From Abbeys, Castles and Ancient Halls of England and Wales, by John Timbs, Vol. II, re-edited, revised, and enlarged by Alexander Gunn; Frederick Warne and Co.; London; pp. 11-12.
Marlborough is supposed to have been a Roman station, from evidences at Folly Farm. There was a Castle here in the time of Richard I., which was seized during his imprisonment by his brother 12 John; but on Richard’s return it was reduced under the King’s power. A Parliament or assembly was held here in the time of Henry III., the laws enacted in which were called the Statutes of Malbridge, one of the older forms of the name, which in Domesday is written Malberge. The site of the Castle is covered by a large house, which was a seat of the Dukes of Somerset, and was afterwards the Castle Inn; it is now a Clergy School. The mound of the ancient Castle keep is in the garden.
Great Bedwin was a place of note in the Anglo-Saxon period, and has in its neighbourhood an earthwork called Chisbury Castle, said to have been formed or strengthened by Cissa, a Saxon chieftain; though some think Cissa’s fortification was on Castle Hill, south of the town, where foundations of walls have been discovered.
Trowbridge had a Castle, or some fortification, in the reign of Stephen, which was garrisoned by the supporters of the Empress Maud, and taken by the King’s forces. John of Gaunt either repaired this Castle, or built another; but it was in ruins in Leland’s time, when of seven great towers there was only a part of two. The Castle stood on the south side of the town, near the river Were: there are no remains now, and the site is built over.