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Marlborough
Marlborough  Marlborough shown within Wiltshire
Population	8,009 (2001 census)
Unitary authority	Wiltshire
Ceremonial county	Wiltshire
Region	South West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Police	Wiltshire
Fire	Wiltshire
Ambulance	Great Western
EU Parliament	South West England
UK Parliament	Devizes
List of places: UKʉۢ Englandʉۢ Wiltshire

Marlborough

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In 1067, William the Conqueror assumed control of the Marlborough area and set about building a wooden motte and bailey castle, sited on the pre-historic mound. This was completed in around 1100 and stone was used to strengthen the castle, in around 1175.

William also established a mint in Marlborough, which coined the William I and the early William II silver pennies. The coins display the name of the town as Maerlebi or Maerleber.

William I established the neighbouring Savernake Forest as a favourite Royal hunting ground ^[4] and Marlborough Castle became a Royal residence. Henry I observed Easter here, in 1110. Richard I (Coeur de Lion) gave the castle to his brother John, in 1186. Henry II stayed at Marlborough Castle, in talks with the King of Scotland. King John was married here and spent time in Marlborough. He even established a Treasury. Later, Henry III was also married here.^[5]

Henry III held Parliament here, in 1267, when the Statute of Marlborough was passed (this gave rights and privileges to small land owners and limited the right of the King to take possession of land). This seven-hundred-year-old law states that no one shall seize his neighbour's goods for alleged wrong, without permission of the Court. It is the oldest piece of English law which has not yet been repealed.

The castle fell into disrepair by the end of the 14th century but remained Crown property. Edward VI then passed it to the Seymour family, his mother's relatives.

The 1204 Charter granted the Borough an annual eight-day fair, commencing on 14 August, the vigil of the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady (15 August), in which "all might enjoy the liberties and quittances customary in the fair at Winchester". He also established that weekly markets may be held on Wednesdays and Saturdays. These continue to this day.^[6]

In 1498 Thomas Wolsey was ordained priest in (the now redundant) St Peter's church. He later rose to become a cardinal and Lord Chancellor.

In 1642, Marlborough's peace was shattered by the English Civil War. The Seymours held the Castle for the King but the Town was for Parliament. With his headquarters in nearby Oxford, King Charles had to deal with Marlborough. "A Town the most notoriously disaffected of all that Country, otherwise, saving the obstinacy and malice of the inhabitants, in the situation of it very unfit for a garrison... this place the King saw would prove quickly an ill neighbour to him, not only as it was in the heart of a rich County, and so would straighten him, and even infest his quarters." The King sent Lord Digby to take the town of Marlborough. He left Oxford at the head of four hundred horses, on the 24th November. When he arrived, he chose to parley first, thus giving the inhabitants a chance to prepare defences and to recruit troops. They mustered about seven hundred poorly-armed men. At this point, the Town issued a reply to Digby. "The King's Majesty" he declared, "providing he were attended in Royal and not in war like wise, should be as welcome to that Town as ever was Prince to People; but as to delivering up the good Town of Marlborough to such a traitor as Lord Digby ... they would sooner die". After some early skirmishes, Royalist troops infiltrated the Town down its small alleyways. The Town was captured and looted and many buildings were set ablaze. One hundred and twenty prisoners were marched in chains to Oxford. The Town was later abandoned by the King and took no further part in the war.

On 28 April 1653, the Great Fire of Marlborough burnt two hundred and fifty houses to the ground.^{[citation needed]} Fire swept through the Town again in 1679 and again in 1690. This time, an Act of Parliament was passed "to prohibit the covering of houses and other buildings with thatch in the Town of Marlborough".^[7]

In 1689, William III created Sir John Churchill, the distinguished Army general, Earl of Marlborough. In 1702, William's successor, Queen Anne created Churchill Duke of Marlborough.

Governance

The local authority is Wiltshire Council, which, at the 2009 elections, is Conservative controlled. Marlborough lies within the Devizes constituency.

Education

Marlborough College. The boarding school is located on the west side of the town.

The town's comprehensive state secondary school, St John's School and Community College, holds specialist Technology College and Language College status. It is considered an above average school and sixth form college by OFSTED. It was formed when the former Marlborough Grammar School and Secondary modern school were amalgamated.

Church of England

The town is at the heart of the Anglican Marlborough Deanery in the Diocese of Salisbury in the Province of Canterbury. The Rural Dean, has responsibility for the Benefices of Marlborough, Ridgeway, Upper Kennet and Whitton which in total comprise 16 parishes. Of the towns two Anglican Churches, St Peter's is no longer used and has become an Arts Centre and only St Mary's remains in use for worship.

Transport

Although once served by two railway lines (the Great Western Railway and the Midland and South Western Junction Railway) the town no longer has any direct rail access. However, the nearest railheads, by connecting bus are Bedwyn railway station, Pewsey railway station and Swindon railway station.

Notable Residents

Eglantyne Jebb, founder of Save The Children Fund, taught at St. Peter's Junior School which was then located at the western end of the High Street (now the location of the Town Library). It is said that Jebb was inspired to action by the rural poverty she saw amongst her pupils.

Nobel Prize winning author William Golding, author of Lord of the Flies, grew up in the town. Golding lived on a house in the Green and was educated at the former Marlborough Grammar School, where his father was a science master.

David Brudenell-Bruce, Earl of Cardigan, thirty-first hereditary warden of Savernake forest.

Bob Pelham creator of Pelham Puppets.

Pete Doherty musician.

Culture and sport

Marlborough Town Football Club

The Marlborough Players

Cadley Clay Shooting Grounds

Marlborough and District Angling Association

Marlborough and District Naturist Club (a.k.a. MADNAT).

Marlborough and District Triathlon Club (a.k.a. MAD-Tri).

NRG Martial Arts Academy

Pewsey and District Angling Association

The Marlborough Choral Society performs three concerts per year.

The Marlborough Concert Orchestra was founded in 2006 and puts on concerts in the town.

The Marlborough Running Club organises the Marlborough Downs Challenge

The Marlborough Players stage regular performances in the town.

The Marlborough and Pewsey Judo Club at Pewsey Swimming and Sports Centre, Wilcot Road, Pewsey

U3A

Wiltshire Ramblers: NE Wiltshire Ramblers / Mid-Wiltshire Ramblers

A horse named after the town took part in the 2002 Grand National, falling at the first fence.

Nearby places

Towns and cities: Devizes, Calne, Tidworth, Hungerford, Newbury, Swindon

Villages: Aldbourne, Avebury, Burbage, Cadley,Froxfield, Fyfield, Great Bedwyn, Little Bedwyn, Lockeridge, Mildenhall, Pewsey, Oare, Milton Lilbourne, Ramsbury, Collingbourne Ducis, Manton, Clatford, Chiseldon, Ogbourne Maizey, Ogbourne St. George, Ogbourne St. Andrew, Draycot Foliat

Places of interest: Avebury, Kennet Long-Barrow, Savernake Forest, Crofton Pumping Station, Silbury Hill, Wilton Windmill, Stonehenge, Stourhead, Alton Barnes (crop circles).

Twin towns

Gunjur, The Gambia, since 1982