Yep. Before anyone says it, this post about the Old Town Laundry bar is a bit of a cheat in this Swindon in 50 drinks series. Obvs this is more about the venue than one particular drink – as the posts in this series largely are. But – it had to go somewhere so here it is. And there’s a goodly selection of drinks to be had for sure.
the old town laundry bar on Vic hill in Swindon
So I’ve been wanting to go this place for a while – and at last got round to it last night. Was it worth the wait? Yes it was – we had a great night and def keen to go again.
The bar – sorry – launderette – is on Victoria Hill – next to Long’s Bar. Check out this aerial shot to place it.
Your booking is referred to as a ‘wash’ – and the laundry them looms large on their social media – and indeed in the establishment itself.
The drinks
I think there’s twenty-four cocktails on the menu. They’re quite the most imaginative drinks I’ve ever encountered – and that’s in all aspects. The naming, the ingredients and the presentation. It’s all tremendous fun.
The Swindon Advertiser reported thus: ‘Liam Larkin, deputy manager, explained that they’d invested a lot of time n coming up with the cocktail menu and how to make each drink unique and an ‘event’ in itself. One comes in a lamp that will be presented with an element of fire and another will be in an old-fashioned cereal bowl. … … We wanted to do something completely different,’ Liam said. There are places like this in Manchester or Bristol, so we thought why not do something like that here, but put our own spin on it ..’ (Not sure if that was an intentional pun!)
The staff we encountered were super friendly and happy to chat about the place, the drinks, the concept – anything.
What follows now is a selection of photographs to give you a flavour of the place. I can’t now remember the names of the two drinks that I had – they were both rum based and were delicious – and one of them had a flambé thing going on. Some of the pics are a bit blurry. I’m blaming the rum! First up – the false front to the speakeasy!
And now some of the drinks – you get the idea I’m sure.
Serial Killer Monk’s Secrets revealed by historian, Tony Mcaleavy.
MALMESBURY ABBEYhas a long, fascinating and, at times, grisly history. A history that historian Tony Mcaleavy has been researching for many years. One that he’ll be revealing in one of two talks he will give during this year’s Wessex Week taking place in the town in October. He will even talk about a once-unknown monk, John of Tintern, who was a serial killer and a 14th century ‘gangster’.
Serial Killer Monk’s Secrets Revealed – Tony Mcaleavy, one of the two founder volunteers of Wessex Week. Tony has discovered that one of the Abbey’s monks was a serial killer.
Historian and author
Tony is a professional historian and author. And, since 2016, has been one of the group of people who, along with Julia Bowen and Barbara Pollard and others, who’ve helped to organise and run Wessex Week in the town.
This year will be a little different though, as Tony stepped back from the organisational side of things to concentrate on his latest book, Malmesbury Abbey 670-1539: Patronage, Scholarship and Scandal. It’s the first full-length medieval history of the Abbey, which is due to for publication this month – September 2023.
I’ve lived in Malmesbury for over forty years. Over the last few decades I’ve become completely obsessed with the history of the town. It’s got lots of history and there are lots of sources that I’ve yet to explore.’
Boydell Press commissioned the book three years ago. But, off and on, it’s been almost ten years of research.’
What’s happening in Wessex week
During Wessex Week, Tony will be giving two talks both based on the research that went into his latest book. The first will be a broad-sweep history of the Abbey from the 7th to the 16th centuries, charting the rise and fall of the monks of Malmesbury.
‘I’m delighted to be giving this talk in the Abbey, which will be very special, to be talking about the history of the place, in the place itself.
‘The stories are brilliant and the people associated with medieval Malmesbury are so interesting. It’s full of saints and sinners and this extraordinary gamut of characters with associations with the Abbey. So I’m particularly interested in that human dimension.
I’ve uncovered some quite extraordinary stories that are not in previous history books. The most startling discovery I’ve come across is that of a monk, John of Tintern. He became an abbot in the 14th century but was a serial killer.’
Tony came across the criminal file while researching in the National Archives in Kew: ‘He was a bit of a gangster who terrorised the people of Wiltshire for years. He travelled with a hitman. And local people accused him of ‘bumping off’ anyone who crossed him. Legend has it,he was responsible for four murders and got away with each of them. So, this Abbot was a serial killer who evaded justice. But at length succumbed to the Black Death’
Another grisly event uncovered by Tony involved a massacre in the abbey church in 1153, perpetrated by soldiers loyal to Henry Plantagenet. He was on the brink of becoming King Henry II, and the soldiers chased the locals onto holy ground and killed them all.
Tony’s second talk
Tony’s second talk will reveal the links between medieval Malmesbury and the queens of England.
There existed a strong set of connections between the women of the Royal family from Anglo-Saxon times through to the Tudor period,’ Tony says.
The talk will take place in The Old Bell Hotel, close to the abbey – a place full of history in and of itself.
‘The hotel was the former guest house of the abbey. As a part of the abbey precinct, it provides an amazing sense of continuity – thus it’s often called the oldest hotel in England. You can still see several 13th century features in the hotel, including a beautiful early 13th century fireplace, so it’s another great venue.’
