Marlborough has been an important market town for over 800 years since King John granted its first charter in 1204.Marlborough was a centre for much local trade and an important staging-post for those travelling between London and Bath or Bristol. In the 18th and early 19th centuries coaches stopped here to change horses (and allow passengers to refresh themselves).

Situated at the west end of Marlborough's wide and impressive High Street, The Sun Inn would have been one of the first such coaching inns that London-bound coaches would have come to on entering the Town.

Very close by is the historic old church of St Peter's (it was here that the future Cardinal Wolsey was first ordained priest in 1498) and just beyond it, in the grounds of Marlborough College, was the site of Marlborough Castle, centred on a huge Neolithic mound in which (local legend has it) Merlin was buried. The mound is the first visual evidence of humans living in the area.

Marlborough Castle was used regularly by all of England's Kings from 1070 until about 1300.
Marlborough was so well favoured that William I established a mint, here, which coined the last six types of William I and the first William II silver pennies. Interestingly the name of the town shown on the pennies is Maerlebi or Maerleber.

Henry III was married here and held Parliament when the "Statute of Marlborough" was passed; this gave rights and privileges to small land owners and limited the right of the King to take procession of land. This seven hundred year old law states that no one shall seize his neighbour's goods for alleged wrong without permission of the Court.

King John and Queen Isabella were also married in Marlborough and established a treasury here In 1204 King John’s charter to Marlborough grants it the right to an eight day fair sometime around August. It also grants Marlborough the right to hold a market on Wednesday and Saturday each week without having to pay tolls or fees.

During the Civil War. the Seymours held the Castle for the King but the Town was for Parliament, as the Kings headquarters were in nearby Oxford he could not allow this to continue so he sent Lord Digby to secure the Town. This he did taking 120 of the defenders prisoner and marched them in chains to Oxford.

Marlborough has been plagued by many fires over the years. In April 1653 The Great Fire of Marlborough destroyed 250 houses. In both 1679 and 1690 fire again swept through the Town. It was at this time that an Act of Parliament was passed prohibiting any thatched houses or buildings within the Town. There have been fires since then, the last was in 2003 when the local butchers and the accommodation above was destroyed. The Sun had its own fire in January 2003 but due to the quick efficiency of the local fire brigade no major damage was done.

The Town of Marlborough has a long, fascinating and varied history in which The Sun Inn continues to play its part to the full. Fortunately we are no longer bound by the By-Law that decreed “An inn holder shall not entertain in his house any Townsmen on Sunday or holy days during the time of Common Prayer or sermon, on pain of a fine of ten shillings. Any Townsman found in such a place shall be sent to prison at the pleasure of the Mayor”

We hope you enjoy your stay with us and find Marlborough a pleasant and interesting Town to visit.