Malmesbury Abbey was a Benedictine Abbey. Its church was founded in circa 637 by the Irish hermit Mailduib and the monastery was founded in the late seventh century, although nothing remains from this phase of the site.
The present church was begun in the early twelfth century. The church's crossing tower and spire fell during a storm in circa 1500 and destroyed much of the building, including most of the nave and the transept. The Abbey was closed in 1539 under King Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries.
This photograph was withdrawn from the Red Box Collection for conservation reasons during the 2011-12 Red Box Project. Previously held in the collection of the Courtauld Institute.
This is part of the Series: RBO01/45 Early Photographic Print Collection: Wiltshire; within the Collection: RBO01 Early Photographic Print Collection
Source: Historic England Archive
Porch, Doorway, Sculpture, Moulding, Arch, Medieval Benedictine Monastery, Medieval Abbey, Medieval Church