"Old Sarum" Salisbury Things to Do Tip by Sjalen

Salisbury's proper name really is New Sarum and this is the old part of a very ancient city. SItuated just a few minutes outside Salisbury, this hill was populated in prehistoric times when a ditch was dug and tribes lived here. Then the Romans took over the site before it was settled by the Normans in medieval days when William the Conqueror expanded it. It is from this time onwards that the various palace ruins are from. There was an old and a new palace but today both are in ruins. It is still a nice place to stroll around though, and you get information on what has been where. As you are at the top of the hill, you can also look down and it is quite fascinating to think that there was once a thriving town below the fortress. It also had a cathedral which you see the foundation layer of in a corner below the hill. This all fell into decline when the church and the king started to disagree and the bishop decided to move the cathedral to what is now Salisbury. The web site below will tell you what it might have looked like in its heydays. There are great city views from Old Sarum back towards Salisbury and its cathedral. You can see more on my Old Sarum page. From up here, you also get great views back to Salisbury (see second photo).

Address: Old Sarum
Directions: The Amesbury road out of Salisbury. Several buses from the bus station.
Website: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/oldsarum/