Malmesbury Abbey
Malmesbury Abbey, at
Malmesbury in
Wiltshire, was originally founded in the
10th century by secular canons, but soon came under
Benedictine rule. It is dedicated to
Saint Peter and
Saint Paul. The main building, as it presently stands, was begun in about 1160, and building work continued intermittently until the 16th century. The abbey was
dissolved in
1536.
It is known as the site of an early attempt at human flight when Eilmer of Malmesbury constructed and used a primitive hang glider.