In the oldest borough in England is the town that was the first capital of England before it was moved to London in the 12th Century
A small, vibrant market town with a rich history dating back to medieval times was once the capital of England. While London is typically thought of as England’s capital, this wasn’t always the case.
Malmesbury in Wiltshire holds the title of being the oldest borough in England. The town was originally built around an abbey and constructed in around 675AD, making it one of the most significant towns in England at the time.
The town’s history dates back to the sixth century when it was awarded borough status via a charter by Alfred The Great in around 880. In the 10th Century, Athelstan, the first king of (all) England and grandson of Alfred the Great, made Malmesbury his capital after defeating an army of northern English and Scots. Here, he proclaimed himself as King of all England, making Malmesbury the nation’s first capital, reports the Express.
During the English Civil War between the Royalists and Parliamentarians, Malmesbury became a key battleground and the south face of its abbey still bears scars from a battle that tore through the town. However, after the 1640s, the town faced an economic decline as transport and trade routes passed it to the coast.
Today, Malmesbury is a popular regional market town with a bustling high street filled with independent shops and a popular farmer’s market. Every August, the town holds an annual carnival which helps to raise money for the community through events and stalls including the world’s largest pillow fight.
Emma from Coffee#1 Malmesbury gushed to Express.co.uk about the charm of Malmesbury, saying it’s a “lovely place” and highlighting the tight-knit community where “everybody is so friendly and everybody knows everybody”.
She said: “You can tell when people have been to the area how in awe they are of it. Obviously, we’ve got the abbey which is beautiful and the Old Bell which is the oldest hotel in England.”
Indeed, before London became the undisputed capital, England had several other cities that held the title. Colchester boasts a rich history as the former capital of England and holds the title of Britain’s first city.
Colchester also lays claim to being Britain’s oldest recorded town and was designated as the Roman capital in AD49. When the Romans set foot on British soil, Colchester was the first location to be honoured with the status of a “Roman Colonia”, making it the inaugural capital of the Roman province of Britannia.
Today, visitors to Colchester can wander through lanes lined with Edwardian buildings, discover unique independent shops and dine at quaint restaurants. The city is dotted with colourful houses in the Dutch Quarter, so named for the medieval weavers who settled there from the North Sea region.
York too enjoyed its moment as England’s capital during King Edward I’s reign. In the summer of 1298, Edward I transferred two pivotal government departments, the Chancery and Exchequer, to York. However, these institutions were moved back to London by 1304.
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