Malmesbury makes you clever

» Some important historical figures associated with Malmesbury – note all the intellectuals and political thinkers!

» King Athelstan (d. 939)

» Early 10th century Anglo-Saxon king, defeated the Danes at the Battle of Brunanburh, was buried at Malmesbury. His remains were lost during the Reformation but you can still admire an empty tomb (made later) in the Abbey.

» William of Malmesbury (d. 1143?)

» A monk who spent his whole adult life at the Abbey and who wrote a number of histories. Hugely important figure in our knowledge of early England.

» Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)

» Political thinker, Civil War Royalist and maths teacher to the future Charles II. Malmesburyborn Hobbes is best known for his view that strong government was needed to avoid wars and disorder. Famous for the phrase of the life of man in unregulated societies as “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.” Was probably also an atheist, which was pretty unusual back then. The house he was born in is now gone, but there’s a plaque near where it stood in St Mary’s Street.

» Joseph Addison (1672-1719)

» Playwright, political thinker and politician, born in Wiltshire and MP for Malmesbury 1710-19, best known for his partnership with Richard Steele with whom he founded the Spectator magazine, still with us today. Summoned his estranged wastrel son to his deathbed to witness how a good Christian should die.

» James Scott Douglas, 6th Baronet Douglas (1930-1969)

» Malmesbury-born aristocrat who squandered two inheritances on the high life. His career as a racing driver was hampered by his obesity.

» Sir Roger Scruton (1944-2020)

» Conservative political philosopher who lived near Malmesbury in later life. Much more popular in Eastern Europe than here. A café in Budpest was named in his honour last year and contains some of his memorabilia, including his teapot.

» Julian Pettifer (b. 1935)

» Malmesbury-born TV journalist noted for his coverage of the Vietnam war, also prominent wildlife conservation campaigner.

» Hugh Pym (b. 1959)

» TV journalist, currently BBC’s health correspondent, so he’s been pretty busy lately. Born in Malmesbury, unsuccessfully contested the North Wiltshire constituency for the Liberal Democrats in 2001.