"Salisbury has.........." a Salisbury Travel Page by leics

.....a truly lovely cathedral, with Britain's tallest spire (at 404 feet/ 123m). Which is why I had the greatest of trouble fitting it into the photo above (for which my apologies!).

It took only 38 years to build (from 1220 to 1258); the original Salisbury Cathedral was built at what is now Old Sarum, an Iron Age earthwork just outside the city. This was destroyed by a huge storm, and its stones used to create the vastly imposing building which remains today. It is in the shape of a double cross, unusual in the UK, and is all constructed in the same Early English gothic style (also unusual). The spire was added about a hundred years after it was first built and its massive weight required much strengthening work. William Golding's novel 'The Spire' tells the story of its construction, and is well worth reading if you can lay hands on a copy.

The cathedral is full of interesting bits and pieces; my visit to the city was quite short, so inevitably most of my time was spent exploring within. There are twiddly bits, of course, and soaring arches, and wonderful Medieval traceries-in-stone, and extravagant tombs galore. It also houses Europe's oldest working clock, a rather large and most impressive piece of machinery, and an original copy of the Magna Carta. This is the document signed by King John in 1215 and regarded as one of the most important documents in the development of democracy.

The Cathedral Close (the area directly surrounding a cathedral) is the largest in England, and contains many interesting buildings as well as several small museums. The Close architecture ranges from the 13th to the 20th centuries, some designed by Sir Christopher Wren, but it no longer exclusively houses the clergy associated with the Cathedral.

More cathedral info/pics in the travelogue and my tips.

Salisbury itself is a pleasant enough place, with plenty of architectural interest outside the cathedral environs: some Medieval buildings, lots of half-timbering, a large market square, a 'poultry cross' (like a butter cross, I assume, but where poultry was sold instead of butter)............well worth a post-Cathedral pootle.

It was a greychilly day when I visited, so I didn't really make the best of my time. More exploring remains to be done on my next visit......and Old Sarum is an absolute 'must!