Saxon Skeletons found at the 'oldest hotel in England'

The Old Bell Hotel sits in a Grade-I listed building and claims to be the oldest hotel in England.

Owners Kim and Whit Hanks always knew when they took on the 1200s building in 2021 that it was a hotel steeped in history, but they never quite expected so much history to be right under their feet.

On Saturday (July 6), The Old Bell Hotel confirmed to the public that rare Middle Saxon skeleton remains, some dating back to as far as the 7th century, had been found under the hotel's garden.

At least 24 skeletons were found dating from 670 to 940 AD, alongside bones belonging to a number of others.

The discovery has huge implications for history as it marks the first real evidence of a community active in Malmesbury before Malmesbury Abbey which sits across the road from the hotel.

The skeletons discovered under a garden in Malmesbury date as far back as the 7th century Saxons. (Image: Cotswold Archaeology)

(Image: Cotswold Archaeology)

"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," said owners Kim and Whit in a statement.

"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."

The owners added: "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.”

The ancient remains were found under the garden of England's oldest hotel, close to Malmesbury Abbey. (Image: The Old Bell Hotel)

The history of the current Old Bell Hotel dates back to 1220 when the hotel welcomed in travellers passing through Malmesbury.

Malmesbury Abbey, which sits across the road from the hotel, dates back to the 7th century and was the site chosen by Irish monk Maildubh who established a hermitage, teaching local children until the area was conquered by the Saxons.

Malmesbury Abbey historian and local resident Tony McAleavy told the BBC he said he "was off the scale excited" about the discovery.

"What we've got here is not a collection of the bodies of monks - it's men, women and children."