'Exciting historical discovery' as Middle Saxon remains discovered
Kim and Whit Hanks from the Old Bell Hotel in Malmesbury have revealed the rare discovery features remains dating back more than 1000 years
What's been described as an 'exciting historical discovery' has been made in the garden of a hotel here in Wiltshire.
Kim and Whit Hanks from the Old Bell Hotel in Malmesbury have revealed rare Middle Saxon remains dating back more than 1000 years have been found.
The owners say they're 'honoured' to act as stewards of local history, following the discovery of the remains - some of which date as far back as the 7th Century.
It's been called 'the first real evidence of a community active before the Abbey was built'.
Kim and Whit Hanks, owners of The Old Bell Hotel, said on Facebook over the weekend: “We are so excited to be here in Malmesbury, our second home to share in this wonderful news for the community.
"The exciting discovery intertwines history with the present, providing a rare insight into the lives of Middle Saxon period Malmesbury residents.
"As the owners of The Old Bell Hotel, a listed building, we are honoured to act as stewards of local history—a responsibility we take very seriously. We are thrilled about the findings being revealed today.
"It’s fitting that the earliest remains have been found near the Abbey, on the grounds of England's oldest hotel.
"Our passion for history and ancestral ties to Malmesbury since the 1500s make our involvement in preserving the town’s heritage even more meaningful.
"We hope the Malmesbury community will benefit from these important historical findings, which reveal clues about the town's past all the way back to the 700s.”