Visit Salisbury in Wiltshire, England
Cathedral City near Stonehenge offers Historical Sites and Shopping
Oct 31, 2009
Not far from the picturesque water meadows of the River Avon, in the heart of Thomas Hardy’s “Wessex,” is a vibrant and bustling urban center of over 114,000 residents. However, visitors to the cathedral city of Salisbury in Wiltshire, England will find modern conveniences mixed with a rich history in what is known as “the city in the countryside.”
Cathedral City of Salisbury Historical Sites
Located about 80 miles southwest of London on the edge of the Salisbury Plain, Salisbury is a city of ancient streets and half-timbered buildings bisected by the River Avon. There are many historical sites within the city including Mompesson House, an exquisite Queen Anne structure built in 1701, and The King’s House, a medieval stone structure where James I once stayed and which today houses the Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum.
Most prominent, however is Salisbury Cathedral, one of England’s most beautiful medieval cathedrals. Completed in 1258, Salisbury Cathedral is still a dynamic working church and boasts the tallest spire in England. Salisbury Cathedral became the seat of the Saxon bishopric in 1075 when it was moved from Sherborne.
Salisbury Cathedral and Magna Carta
Perhaps the best known structure in Salisbury is Salisbury Cathedral. Built between 1220 and 1258, the cathedral is noted for its 404-foot spire and has the earliest surviving complete choir stalls (c. 1236) and the largest cathedral close in Britain. It is also home to one of the most well preserved original copies of the Magna Cart, signed by King John in 1215.
Some highlights of the cathedral include the world’s oldest working clock (c. 1386), a strikingly modern font (2008) designed by William Pye, and the site of the Shrine Tomb of Bishop Osmund who died in 1099 and who was canonized in 1457. Other notables buried here include Lady Catherine Grey, sister to the ill-fated Lady Jane Grey, and Edward “Ted” Heath, former Prime Minster of England.
Stonehenge and Salisbury Plain
About eight miles north of Salisbury is the mysterious and ancient stone circle of Stonehenge. This prehistoric monument dates to 3050 BC and has fascinated visitors for centuries. Stonehenge rests on Salisbury Plain, which extends approximately 10 by 20 miles across, and which is actually a gently rolling clay-chalk downs.
Once completely accessible to visitors who sat on and sometimes chipped samples from the gigantic stones, Stonehenge today is under the guardianship of English Heritage and can only be seen from a designated pathway. This, however, does not diminish the impact of this amazing Stone Age engineering feat. Stonehenge has been carefully studied and excavated and many relics from the area can be found in the Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum.
Shopping, Pubs and Modern Salisbury
In addition to the many historical sites, there is much to see and do in the Cathedral city. Salisbury is easily walkable and offers a wide variety of pubs, restaurants, accommodations and shopping. The city hosts over 100 markets a year, including the 800 year old Charter Market, where goods and produce are sold twice weekly.
For more information about Salisbury, Stonehenge and the county of Wiltshire, see VisitWiltshire.co.uk.
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