Home   |   About Us   |   History of Melksham   |   Slide Shows   |   Past Events   |   Contact Us
Programme 2023

Click here for details

Sat 2nd December 2023
Christmas(ish) in Melksham through the years

more details...

 
Recent Events

Thu 16th November 2023
AGM & Social Evening

more details...

Thu 19th October 2023
The Melksham Murderer
Presented by Local Historian Lisa Ellis
more details...

Thu 21st September 2023
Artefacts found at Melksham Campus site
Presented by Liam Wilson of Cotswold Archaeology
more details...

View All Recent Events

An evening visit to Edington Priory - Wed 20th May 2015
Guided tour given by Michael Jones
(leaving Church St Car Park at 6:30pm) £2.50


Report -

Melksham and District Historical Association

On Wednesday 20th May the Association had an evening visit to Edington Priory and enjoyed a guided tour given by Mr Michael Jones. The Priory was founded by William Edington, the Bishop of Winchester, in his home village of Edington. The Priory Church was built between 1352 and 1361. The Friends of Edington Church and Edington Music Festival were set up to raise funds for continued maintenance of the Priory.

The Priory, originally a college for priests, later became a monastery for Augustinian canons. There are claims that it was granted by Edward the Black Prince to the Brothers of Penitence. William Ayscough , the Bishop of Salisbury and confessor to Henry VI was forced to flee Salisbury during Jack Cades rebellion in 1450. Seeking refuge in the Priory he was discovered on 29th June, dragged from the High Altar and murdered in the fields outside the Priory.

Several local notables are buried there, including tombs removed from St Giles Church at Imber during the 1950’s following the evacuation of the village in 1943.

Our next visit is in the afternoon of Wednesday 17th June when we will visit the Corsham 17th century Schoolroom and Almshouses
Visitors welcome. We will leave Church Street Car Park at 1.45pm and there is a charge of £2.50.

Back to Recent Events