Of more living interest are the ancient and beautiful buildings of Marlborough School, instituted in 1843 by a number of public-spirited men, headed by a priest of the Church of England—­Charles Plater.  The school is the scene of Stanley Weyman’s The Castle Inn, for it was formerly that historic hostel, one of the finest and most famous in England, before the disappearance of the road traveller caused the collapse of the old-fashioned posting-houses.  Before the year 1740 it had been a mansion, originally built by Lord Seymour during the reign of Charles II.  It afterwards passed through several hands, and, while in the possession of Lady Hertford, saw the entertainment of some of the literary lions of the day, including Thomson of The Seasons and Isaac Watts.  In 1767, when it had become the largest inn in England, it was the headquarters of Lord Chatham who, while on the road, developed an attack of gout and, shutting himself up in his room, remained there some weeks.  “Everybody who travelled that road was amazed by the number of his attendants.  Footmen and grooms, dressed in his family livery, filled the whole inn and swarmed in the streets of the little town.  The truth was that the invalid had insisted that during his stay all the waiters and stable boys of the ‘Castle’ should wear his livery.”  The fine school chapel was added in 1882 and several extensive and necessary additions have been made to the original buildings.  Among famous headmasters may be mentioned Dean Bradley and Dean Farrar.

[Illustration:  GARDEN FRONT, MARLBOROUGH COLLEGE.]

King Edward the VI Grammar School is at the far end of the town.  The old buildings were pulled down in 1905.  In this school Dr. Sacheverell, who was born in Marlborough, received his education.  The present St. Mary’s Church practically dates from the great fire of 1653, and is a very poor specimen of debased Perpendicular.  The chancel was added in 1874.  A Norman doorway at the west end should be noticed.  The tower of the church shows traces of the Royalist attack on the town in 1642.  St. Peter’s Church, not far from the College, is Perpendicular, and from its high and finely designed tower, curfew still rings each night through the year.  Within, the groined roof and beautiful design of the windows are worthy of notice.

Beautiful in the extreme is the walk through Savernake Forest which, if it is not to be compared with the New Forest either in size or wildness, does in one particular surpass the latter, namely in its magnificent vistas and beech avenues.  The central walk between Marlborough and Savernake is unsurpassed in England and probably in Europe.  It leads to Tottenham House, situated at the eastern extremity and belonging to the Marquis of Ailesbury.  This mansion stands on the site of an old house of the Seymours, to whom the Forest passed from the Plantagenet Kings (it was a jointure of Queen Eleanor).  By marriage the estates afterwards went to the Bruces, who still hold them.