New Sarum (Salisbury in General)

Member Name: Peter2670

Product:	Salisbury in General
Date:	28/04/01 (362 review reads)
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Travel broadens the mind. Over the years it has been one of my favourite pastimes. I particularly enjoy visiting places of historical interest, walking around, and soaking up the local atmosphere. I enjoy discovering the past and I am intrigued as to what happened many years ago. Whether it is on holiday abroad, or in our own country –it has always fascinated me.

Salisbury is one of many cities in the country that I have visited. It was also the name of the capital city of the former African State of Southern Rhodesia where I spent five years of my early childhood life.

Today marks the anniversary of an important historical event in Britain’s version. It was here 781 years ago on the 28th April 1220 that the foundation stones were laid creating the city of ‘New Sarum.’

During a visit to the city with my younger brother, who lived with me in Southern Rhodesia, we strolled around the streets of Salisbury whilst reminiscing our previous childhood life in the African state.

We managed to park our vehicle on a car park close to the open-air market in Market Place. The market days are Tuesday and Saturday. Buildings of all descriptions surrounded this wide space. Apparently it has been the commercial centre of Wiltshire since the 13th century. We were told of the medieval bustle that exists today on market days or by walking through the little streets of Fish Row, Butcher Row and Oatmeal Row behind the square. The women folk shopped whilst younger brother and I explored.

We strolled along Queen Street and noticed Watson’s China shop which had been formed from the houses of two medieval merchants. Behind the Guildhall, we turned right into Fish Row, a pedestrian area of small shops and inns, to the 15th century Poultry Cross at the end of Butcher Row. This is great place to see all the tangled streets of Salisbury.

Poultry Cross is a building of old grey stone dating back to 1335 when i
t was one of four market crosses in the city. As the name suggests, poultry was sold here, but now all different kinds of goods can be purchased from this building that shelters street traders on wet market days.

A short distance away along Minster Street you will see The Church of St Thomas Becket constructed in the 15th century and appears to be more glass than wall. Inside you will find the Doom painting from that era. It depicts the day of judgement where Christ is seated on a rainbow with the New Jerusalem behind him. Apostles, angels and righteous people surround him, whilst Satan ushers the remainder into the jaws of Hell.

We looked at each other, left hastily, and continued along Silver Street into High Street. You will find some of the city’s oldest buildings here. The Georgian House of Steps is a National Trust bookshop and The Bay Tree Restaurant incorporates an inn built around 1314.

We continued through High Street Gate with its battlements, shields, royal coat of arms and small latticed windows. This was part of the original defences to ‘The Close’ in which direction we were heading. I believe the main purpose was to defend the clergy from irate citizens who objected to their servants being allowed first choice at the market stalls. Outside the gate there are two 14th century timber houses and a 15th century Church House where you will find ‘Beach’s Bookshop.’ From this gate you will see the spire of Salisbury’s landmark ‘The Cathedral of St Mary the Virgin.’

Carry on through the gate into ‘The Close’ and on the right is ‘Mompesson House’ that dates back to the early 18th century. It is beautifully decorated and contains paintings, portraits, furnishings and collections of glass and china. A marble chimneypiece and carved wood overmantel was added to the drawing rooms around 1740. It is open daily with an admission charge. Tel.01722.3356
59.

Many fine buildings line ‘The Close’ and if you look back to High Street Gate you will see the statue of Edward V11. To the left of the gate you will see The College of Matrons, a home for the widows of the clergy. It is believed that Sir Christopher Wren designed it. Other buildings include, The Bishops Palace dating back to 1220 - which is the Cathedral School and 17th century Walton House - where the painter John Constable stayed whilst reproducing paintings of the cathedral.

Walk along West Walk until you arrive at ‘The Wardrobe’ which was built around 1250. The house contained documents and robes’ belonging to bishops and that is how it got the name. It has been restored over the years and is now the museum of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Royal Regiment. It contains weapons, uniforms and battle paintings. It is open most of the time and there is an admission fee. Tel.01722.336222.

You will eventually arrive at ‘Kings House’ formally known as Sherborne Palace until King James 1 took lodgings there. It is now the Salisbury and Wiltshire Museum and features a 4000-year-old burial, pottery, tools, weapons and a Roman mosaic pavement. You will also be able to find out all there is to know about Stonehenge. It is open all year and there is an admission fee. Tel.01722.332151.

Walk across the green to Salisbury Cathedral. If it was today you could imagine the foundations being laid by Bishop Poole all those years ago. The main part of the cathedral took another 38 years to complete. During the next 70 years, the cloisters, tower and spire were added, the latter being some feat of engineering when you consider that it weighed 6400 tons and is supported by a single vault at the crossing of the nave.

Inside you will find tall windows and pillars reaching up to the vaulting. There is a shrine of St Osmund, an attraction for pilgrims in the Middle Ages and the tomb of William Longs
pee, one of the founders of the cathedral and witness to the sealing of Magna Carta

There is also a faceless clock within the cathedral that has only had an 80-year rest since it first began ticking in 1386. It is considered the oldest clock in Britain and probably the world. It is estimated that it has ticked in excess of 500 million times!

Leave the cathedral and walk along North Walk where you will see many more buildings including The Salisbury and Wells Theological College. Carry on until you reach Malmesbury House at the junction with St Anne Street Gate. This is another house within The Close and one of the most attractive. You can view it through ornate iron gates. A further gate leading to the garden bears the golden inscription ‘And here Cabbages be Kings’ I have often wondered what that meant.

Turn left into Love Lane and along Trinity Street where you will find Trinity Hospital. It is a charity founded in 1379 by Ann of Bottenham, a brothel keeper, who repented of her ways. She left all her money to this cause and the premises were used for weary travellers who were offered 3 days food and lodgings. It was rebuilt in the 18th century and now houses elderly men. The chapel is open on few occasions and contains an altar made from a chest brought back from the crusades.

Walk along Brown Street and left into Milford Street passing the 18th century Red Lion Hotel. Cross over Catherine Street into New Canal that used to be a ditch. Here you will see ‘The Odeon’ the foyer of which was a 15th century house owned by a wool merchant named John Halle. He was the mayor of Salisbury on several occasions and later became a Member of Parliament. Continue into Butchers Row and back to the car park.

The foundations of the cathedral were laid to replace the original building on a hill 2 miles to the north of the city. It was designed in such a way that priests lived in houses around the church as opposed
to living within it. This original site was once a British Encampment and the Romans made it into a fort and called it ‘Sorbiodunum.’ It later became known as ‘Old Sarum.’

Some time later the inhabitants of ‘Old Sarum’ migrated to the new cathedral city of ‘New Sarum’ or Salisbury, as we know it today. The new cathedral and the city that grew up around it had their differences and the gates between are still closed each night. Salisbury is a cathedral city on the rivers Avon, Bourne, Nadder and Wylie It is the county town of Wiltshire where most of the streets are laid on a rectangular plan.

The ‘Old Sarum’ can be found off the A345 - 2 miles north of the city. It is open all the year round and there is an admission fee. Tel.01722.335398.

The woman folk appeared with their shopping bags and smiling faces and we all had an enjoyable day This is how I remember Salisbury although it may have changed slightly since I was there. It seemed appropriate, given my own personal circumstances and the anniversary of foundations to write about this city. I hope you have enjoyed reading it that it will be useful to you should you decide to visit the city of Salisbury.

The Tourist information Centre can be found on Fish Row. Tel.01722.334956.

Roads to Salisbury:
A.36 from Bath.
A.338 from Bournemouth.
A.343 from Andover
A.30 from Shaftesbury.


Thanks,
Peter2670

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