Malmesbury Abbey

The abbey Church of St Mary soars above the town and was once a vast cruciform building. The porch and the nave are divided into three stories, remain and are used as the parish church.
The abbey was originally Norman with 14th century additions and the south porch has some of the finest Romanesque sculpture in the country. The 12th century arches are superb and the projecting box-like watch tower is most interesting. The abbey was handed over to Master Stumpe at the Dissolution of the Monasteries and it is due to him that the parish church is now a fine church.