The Green is an open space available for everyone to enjoy, whether dog walking, playing games, picnicking or simply sitting on one of the benches and watching the world go by.

Today there are at least 24 listed buildings on the Green.  One, 17^th century Number 29, on the western side at the junction with Patten Alley, has a blue plaque commemorating the boyhood home of author William Golding. There is also a list of owners since 1502 in the porch. 

The avenue of trees dates from about 1840.  They are native limes (also known as linden or basswood, of the Tilia genus) which are pollarded annually to keep them well maintained. 

Spring bulbs appear in February/March and the Forestry Commission has donated Christmas Trees in recent years.

The Green may be older than we think.  From before the Norman Conquest the Saxons divided up the country into Hundreds and Marlborough was in the Hundred of Selkley.  Where that was exactly isn’t known, but it is believed to have been between Overton and Fyfield Downs.  It has long been thought that the Saxon settlement grew up around what is now The Green.  “The absence of archaeological evidence from the Saxon period perhaps favours a date in the mid-11^th century, even as late as 1066” (Dr J Chandler, 2001). 

More information on the Green, the development of Marlborough as a town, and some fascinating early maps, are available at http://history.wiltshire.gov.uk/community/getcom.php?community=Marlborough  

For an in-depth history take a look at British History Online at http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/wilts/vol12/pp199-229 where we learn that in 1204 the King granted to the Burgesses of Marlborough an eight-day fair to begin on the eve of the Assumption (14^th August), presumably held in St Mary’s parish, possibly on the Green.  In 1229 Henry
III granted that a four-day fair to begin on the eve of St Martin (10^th November) might be held on the ‘new land’ of Marlborough and this was held on the Green in the later 18^th century.

From J.E. Chandler’s book[1], we learn that in 1771 Rowland Hill preached on the Green.  His reception does not appear to have been very good, as he records of the men of Marlborough “They pelted me with stones and eggs, but through God’s mercy I was not hurt”.

The annual Sheep Fair was held on the Green until 1893, when it was transferred to The Common. 

In the 18^th and 19^th centuries the Green was the working class area of the town with industries and ale-houses rather than inns.  The house on the east side, to the left of the stone building with Doric columns, was the home of a hand weaver and had first floor windows along its entire length as can be seen in the painting.