The Bird's Eye View of Malmesbury

The Bird's Eye View of Malmesbury
The Bird's Eye View of Malmesbury c.1648 © The Warden & Freemen of Malmesbury

Old English Translation

(From text at the top of the bird's eye view) The Description of Malmesbury or firstlie Meadalfsbury a borough of north Wiltshire both ansient and famous now in th possession & soole jurisdiction of a familie of Antiquitie and Honour viz Sr John Davers of Dansie house knight a menbre of the house of Comones this Parliament 1647, wch place is not only Renownd for its naturall streinth Seated on a step hill, unclimable by reason of manie Rockes extending unto or containing not more ground than what it standeth on and (within lesse than pistoll shotte) surrounded with unfordable Rivers. But Also for its unquonquered streinth and victorie abtained against the Danes for a long Sedge for Athelstane, a Saxon King (shut up with it); Manifest by his Charter, extant there, whoe for its Services and fidelitie bestowed besides severall other priveleges and immunities veriy faire Landes which to this day it enjoyeth and where likewise in testimonie of his affection to soe great a favoure his bodie (at his desire) was Intombed: This shewes the direct figure of that Borough or Garison as it stode fortified the 23 Octobre 1646: the day it was demolished by Parliamentes order (the whole Kingdom being a little before Redused) when it had stode a firme Garison for Parliament of England (under the Command of Collonell Nicholas Devereux) 2 years, 4 months, and odd weakes: wch Description or draght as proper unto the said Sr John Davers (the solle Lord and ouner of it) together with the Cotte Armes of his familie, the said Cotte presented in ackknowledgement of his many noble favours this 10th of April 1648.

Text at the bottom of the Bird's Eye View

  1. Mr Ivies house, the governours quarters.
  2. Hollow-way drawbridge, charlton & milborn way.
  3. The Catt a towre & platforme overlooking the high ground.
  4. The platforme next Mr Ivies.
  5. Ruines of the ould abey adioning to the church.
  6. The Stepele where once the parish curch stod. 7. Oxford Strette.
  7. The Gibbett & Horse for the souldiers correction.
  8. The Churchyard walled in.
  9. The Corpus du gard at the finer drawbridg.
  10. St Johnes hospital), another Corpus du gard.
  11. St Johnes Stret wth.out the guard line.
  12. The Line and workes about St Johnes.
  13. Crosse hay lane.
  14. Ingarm lane.
  15. Silver Stret.
  16. Henne Lane.
  17. Burnevoll a Row of houses under the line.
  18. ould Chapel) in Burnevoll.
  19. drapers mill.
  20. Mr Ivies mill & pigeon house.
  21. Archards mill.
  22. St Johnes Stone & drawbridge.
  23. The Sentinel) houses.
  24. St Daniell's well.
  25. The hill cuff equal) wth the line and flankers Round.
  26. Posterne gaffe for sallies.

  1. The Markett Cross.
  2. The Sambles; called Kerfox
  3. The main court of Guard, or Corpus Du Gard. D. The high strett.
  4. The Line of Circumvalation.
  5. The Crosse heyes.
  6. The Church formerlie a pice of ye Abey.
  7. A platform built on the church.
  8. The Flankers round the Line.
  9. Sides drawbridge, the first entrance.
  10. The Inner drawbridge
  11. The Homework next Burnivolle against westport.
  12. The other Homework entering the toune agst W'port.
  13. The line betweene both horneworks:oposit to westport.
  14. The Gret platforme over ye pouder mille.
  15. The Pouder mill without the workes & the River.
  16. The River 10 or 12 foot dept, & in most places 18 fette over.
  17. high groundes on the East, & East & be North wth.out the toune.
  18. Mr Ivies Barne ot the storehouse for hay & proander.
  19. The Bastione or platforme against Drapers mill.
  20. The Bastione or platforme against Burton Hill.
  21. The Inner-new gate built of timber.
  22. Hollow-way gatte:
  23. St Johns Drawbridge.

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