And history has always been a big part of Tony’s life. ‘I studied history at Oxford University and for many years acted as the schools’ history adviser for Gloucestershire County Council.’
He’s also written several history books. His works include volumes for English Heritage, secondary subject texts for Cambridge University Press and about education reform for the education charity for which he currently works as a research director.
Wessex week 2023
This year’s Wessex Week features a series of events that will celebrate the region’s history, culture and art through the centuries with a particular emphasis on Malmesbury and the Anglo-Saxon period. The events take place in the town between Saturday, October 14 and Saturday, October 21.
It’s a community event and an opportunity for Malmesbury folk to celebrate the town’s very rich, medieval heritage,” explains Tony. ‘It’s got different dimensions to it, with a mic of music and drama, as well as traditional academic history. So it’s got a festival feel to it and helps to put our beautiful town on the map.’
Tony’s talks at this year’s festival:
The Story of Malmesbury Abbey: 670 – 1539. October 14, 7 pm to 9 pm. £15.00.
Happening in the abbey: Malmesbury and the Queens of Medieval England. October 18, 7:30 pm to 9 pm. £10.00
Garden Room: Old Bell Hotel, Abbey Row, Malmesbury, Wiltshire, United Kingdom
Tickets for any of these events are available online via the Wessex Week website https://wessex-week.org – and there are some also available to buy at the tourist information centre based at Malmesbury town hall.
These days a ubiquitous HMO, what was the Ship Inn sits on the corner of Westcott Place, Birch Street, Park Lane and Faringdon Road, opposite the GWR park. In 2006 The Ship relaunched as a music venue, but closed for good in 2012.
Opened in 1847 as a beer house, like many town and city centre public houses, the Ship Inn has enjoyed or endured a chequered history. But it’s arguable that the most interesting part of its story is that of its infamous murder.
‘On September 18, 1903, Edward Richard Palmer, 24, walked into the Ship Inn. He ordered a bottle of Bass. He then pulled a revolver from his pocket and shot dead the 19-year-old barmaid, Esther Swinford.’
Young Esther worked as a live-in servant at the pub when first she met Palmer. In 1902 they became engaged. But events were to take a dark turn. With the date of the nuptials set and the banns read, Esther learned her beloved had been somewhat careless with the hard-earned cash she’d given him for for their shared future.
Let’s suffice it to say, and cutting short a long story, that Palmer paid for his crime of passion with the death sentence. He was hanged at Devizes prison on November 17th 1903.
In the witness stand Palmer confirmed that he was in the habit of carrying a revolver. Though on this occasion he’d only meant to frighten Esther. It appears he was annoyed that she’d not spoken to him. They found a photograph of Esther with the words ‘the curse of my life’ written across it on Palmer after his arrest.
*I can’t find my copy of this book. If I’ve lent it to someone can I please have it back? My house isn’t big enough to lose a book of that size and the only thing I can think is that I’ve lent it out and forgotten about it. I dunno …
Anyway, in his amazing book he describes varying landlords over the years and some of their stories. He also mentions that, in 2006, Enterprise Inns reopened The Ship as the 12 Bar music venue with Dave Young and Anna Sprawson at the helm. Dave Young explained the name 12 Bar as a being familiar to musicians. It’s one of the first things you learn on the guitar.
Enterprise Inns spent £250,000 on the place but sadly stripped out pretty much every vestige of the Victorian internal architecture in the process.
John tells us that the revamped pub opened on October 13th 2006. Sadly initial success didn’t last and the obvious happened. Local property developer Pat Slattery snapped it up and the Ship was sunk.
Below we can see the Ship Inn as it looks today. The internal Victorian features may have beeb stripped away, but externally at least, it hasn’t homogenised. It’s clear to see what its previous life was, with the ghost sign to the left of the top, front window, the pub sign hanging to the left and the window to the left of the door on the corner. All of which is a whole lot better than complete obliteration.
The Ship Inn in 2023 – photo courtesy of Chris Eley
Famous rock star backs folk festival. Rock legend and Jethro Tull frontman Ian Anderson has given a ringing endorsement to Malmesbury’s folk festival plans.
Supported by Malmesbury Town Council, the Folk & Roots Festival is being staged on September 23 in Malmesbury Abbey Cloister Gardens. It’s timed to tie in with the inaugural European Folk Day.
Ian Anderson, who has stars in a promotional video for the event, said: Malmesbury is a beautiful little town. It’s an ancient town, with amazing historic connections. It also has the partially ruined abbey, and the festival is in the grounds. It will be a super event, so do take a trip to Malmesbury and enjoy this folk and roots festival – maybe I’ll see you there!’
Ian Anderson with his band Jethro Tull – Rock star backs Malmesbury folk festival
Organisers
Helping to organise the event on behalf of the town council is local resident Catherine Burke. Catherine runs the popular Purbeck Valley Folk Festival.
