The Old Bell, the Oldest Hotel in England

Located Next to Malmesbury Abbey in Wiltshire in the South Cotswolds

Sep 20, 2009

The Old Bell Hotel and Restaurant next to Malmesbury Abbey in Wiltshire in the Cotswolds, and close to Bath and Bristol, is England's oldest purpose-built hotel.

No hotel in England's Cotswolds can claim as distinguished a history as the Old Bell, in the attractive market town of Malmesbury. It claims to be probably the oldest hotel in England and is a wonderful warren of corridors, a surprising number of guest lounges, a bar, brasserie and restaurant, and is superbly located right next to Malmesbury Abbey.

The Oldest Hotel in England?

The Old Bell's claim is based on the fact that it was purpose-built as a hotel by the Abbot of Malmesbury Abbey in 1220, and has been in continuous use as a hotel and inn ever since – almost 800 years of history. Apart from the sturdy stone walls of the original 13th-century building, some timbers also still survive, as does a rare medieval fireplace that was only discovered in 1986.

Accommodation at the Oldest Hotel in England

Some of the guest rooms are in the original part of the hotel, and have timbered ceilings, thick stone walls, ancient windows, and some window seats too, but all the modern comforts and amenities have been perfectly and discretely blended into the historic surroundings. Some rooms are in the Edwardian extension, which also houses the bar and restaurant, while there are other luxury rooms in the Coach House extension.

Dining at the Oldest Hotel in England

The Old Bell's Executive Chef, Tom Rains, has worked in the kitchens of some of the most distinguished restaurants in the country. He began his apprenticeship in the award-winning Lygon Arms, and went on to work at Claridge's in London and then with chefs including Marco Pierre White and Anton Mosimann. At the Old Bell he runs the casual Brasserie and the more formal Restaurant, where he offers a Tasting Menu to showcase his belief in classical dishes prepared with a modern simplicity.

The Ghost at the Oldest Hotel in England

With such a long history, it isn't surprising that the Old Bell is haunted. The Grey Lady, whose portrait hangs on one of the restaurant walls, was due to be married at Malmesbury Abbey but was left standing at the altar and now roams the eastern end of the hotel looking for her missing husband-to-be.

Even sceptical staff tell chilling stories of sightings by people who didn't know of the ghost's existence, including a priest who saw her twice in his room. One American guest awoke in the night to use the bathroom, and had a conversation with what he thought was his wife, only to find his wife sound asleep when he returned to bed. Another guest whose company uses the Old Bell regularly for meetings, refuses to stay in the hotel after a ghostly encounter and insists on staying in a nearby guesthouse instead,

It isn't surprising that Malmesbury Abbey attracted so many pilgrims and other visitors that it became necessary to build the Old Bell Hotel to accommodate them. There had been a monastery on this site since the 7th century, and by the 11th century it had grown to become one of the most important in England, containing the 2nd largest library in the whole of Europe.

A new monastery was built in the 12th century, and consecrated in about the year 1180. The Old Bell was built next door to it in about 1220AD. The abbey at Malmesbury flourished until 1539 when Henry VIII dissolved it but did not destroy it. It became the Parish Church for this thriving Wiltshire market town, and remains a place of worship today, although the years have taken their toll on the buildings and only about one-third of the original structures survive.

Location of the Oldest Hotel in England

The Old Bell is right next to Malmesbury Abbey in Wiltshire, and is 38 miles from Stonehenge, 30 miles from Bristol, 25 miles from Bath, and only 9 miles north of Chippenham.

Contact the Oldest Hotel in England

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