Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom England Malmesbury Malmesbury Abbey Musket Damage

Malmesbury Abbey Musket Damage

Scars from the English Civil War mar this medieval sanctuary.

Malmesbury, England

Added By
CoolestCrab
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Musket damage.   CoolestCrab / Atlas Obscura User
Additional musket marks on a different wall of the abbey.   CoolestCrab / Atlas Obscura User
The musket marks are located to the left of the main entrance in this photo.   CoolestCrab / Atlas Obscura User
Wall of fire.   CoolestCrab / Atlas Obscura User
Musket damage close up.   CoolestCrab / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Most visitors to Malmesbury Abbey will walk past this reminder of one of the more formative events in England's history. But those in-the-know should pause to the west of the main entrance, where they'll see the deep impacts of musket shots believed to be from events carried out during the English Civil War.

Early in the war, Malmesbury was a Royalist (Cavalier) stronghold, but it was eventually besieged by the Parliamentarians (Roundheads). According to local historians, when the town fell, the leaders of the resisting forces were rounded up and brought for execution against the town abbey.

Although details of the executions carried out here are scant, the methodical positioning of the musket shot damage on this abbey casts a haunting shadow. The small marks are an invitation to reflect on the great affect the war had on English history.

Related Tags

Monasteries Civil War History War History Military

Know Before You Go

Follow the wall of the abbey left from the main entrance. Look at thre arches around the side, perpendicular to the Old Bell Hotel.

Community Contributors

Added By

CoolestCrab

Edited By

jooniur

  • jooniur

Published

October 3, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malmesbury_Abbey
  • https://www.britainexpress.com/counties/wiltshire/churches/malmesbury-abbey.htm
  • https://wiltshireafg.weebly.com/english-civil-war-in-wiltshire.html
Malmesbury Abbey Musket Damage
Gloucester St
Malmesbury, England, SN16 0AA
United Kingdom
51.584668, -2.098357
Get Directions

Nearby Places

King Aethelstan's Tomb

Malmesbury, England

miles away

Hannah Twynnoy's Gravestone

Malmesbury, England

miles away

Eilmer's Landing

Malmesbury, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Malmesbury

Malmesbury

England

Places 5

Nearby Places

King Aethelstan's Tomb

Malmesbury, England

miles away

Hannah Twynnoy's Gravestone

Malmesbury, England

miles away

Eilmer's Landing

Malmesbury, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Malmesbury

Malmesbury

England

Places 5

Related Places

  • The African Cemetery at Higgs Beach, Key West.

    Key West, Florida

    African Cemetery at Higgs Beach

    Near the ruins of a Civil War coastal fortress lies the only known African refugee cemetery in the United States.

  • Street sign and plaque.

    Nottingham, England

    Standard Hill

    The English Civil War began right here in 1642.

  • Rear of Grant’s cabin at City Point

    Hopewell, Virginia

    Grant's Headquarters at City Point

    For nearly a year, General Ulysses S. Grant was based here during the American Civil War.

  • Kláštorisko.

    Letanovce, Slovakia

    Kláštorisko

    The ruins of a 13th-century monastery that long served as a place of refuge from wars and raids.

  • Jennie Wade House

    Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

    Jennie Wade House

    Home of the only civilian casualty at the Battle of Gettysburg.

  • The Human Shadow Etched in Stone.

    Hiroshima, Japan

    Human Shadow Etched in Stone

    An eerie reminder to the horrors of World War II.

  • Old Abe

    Madison, Wisconsin

    Old Abe

    A renowned Civil War veteran, this Bald eagle now presides over the Wisconsin State Assembly.

  • Main corridor

    Alcoy, Spain

    Shelter of Cervantes

    This air raid shelter from the Spanish Civil War is now a museum dedicated to the history of the city's bombardment.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.