Page 102 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - England's South Coast

100  ENGLAND ’ S SOUTH C O AST REGION B Y REGION

q Salisbury Medieval Hall, the Wardrobe
(now a military museum) and
The “new” city of Salisbury was founded in 1220, when the hilltop the Cathedral School, housed
settlement of Old Sarum was abandoned – being too arid and in the 13th-century Bishop’s
windswept – in favour of a new site among the lush water Palace and famous for the
meadows where the rivers Avon, Nadder and Bourne meet. choristers who sing there.
The medieval King’s House
Locally sourced Purbeck marble and Chilmark stone were used is now the Salisbury and South
for the construction of a new cathedral, which was built mostly Wiltshire Museum. It displays
in the early 13th century, over the remarkably short space of archaeological finds from Old
38 years. Its magnificent landmark spire – the tallest surviving Sarum, Stonehenge and other
in England – was an inspired afterthought added in 1280–1310. prehistoric sights (see p102).
City Centre
P The Close the elegant buildings here are Church of St Thomas: St Thomas’s Sq.
Mompesson House: Tel 01722 the Matrons’ College, built in Tel 01722 322537. Open 8am–5pm
335659. Open mid-Mar–Oct: 1682 as a home for widows daily (to 4pm in winter). 7 5 =
11am–5pm daily. & 7 limited. and unmarried daughters of ∑ stthomassalisbury.co.uk
- ø ∑ nationaltrust.org.uk the clergy, and the 13th-century Salisbury Guildhall: Market Pl.
Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum: Malmesbury House, with its early Tel 01722 342860. Open 9am–5pm
Tel 01722 332151. Open Apr–Oct: Georgian façade, fronted by Mon–Fri. Closed public hols. & for
10am–5pm Mon–Sat, noon–5pm wrought-iron gates. There is also special exhibitions. 7 limited.
Sun; Nov–Mar: 10am–5pm Mon–Sat. the famous Mompesson House, ∑ salisburyguildhall.co.uk
& 7 limited. - = ∑ salisbury
museum.org.uk built by a wealthy family in 1701. Salisbury’s medieval centre
The handsomely furnished rooms developed with areas devoted
The spacious close, with its of this house give an indication to different trades, perpetuated
schools, almshouses and clergy of life for the close’s inhabitants in in street names such as Fish
housing, makes a fine setting the 18th century. Other buildings Row and Butcher Row. The
for Salisbury Cathedral. Among of interest in the area include the busy High Street is home to
Salisbury Cathedral The Cloisters
The cathedral
The cathedral was mainly built between 1220 has the largest
cloisters in England.
and 1258. It is a fine example of Early English They were added
Gothic architecture, typified by tall, sharply between 1263
pointed lancet windows. The extraordinary spire, and 1284 in the
123-m- (404-ft-) tall, still contains some of the Decorated style.
original timber and scaffolding used to build it.

The Chapter House
Notable for its octagonal shape, the chapter house has
stone friezes showing scenes from the Old Testament.
It also displays an original copy of Magna Carta. Choirstalls
Bishop Audley’s Chantry was built to honour a former
bishop and is one of several chapels around the altar.
The Trinity Chapel contains the tomb of
St Osmund, who was the bishop of Old
Sarum from 1078 to 1099.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp176–7 and pp186–8

100-101_EW_ESC.indd 100 05/04/17 3:06 pm