Church of St. Martin, Salisbury

This church stands on the southern side of Milford Hill in an area that was settled before the new cathedral was built by the river. The church is first mentioned in 1217 but excavations in 1956 provided evidence of a 12th century church. This early church has no physical relationship to the present building. The earliest part of the present church is the early 13th century chancel and the present tower is 13th and early 14th century, but may have its origins in the 12th century. The north aisle was built in the 15th century with the chapel of the Holy Ghost at the eastern end. Later in that century the south aisle was rebuilt to its present size with a chapel to the Virgin Mary in the eastern bay. Other late 15th century alterations included the raising in height of the north aisle, a new chancel arch and the erection of a rood screen. At the western end was a chapel of Corpus Christi, now a vestry.

There are some notable wood and stone roof corbels from this period, including some of women's heads with head-dresses. The chapels and rebuilding indicate a wealthy congregation at the church. There was an organ in the church by 1567. There was much restoration in the 19th century starting with an extensive one in the middle of the century that included a complete re-seating of the church. In 1884 the pulpit was replaced and in 1885 there was a further thorough restoration. During this a 15th century alabaster group of the Annunciation was found in the south aisle and restored and a 13th century Purbeck marble font moved to the western end. In the 17th century the churchyard was enclosed with a mud wall but this was replaced by a brick one in 1667. Other work in the churchyard at this time included the demolition of a cross in 1653 but this was restored on a new site in 1871.

The first churchyard walk was made in 1757 and in 1792 an avenue of limes was planted. The churchyard was closed for burials in 1854. A tithe barn once stood on the northern side of the church but was sold to the incumbent around 1881. He then pulled it down and used the timber for his new rectory of 1890. The original St. Martin's parish possibly included most of the area between the rivers Avon and Bourne from Harnham in the south to old Sarum in the north. This area shrank when the parish of St. Thomas was created at some time before 1246. In 1269 the parish of St. Edmund took a large area in the north west of St. Martin's. The present parish boundaries were established in 1899 when St. Mark's was formed in the northern part. The parish registers from 1559 are held in the Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office.