ATHELSTAN 1100 CELEBRATIONS END WITH RE-ENACTMENT OF ANGLO SAXON BATTLE

Malmesbury's month long Athelstan 1100 celebrations ended with a re-enactment of an Anglo Saxon battle alongside an Anglo-Saxon village in the town’s riverside St Aldhelm's Mead.

With a full display of Anglo-Saxon living, including cooking, baking, weaving and making plus stirring battle-re-enactments hundreds of residents and visitors enjoyed the opportunity to discover how life was lived in Malmesbury over 1000 years ago.

On Saturday Malmesbury's Town Hall was transformed into an Anglo-Saxon feasting hall when more than 100 people from the town gathered to enjoy a meal put on by the team at the Old Bell Hotel. The weekend was rounded off by Sunday Evensong at Malmesbury Abbey.

Athelstan 1100 project lead Cllr Campbell Ritchie said:

“This was a great way to finish our events marking the 1100th anniversary of Athelstan becoming King and his special relationship with Malmesbury.

“The re-enactors of Regia Anglorum, who live and breathe the Anglo-Saxon period, were brilliantly engaging and informative and provided a great opportunity to see beyond the words and pictures in text books to get a feel for the period of Athelstan and the people who are part of our rich history.

“We have had a great month, with internationally famous speakers, Malmesbury's Big Athelstan Dig, which still has its finds to reveal, to the banners, art, drama, films, publications, markets and picnics which have filled our High Street and open spaces around town.

“This was alongside the world class Athelstan exhibition in the Athelstan Museum and the opening of new permanent visitor attractions, including Malmesbury's Athelstan Trail and the Athelstan Pilgrim Way, with a statue to come.

“I would like to thank everyone who has helped make Athelstan 1100 so far reaching and engaging.”

The Athelstan 1100 project was a huge community event involving 100s of volunteers and businesses. For more information about the project visit https://www.athelstan1100.co.uk/