Marlborough Town Council
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On Saturday afternoon, 7 March, Marlborough revived the age-old tradition of Ale tasting.
The Town Mayor Cllr Emily Trow accompanied by Town Crier Emma Kimber, Town Beadle Linda Illsley and Mace Bearers Barry Mercer and Dave Blacklock visited Marlborough’s public houses to assess the quality of the ale served.
When the ale served met the Town Crier’s exacting standards a certificate was awarded.
With thanks to our wonderful hosts at The Roebuck, The Lamb Inn, The Bear, The Green Dragon, The Castle & Ball, The Royal Oak, The Tap and The Wellington Arms
This tradition dates back to the 1300s and was an important task in the past when it was safer to drink beer than to drink water. Read about the important role of the ‘Ale Conner’ or ‘Gustator Cervisiae’ at Beer & Brewing
Who owns MARLBOROUGH Common?
Marlborough Common was given to the borough by King John (reigned 1196 to 1216) as pasture for livestock. Marlborough Town Council is the custodian of the Common and is responsible for managing its interests. Byelaws enacted since King John’s time have changed some of the rules about what can and can’t take place at the Common.
Who owns the land at Hawthorn Meadow?
GreenSquare Homes currently owns Hawthorn Meadow. Hawthorn Meadow will be handed to the Town Council once Wiltshire Council signs off the development. We are proceeding with the consultation before that happens on the assumption that it will go ahead, so as not to delay our plans to extend Marlborough Cemetery.
What if you do nothing, or the outcome of the vote is ‘no’?
We will continue to offer burials until Marlborough Cemetery is full. If alternative land cannot be found, once the cemetery is closed it will no longer be possible to offer new burial plots within the parish of Marlborough.
What happens if the outcome of the vote is ‘yes’?
We will begin our project to extend Marlborough Cemetery.
I want to vote but can’t make 16 April. Is there an alternative?
Yes. You will be able to vote in person (with photo ID) at the Town Council office 9am-4pm on Monday 13, Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 April. We’re sorry, but there is no postal vote option.
Who is being consulted, and who can vote?
We would like everyone in Marlborough to know about this consultation.
People registered as electors in the parish are able to vote.
We are also consulting interested parties such as North Wessex Downs National Landscape, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, Action for the River Kennet, Marlborough Rugby Football Club, Marlborough Youth Football Club, parkrun, Marlborough Golf Club, Friends of the Victorian Cemetery & Arboretum and the Model Flying Club
What is Common land, and how is it different from public open space?
Public open space can be used by members of the public if the landowner gives permission, and the landowner is entitled to remove that right or add conditions at any time.
Common land is owned, for example by a local council, privately or by the National Trust. You usually have the right to roam on it. This means you can use it for certain activities like walking and climbing. Some common land has different rights and byelaws so it can be used for other activities, for example horse-riding.
You cannot: camp on common land without the owner’s permission; light a fire or have a barbecue; hold a festival or other event without permission or drive across it without permission unless you have the right to access your property.
The management of common land must take into account the interests of both the owner and the ‘commoners’ (people who have rights over the land but do not own it).
Why extend at all? Can’t you reuse the old cemetery for new burials, or plots more than 100 years old in the current cemetery?
Before 1977 grave spaces were sold in perpetuity. It is only since the Local Authorities Cemeteries order 1977 that burial or ashes plots can be purchased for a period no longer than 100 years. This means all grave spaces in the Victorian cemetery were sold in perpetuity.
For the current cemetery which opened in 1924 (excluding children’s graves) 37% plots were sold in perpetuity.
2025 Photo Gallery
After a stormy night the sun came out at 12 o'clock and the Mayor joined Charles Farrell of the Western Section of the Showmen's Guild of Great Britain to open the mop fair. By tradition, the Mayor took to the rides and any children who accompanied her rode for free.
This location was added in July 2025. We'll publish reports for the previous 12-month period here.
23 January to 13 February 2026
More detailed reports are available on request: they are considered at Planning Committee meetings and included in the agendas. Please contact us if you would like a copy of a more detailed report. They aren't published here because the file size is very large.
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On Monday, 2 June, at a formal robing ceremony retiring Mayor, Councillor Kym-Marie Cleasby handed over the chain of office to the Town Mayor for 2025-26, Councillor Emily Trow, and Councillor Mark Luson was confirmed as Deputy Mayor at this event.
We were honoured to welcome Ninna Gibson DL back to Marlborough to join Councillors and their guests, former Mayors and representatives from the town's many groups and charities to witness the event and to join the new Mayor at a reception in the Assembly Room after the formalities.
The Mayor's charities for 2025-26 are Marlborough Area Youth Forum and Prospect Hospice.
Retiring Mayor, Councillor Kym-Marie Cleasby thanked everyone for their support, encouragement and kindness during her Mayoral year. She said "For me public service is not just a civic duty, it’s a calling." A highlight of her year was the 80th anniversary of VE Day at Marlborough Common, and she had been proud to support Love Marlborough Kids Meals in 2024-25. She gave her reasons for proposing Cllr Emily Trow as Mayor:
"Emily is not only a capable and experienced councillor, she is a person of great compassion, wisdom and clarity of vision. She listens deeply, speaks thoughtfully and leads with purpose, she brings her strong background in governance and is a calm presence in challenging conversations; Emily believes in collaboration and she understands that good leadership brings people with it rather than pulling ahead alone. She also has a real heart for young people, and for those who often feel unheard"
Town Mayor Cllr Emily Trow thanked Cllr Cleasby for being a true friend and preparing her throughout her mayoral year, noting that she had some very big shoes to fill. It was bittersweet for her to be accepting the role without her dear husband, Chris, by her side. He had been present last year when she became Deputy Mayor but sadly passed away in October. Describing the difficulty in find a hospice bed for Chris in his final days, she named Prospect Hospice as one of her two charities for this year. The other is the Marlborough Area Youth Forum, which does so much to support young people.
A few photos of the event follow. These are low resolutions images. Please ask us before you use any of our images. Copyright rules apply to digital images on the internet. Read more here
