Discover Marlborough, Wiltshire

Marlborough, Wiltshire, England: Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Marlborough_Main_Square.JPG
Author: Przemyslaw Jahr


Marlborough is a small market town in Wiltshire, England. Located on the old trunk road that runs from London to Bath, now known as the A4 road or the Old Bath Road, Marlborough is reputed to have the second widest high street in Britain surpassed only by Stockton-on-Tees. It has a population of around 8,500 people (2012 estimate).

Human habitation in the Marlborough area goes back to the prehistoric period. According to archaeological studies, earliest signs date from 2400 BC. The discovery of an Iron Age burial bucket in the area confirms the presence of humans during that period. The Romans also left evidence of the presence, including coins at Mildenhall, on the east side of Marlborough.

After the Norman Conquest, William the Conqueror built the motte-and-bailey Marlboroough Castle here in 1067. He also built a mint here, and established the Savernake Forest as a royal hunting ground. Marlborough was granted in 1204 a charter by King John of England to hold an annual eight-day fair.

Marlborough was split between Royalist and Parliamentarian forces during the English Civil War of 1642, with the castle being the stronghold of the King's men while the Town actively supporting the Parliament. In the end the Royalists under Lord Digby won the skirmish,and one hundred and twenty townsfolk were taken prisoners to Oxford.

Modern Marlborough is today noted for holding a jazz festival every summer. The Marlborough Mop Fair is held over two Saturdays in October.

Marlborough High Street: Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Marlborough_High_Street_-_geograph.org.uk_-_699138.jpg
Author: Jonathan Billinger

Visiting Marlborough

To reach Marlborough, you can take the Old Bath Road (A4) from London. Alternatively use the M4 motorway heading west till Junction 15, then continue south on the A346 until you arrive in town.

Places of Interest in Marlborough

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About this website

Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.