A small, vibrant market town with a rich history dating back to medieval times was once the capital of England. While London is typically thought of as England’s capital, this wasn’t always the case.
Malmesbury in Wiltshire holds the title of being the oldest borough in England. The town was originally built around an abbey and constructed in around 675AD, making it one of the most significant towns in England at the time.
The town’s history dates back to the sixth century when it was awarded borough status via a charter by Alfred The Great in around 880. In the 10th Century, Athelstan, the first king of (all) England and grandson of Alfred the Great, made Malmesbury his capital after defeating an army of northern English and Scots, reports the Express.
It was here that he proclaimed himself as King of all England, making Malmesbury the nation’s first capital. During the English Civil War between the Royalists and Parliamentarians, Malmesbury became a key battleground and the south face of its abbey still bears scars from a battle that tore through the town. However, after the 1640s, the town faced an economic decline as transport and trade routes passed it to the coast.
Today, Malmesbury is a popular regional market town with a bustling high street filled with independent shops and a popular farmer’s market. Every August, the town holds an annual carnival which helps to raise money for the community through events and stalls including the world’s largest pillow fight.
Emma from Coffee#1 Malmesbury’s described the town as a “lovely place” where “everybody is so friendly and everybody knows everybody”. She further added: “You can tell when people have been to the area how in awe they are of it. Obviously, we’ve got the abbey which is beautiful and the Old Bell which is the oldest hotel in England.”
Interestingly, before London became the capital, England had several other capitals. Colchester, steeped in history, was once the capital of England and Britain’s first city. Known as Britain’s oldest recorded town, Colchester was declared the nation’s Roman capital in AD49.
When the Romans invaded Britain, Colchester was the first place in Britain to be given the status of a “Roman Colonia”. This made Colchester the first capital of the new Roman province of Britannia.
Today, the city boasts Edwardian buildings nestled among narrow lanes filled with independent shops and restaurants for visitors to explore. The Dutch Quarter, named after the medieval weavers who emigrated here from across the North Sea, features quaint, colourfully painted houses.
York also served as the capital of England for a period during the reign of King Edward I. In the summer of 1298, Edward I moved two departments at the heart of government, the Chancery and Exchequer, to York. They only returned to London in 1304.