Malmesbury Abbey Ringers

How to find us

If not, turn right down Oxford Street, and right again at the end. Both the High Street and Oxford Street are one way.

After it you’ve turned right, a little way along you’ll see Cross Hayes car park on your right. Unless you’re very unlucky you’ll be able to park there. It has five rows of parking spaces, so if you don’t see an empty one straight away, it bears exploring. There are parking restrictions (two hours maximum) and a charge (25p per hour) during the working day but, again, these don’t apply on Tuesday evening and Sunday mornings.

If you can’t find a parking space on Cross Hayes, then follow the road round the bottom of the car park and turn right, back up the High Street. It’s worth taking a look along the High Street and briefly at the Market Cross in case someone has moved, of course.

Turn left at the Market Cross this time. Follow the road right (careful -- use the mirror) round the foot of St Paul’s Tower. There are a few parking spaces on the right as you approach the Old Bell. If there’s nothing there, then follow the road left down Abbey Row to the junction at The Triangle. There are also a few parking spaces behind the monument and in front of the Three Cups.

WATCH THE JUNCTION at The Triangle! You’ll be turning right, but this is an awkward junction and a notorious spot for minor accidents.

If you can’t park there, then turn right and go down the hill to a mini-roundabout. Straight on there. At the next roundabout (at Somerfield’s) turn right. You’ll see the Fire and Ambulance Stations on your right and Ebley Tyres on your left.

This is Old Station Yard. There is some on-road parking here, but treat that as a last resort. Drive as far as you can down the road. At the end, turn right and right again into the car park. Drive a very carefully after the second right turn because there is a very vicious sleeping policeman at the entrance to the car park.

Disabled Parking

There are two disabled spaces towards the bottom of the High Street (before the zebra crossing) but they are a moderate step from the tower. There is, also, some reserved parking for the disabled on Cross Hayes car park. This is found on the side of the car park furthest from the road, outside the chip shop and the Sue Ryder shop. The best place for disabled ringers to park, though, is by the Market Cross. There is room for at least two cars next to the Market Cross itself, and probably two more on the far side of the car park, outside the Dorothy House Hospice shop.

To Reach the Tower

When you have parked, you need to get back to the Market Cross, unless you parked on The Triangle, or outside the Old Bell.

If you parked on the High Street, then all you have to do you to walk up the High Street to the Market Cross. Walk up the left-hand side of the High Street. There is a zebra crossing for Oxford Street on that side.

If you parked on Cross Hayes you have a choice. You can walk to the far side of the car park from the road and go down Griffin Alley, which lies between the chip shop and the Sue Ryder shop. This leads to the High Street. Turn right, crossover and a walk up to the Market Cross.

Alternatively you can walk up to the Town Hall. That’s the reddy-brown building at the top of the car park. There is a footway to the left of the Town Hall, between it and the buildings at that side of the car park. This leads to Oxford Street. Turn left, cross and walk to the Market Cross.

From The Triangle -- cross the road and walk back up Abbey Row to the Old Bell. You will see Malmesbury Abbey ahead of you.

From the Old Bell -- stand with your back to the hotel and the Abbey on in your left. You’ll see St Paul’s Tower ahead of you. Walk towards it. As you reach the tower you’ll see Birdcage Walk opened on your left-hand side. Turn into that and the tower is immediately to your right. Turn right round the far corner of the tower and there’s the door.

From Old Station Yard. Walk down the car park with the river on your right hand side. At the very end of the car park you’ll see a bridge over the river. NOT the small one leading to the houses, but the big one just past the notice board, which says, "Welcome to England’s Oldest Borough". Turn right, over the bridge. Cars can come down the hill and over the bridge, but this doesn’t happen very often, and they have to go very slowly. They can’t come from the direction of the car park, either, so you’ll be able to see any cars coming.

When you’ve crossed the bridge, fork left up the steps and follow the footway past the Cloister Garden and the Abbey ruins until you reach the car park behind the Market Cross. As you enter the car park look right. You’ll see the Whole Hog, where you’ll be welcome to join us for a drink after ringing if you’ve come for Tuesday night practice.

From the Market Cross. Stand in the car park, with the Market Cross on your left-hand side. To your right, ahead of you is the Tolsey, the gateway leading to the church yard. Between that and Abbey News is Birdcage Walk. Go down Birdcage Walk. You’ll see the tower ahead of you, with the access door at the foot of it. If the slabs of Birdcage Walk are wet BE CAREFUL -- they can be extremely slippery.

And welcome.