Catherine has booked some great acts, including headliners 3 Daft Monkeys. Other performers include Martha Tilston, Old Baby Mackerel, The Carrivick Sisters and Wiltshire band Fly Yeti Fly.
During the day Morris dancers will be performing at different places around the town. And there will be food and drink stalls at the festival itself. Burton Hill campsite is offering a discount to festival-goers. And local cafes, shops and restaurants are getting ready for a busy day’s trading.
Mayor, Cllr Gavin Grant, said he was looking forward to welcoming residents and visitors to the festival. It follows hot on the heels of the successful Music in the Cloisters evening, staged as part of Malmesbury Carnival.
‘Malmesbury is so strong in live music. It seems only natural for our beautiful town to host a folk music festival in this amazing location. I’m delighted that the town council are backing the inaugural festival and a group of musicians and festival organisers have come together to make it happen. It’s all the more impressive knowing that any festival profits could help my Mayoral good causes’ fund too. I hope Malmesbury and folk music lovers will get behind this inaugural festival and make it a great success.’
Athelstan museum member numbers soar as its volunteers celebrate much success.
The Athelstan Museum in Malmesbury is once again thriving. Its membership now exceeds pre-Covid figures with 430 members contributing to its success, including seventy-five regular volunteers. The museum, well known as the home of renowned artist JMW Turner’s watercolour of Malmesbury Abbey, had to close its doors during the pandemic. It then lost around ten of its volunteers.
Along with the closure itself, this created a challenge for the museum. It treats its community engagement responsibilities with seriousness and prides itself on being open six days a week, forty-nine weeks of the year. Post pandemic the team had to work hard to not only get the Turner on display, but to get the museum back on track.
Athelstan Museum Member Numbers Soar – Susan Mockler, vice chair of the Athelstan Museum management team
Athelstan museum management
Susan Mockler, vice-chair of the Athelstan Museum management team explains why the museum is now thriving again.
‘Our member numbers are well up on pre-Covid figures. With 430 people, that’s 100 more than we had before the pandemic,’ she says.
‘What’s particularly interesting is that many those new members are international and found us during lockdown. It’s lovely to have membership from home and abroad and to know that the history and heritage of Malmesbury is reaching all corners of the globe!’
This is also reflected in the numbers visiting the museum’s website. It’s seen 7,220 users from various countries including America, New Zealand, South Africa and Sweden. And with a total number of website visitors of 18,396 in the last twelve months.
The museum also says its following on social media, including Facebook and Twitter has seen significant increases. And the number of people who have signed up to their mailing list is at an all-time high.
A vital volunteer team
Sharon Nolan is chair of the museum’s trustees. She said:
Athelstan Museum is very fortunate to have a steady team of valued volunteers. A good number of them have been loyal to us for many years. Over the last year we have recruited new volunteers. Often they’re recommended by word of mouth. Or may be new residents in the town.
Volunteering in the museum is a great way to meet new people, learn about the history of Malmesbury and contribute in a positive way to the community. There are many different roles. They range from the front desk, to helping with our amazing collection, education and outreach, exhibitions, events or the museum shop. There is something for everyone.’
With volunteer numbers being back up to pre-pandemic levels, seventy-five local people now donate their time on a day-to-day basis to help the Athelstan go from strength to strength.
Volunteers are vital to the museum’s ability to thrive as a community hub. Further they’re an important touch point for visitors, especially school groups. The management team believe that the hard work of the volunteers have made a significant contribution to the growing success of the Athelstan. For sure they were instrumental in the acquisition of the Turner watercolour.
The added high profile provided by the Turner painting and collections such as the Malmesbury Coin Hoard — a collection of more than 1,200 Roman coins discovered by a metal-detecting enthusiast in a Wiltshire field ten years ago — has helped drive the museum’s success.
Public engagement
The museum has also been taking history outside of its walls to local schools and out into the community. An example of this included Sue Poolman delivering an engaging talk about the acquisition and history of the Turner painting to local residential homes. And they all received a framed print of the watercolour.
Our accessibility to the people of Malmesbury is so important to us,’ says Susan Mockler. ‘And we consider ourselves to be a crucial point of access for anyone interested in the heritage of the area and the collections we hold. We look after objects that provide us with so much information about our past. They tell the story of the local area, but those objects wouldn’t have any tales to tell us without the people who made them part of their lives. We want to engage with the community more and more. That’s because, when it comes down to it, it’s people who have helped make our history and continue to help us keep those stories alive for future generations.’
To become a member involves a commitment to donate at least £12 a year or £200 to secure a life-time membership.
I’ll take a moment here to mention Swindon museum and art gallery – as was and as is becoming. Housed in Apsley House in Swindon’s Old Town, Swindon Borough Council elected not to reopen it when the Covid collar finally was lifted. Thus followed a long and somewhat sorry saga of campaigning by some of the museum Friends. They too, as with the Athelstan museum, undertook varying roles to support the museum.
But there’s now a light on the horizon. Work is at last underway to convert the first floor of the civic offices into a new museum and gallery.
