MORE THAN SIXTY BUSINESSES & ORGANISATIONS BACK THE ATHELSTAN 1100 CELEBRATIONS IN MALMESBURY

Sixty local businesses and organisations have already backed an ambitious calendar of events in and around Malmesbury to celebrate 1100 years since Athelstan became the first King of England and his special relations with the town.

The town of Malmesbury is celebrating #Athelstan1100 throughout the summer of 2024.  World famous historians are visiting to speak – including broadcaster and historian Michael Wood and Professor Sarah Foot who are both experts in Athelstan’s important place in English history. 

Four packed weeks of activities start on Friday 28th June and these will include a Big Dig weekend, a dramatic live event in Malmesbury Abbey, a Big Picnic, a craft fair and a large scale re-enactment – all with an Anglo Saxon theme. 

Malmesbury Town Team chair, Cllr Campbell Ritchie, leads the team of volunteers who are organizing the programme of events:

“We’re overwhelmed by the support of local businesses to date – they have embraced this opportunity to celebrate the history of Malmesbury and to be part of Athelstan 1100  and we are confident even more businesses will join us over the coming weeks. We’d like to thank them all for their commitment to this exciting project and to helping make so many brilliant events happen for the benefit of all of us. 

“Businesses and organizations have contributed in various ways. There have been cash donations as well as donations of time and services, such as the Athelstan 1100 website, the supply of PR expertise and providing essential equipment. Malmesbury Town Council and Wiltshire Council are already providing invaluable support.”

Businesses in an around Malmesbury’s High Street are joining the fun of a ‘By Appointment of King Athelstan’ scheme and visitors can expect to see plenty of locally made Athelstan 1100 themed products using the project’s exclusive Athelstan 1100 logos and designs, such as printed fabric, tea towels, mugs, fudge, tee-shirts and even Athelstan sausages. Many businesses are also ordering special Athelstan 1100 stickers and stamps to show their support.

An example of one business that has already  created its own merchandise with the Athelstan 1100 branding is the Fabric Shack on the High Street run by Helen Chapman. 

“It’s great for us to get involved and to support the range of activities taking place. It was natural for us to take the logo and print it on to a fabric which can be used by our customers to create whatever they like – from clothing, to cushion covers, tea towels to curtains!”

Justin Jeffrey of Mindvision is also backing the project. He said:

“We at Mindvision are delighted, as a Malmesbury team, to be supporting this historic project. As specialist web and app developers, our contribution has been to design and build the official Athelstan 1100 website. With a special affinity to our treasured town, it's a great honour to be able to do our bit in promoting and celebrating King Athelstan's incredibly special relationship with our historic town.”

Another retail business which is behind Athelstan 1100 is Barn Owl Books.

Owner Amanda Wallis said: “We are really excited about the events planned for the Athelstan 1100 celebrations and are thrilled to be working on the project as the official book partner. The event programme is packed with a wide range of inspirational speakers who will really bring this period of history to life, and at Barn Owl Books we are promoting their titles through our website and through curated reading lists to help both the expert and novice historians navigate their way through the Anglo-Saxon period. 

“We also have some fantastic window displays planned and will be on hand in store with suggestions and book recommendations for both adults and children. The project is a massive boost for the town and for the High Street and we are looking forward to welcoming and serving all the extra visitors that this will bring into Malmesbury.”

Before the end of May Athelstan 1100 will become fully visible as 50 Athelstan 1100 banners will be unfurled across the town centre, many including designs by local school children, assisted living and care home residents, local artists and Malmesbury residents from a call-out for designs that is currently underway. These banners will remain in place throughout the summer.

It was in 924 AD that Athelstan, the grandson of Alfred the Great, became King of Mercia and Wessex, the first steps on his journey to becoming the first King of England. 

Many events are free and tickets for paid for events are already on sale with a ten per cent discount until May 19.  For details visit https://www.athelstan1100.co.uk/events-ticketing.

Some of the sponsors and participants in By Appointment of King Athelstan include (in alphabetical order): 
Abbey News
Athelstan Museum
Athelstan Players
Aethelstan’s Gentlemen’s Outfitters
A C Nurden
Barn Owl Books
Bertie B’s
Bitzy Preloved
Blount & Maslin 
Bow in the Cloud
Brooks Independent Funeral Directors
Caerbladon
Cotswold Archaeology 
E & S 
Fabric Shack
Fielder and Jones
Foxleigh Road Nurseries
French Gray
George Vets
Inner Strength
Isaac Owen
Jackdaw Cafe
Hyams Autos
James Dyson Foundation
King Athelstan Memorial Foundation
Leonard Walker Butchers
Loaf Shack
Lockstones
Maison Let
Malmesbury Abbey
Malmesbury Abbey Café
Malmesbury Abbey Bookshop
Malmesbury Civic Trust
Malmesbury History Society
Malmesbury Honey
Malmesbury Garden Centre
Malmesbury Morris
Malmesbury Opticians
Malmesbury Town Council
Malmesbury Town Team
Matthews Independent Funeral Directors
Miles Morgan
Mindvision Media Ltd
Persephone Violet
Pot to Pan
Red Drone
Roost Restaurant
Sassy and Boo
Scott Media 
Shipton Mill
Sprechen
Summer Cafe
The Kings Arms
The Old Bell Hotel 
The Pursuit Agency
The Rose and Crown
The Three Cups
The Warden & Freemen of Malmesbury
The Wicked Chilli
The Wild Food Company 
Truffle and Thyme
Toy Expert
United Reformed Church 
Wessex Week 
Willis Brothers 
Wiltshire Council
Wooden Spoon Press