MALMESBURY. - Corrupted designation of the Benedictine abbey of Maidulfsburg in Wiltshire, England.
It was founded in 669 by Adelmo, nephew of King Ina and disciple of the Irish monk Maidulfo. Adelmo was its first abbot in 672; he enlarged the church dedicated to the Most Holy Saviour and to Saints Peter and Paul, and built two other churches dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and to St Michael.
In 958 King Edwy damaged the abbey and expelled the monks, whereas King Edgar readmitted them in 974 and restored the buildings; the abbey church was embellished with two imposing towers, the monastery flourished, and from it came Pecthelm, first bishop of Whithorn, Etelardo, bishop first of Winchester and then of Canterbury, Elfric, bishop of Crediton, Giovanni Scoto Eriugena, Faricio di Arezzo, G. Somerset called of M. (v.). The abbey was dissolved in 1539.
For the Malmesburienne itinerarium, V. ITINERARI.