Various members of the Hand-Seax/ Hanks family have been traced in historic archives and they played a prominent part in the life of the town during the medieval period.

One such character was Henry Hanks (the same name coincidentally as Whit’s grandson!), after whom one of our hotel rooms is named. Henry Hanks leased property from Malmesbury Manor in the early 18th century including the lease on the fields surrounding Daniel’s Well near the Old Bell.

After the purchase of The Old Bell Hotel in 2021 a surprising discovery was made when title deeds surfaced revealing that members of the Hanks family - and Whit’s distant relatives, owned part of the Hotel over 150 years earlier.

Kim said, “We didn’t know that the Hanks family used to own part of the hotel and lived here. It is an amazing coincidence. Whit and I are so excited and fortunate to have the opportunity to bring our Whim Hospitality brand of welcoming hospitality to both these outstanding historic properties in the wonderful town of Malmesbury, home of our Hanks family ancestors.” Whit commented, “I have a grandson in America whose name is Henry Hanks and I love the fact that his distant English relative, with the same name, had his home here at the Bell all those years ago.”