THE reason why Marlborough has churches at either end of its High Street is that the town was formerly two parishes.

St Mary's Church behind the Town Hall has survived as the parish church.

St Peter's Church was declared redundant in 1976 but continues in use as a well-used community centre.

The area to the west of the town including the village of Manton - village by name only because it is administered as part of the town - is part of the Preshute parish.

Preshute has its own parish church, St George's, tucked away off the Bath Road but well worth a visit.

St Thomas More Roman Catholic Church is in George Lane - the street that runs parallel with the High Street south of the River Kennet - is a comparative newcomer and was built only in 1959.

Before the present church was built the Catholics worshipped in a former military Nissen hut that had been brought down to the George Lane site from the old US hospital on The Common.

The Quakers have their Meeting Place in The Parade in part of former United Church rooms.

The URC merged with the Methodists in the 1970s to become Christchurch in New Road. The old United Reformed church is now The Parade Antiques Centre.

Marlborough College has its own Chapel dedicated to St Michael and all Angels and is the biggest church in the town, capable of seating all of the public school's students.

The town formerly had a Gilbertine Priory that stood at the junction of Isbury Road with Salisbury Road.

The name of the priory is carried on with St Margaret's Cottages and St Margaret's Mead.