Founded in the 7C, the abbey is linked to many famous people, such as Saint Aldhelm (639-709), one of its first abbots, the great historian William of Malmesbury (1095-1143), who was the librarian here, and Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679). The church was begun in the 12C and has been the victim of many degradations. During the Dissolution, its stones were used to build the parish church in 1541.