Malmesbury
As a property buying agent, I spend a great deal of time in the beautiful English towns and countryside of the Cotswold's. Often, I see visitors and residents alike enjoying the picturesque historic towns and beautiful surroundings, yet many fail to consider Malmesbury as a suitable destination.
I am regularly asked to find and purchase suitable properties in and around the celebrated towns of Burford, Stow on the Wold, Cirencester and Tetbury, so why not Malmesbury? Perhaps it is because for some 450 years it was out of the commercial limelight. This was the period between the destruction of its Abbey during the reformation, (the tow’s source of wealth and employment), and the next major business venture in the town, the arrival of Dyson in 1993.
At Recoco Property Search, I find and advise clients on the purchase of properties, both on and off the market.
The very things that made Malmesbury the ideal location for a medieval town—water and excellent defences —are the attributes that prevented it from developing during the Industrial Revolution and subsequent commuter boom. Today, we can enjoy the layout of a Saxon hilltop town, which provides a legacy of over 300 listed buildings. Originally the site of an Iron Age fort, chosen for its hilltop position, with fresh water springs and bordered by the River Avon (and tributaries), Malmesbury Abbey was founded in 675. Once established, such was its importance that Athelstan, the first king of all England, was buried in the abbey following his death in 939. The Reformation of 1539 saw Malmesbury lose its wealth as a religious centre and instead operate as a 'wool town' and subsequently a home to the lace-making industry. With the passing of these industries, it settled into life as a charming market town until 1993, when Dyson established its headquarters there (now based in Singapore). Dyson continues to be the main employer, with over 3,500 employees operating its Institute of Engineering and Technology on the site.
If you are seeking a townhouse, a cottage, a former farmhouse, or fine old rectory why not consider Malmesbury. A central 5 bedroom town house will be in the price range of £1,000,000 to £1,750,000, or a modern detached family house, £700,000 to £1,200,000. Appealing country properties in the neighbouring towns and villages vary in price from £1,000,000 upwards.
The population of Malmesbury is approximately 6,000, and the town offers a wealth of attractions for both visitors and residents alike. As well as being a picturesque market town with a variety of shops, cafes and public houses, there is a weekly farmers market that provides local produce and each year, throughout August, is the month of Carnival. There are two primary schools and also a secondary school. In addition, Malmesbury offers a leisure centre, a public library and a Waitrose, which opened in 2024.
Communications are excellent, with the A429, which bypasses the town, providing access to junction 17 of the M4 motorway. Cirencester, known as the capital of the Cotswolds, is approximately 12 miles north. Railway connections are available from Kemble and Chippenham, with a journey time of between 60 and 69 minutes respectively, to London Paddington.
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Bath & Somerset, Berkshire, Wiltshire, The Cotswolds & Hampshire