The Merchant's House

Near neighbour to the White Horse Bookshop is the grand, red-tiled building that is the Merchant’s House. It was one of the first to be rebuilt after the 1653 Great Fire and was home to Thomas Bayly, a prosperous middle class silk mercer (merchant), his wife, nine children and servants. Bayly even found time to be Mayor of Marlborough twice, in 1649 and in 1657. Today the house is a popular visitor attraction, restored to perfectly capture the lifestyle of the “middling sort” – the middle classes of the 17th and 18th centuries. Ten of its 18 rooms are open to the public and feature period furnishings and decorations. There is also a library archive, an education room, offices, and a gift shop. Areas of particular interest are the huge oak staircase which dates from 1670, the Panelled Chamber where the panelling and the fireplace date from the building of the house in 1653-1656 and the Painted Chamber (dining room) where the walls are painted to mimic silk hangings. The garden was restored in 2007 to its 17th century glory, complete with boxed hedging and an herb garden. The museum collection covers the history of the town and surrounding villages from the 18th century to present day. Admission charges apply.