleased with Marlborough, the "pretty fair town for a street or two' with its "penthouses supported with pillars which makes it a good walk".
JAMES WYATT
The British architect James Wyatt died on September 4, 1813, as the result of an accident involving the carriage in which he was travelling over the Marlborough Downs with his friend and employer, Christopher Codrington of Dodington Park. He was buried in Westminster Abbey.
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Recommend a Book for this Page
History of Marlborough
by J. Waylen
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