Charity awaits ruling on town’s statue of first king
PLANS to install a statue of Aethelstan, the first king of England, have been submitted in the Wiltshire town where he is buried.
The Aethelstan First King of All England Trust, which is heading up the project, has sought to place the 11ft bronze statue and plinth in the heart of Malmesbury.
Working with the abbey and Heritage England, the trust said if planning permission is granted by Wiltshire Council it will be able to raise the £200,000 needed to build and place the statue in Birdcage Walk.
Barbara Pollard, who is leading the charity, said: “This is a very special location because King Aethelstan, who established England as a single nation and who is buried in Malmesbury Abbey, became attached to Malmesbury through his admiration for the abbey’s first abbot and his kinsman Aldhelm. Creating the statue will increase the focus on Malmesbury’s unique and internationally important Anglo-Saxon heritage and the role Aethelstan played in uniting England.
“The proposal will also enable the abbey team to fulfil a long-held ambition to increase the public benefit of the area so it can be more easily used for open-air services, exhibitions, performances and stalls for a range of community events.”
Initially, the group applied for listed building consent and full planning permission, but after conversations with planning officers withdrew the LBC as it did not apply.
The statue has been designed by Malmesbury artist Paul Deacon, who said while the design has tested public opinion, he feels they are well on their way to creating something exciting for the town.
Ms Pollard said she hoped to have news on the outcome of the planning bid around mid-June.
A separate project is also underway to commission an authentic replica of Aethelstan’s sword, just as the Anglo-Saxons would have forged it.
Creating the statue will increase the focus on Malmesbury’s AngloSaxon heritage BARBARA POLLARD