Cathedral Church of St. Mary, Salisbury

The original cathedral was at Old Sarum, an Iron Age hill fort that had been taken over by the Saxons and strengthened by Alfred the Great. There was a small Saxon community here and the Normans, recognizing the importance of this strategic site, built a castle here. In 1075 it was decided that there should be a cathedral at Old Sarum to replace that of Sherborne and work began under the direction of Bishop, later Saint, Osmund. The cathedral was consecrated in 1092. The cathedral was rebuilt and enlarged by Bishop Roger, a powerful man and definitely unsaintly. From 1140 there was friction between the clergy at the cathedral and the soldiers at the castle on this rather small hill top site. Two bishops, Hubert Walter and Herbert Poore, are believed to have had the idea for moving the cathedral to its present site in 1190.

It was Bishop Richard Poore who petitioned for a new site in 1217. He owned land that was suitable for a large cathedral, a bishop's palace, houses for the canons and a planned town outside the Close. Work on this site by the river began on All Saints' Day 1219 and the foundation stone of the cathedral was laid on 28th April 1220. By 1225 three altars had been consecrated in the new Trinity Chapel. An early patron was William Longspee, Earl of Salisbury, who was buried in the cathedral in 1226. Work continued at a good pace and by 1258 the main walls and roof were complete enough for Archbishop Boniface to consecrate the cathedral before Henry III and his Queen, Eleanor. Building work was completed in 1266 but at this time there was only a low tower. The likely designer of the building was Elias of Dereham but there was great influence from Richard Poore. In the late 13th century the building of the present tower and spire began, using interior wooden scaffolding and facing it with stone. This was completed in the early 14th century.

The cathedral we see today exists as it was designed with no significant alterations or additions after the early 14th century. It was also the inspiration for the present city which was carefully planned on a grid pattern outside the religious community. In the 17th century Wiltshire born Christopher Wren carried out an extensive structual survey and suggested remedial work, including strengthening the top of the spire. In the late 18th century James Wyatt was responsible for an insensitive interior alteration and he also removed the bell tower from the western side of the Close. The top of the spire was totally renewed in 1949-51 and there have been further extensive repairs in 1987. In the chapter house there is one of four surviving original texts of the Magna Carta - the others are in Lincoln Cathedral and the British Museum (2 copies).

The cathedral remains at the heart of the city and its daily life and its spire can be seen from nearly all parts of the community. It also attracts well over 500,000 visitors a year as well as many more who walk around The Close. The Close was created when the cathedral was being built and contained the bishop's Palace, now the Cathedral School, and houses for the canons. Houses with visible medieval remains include Hemyngsby, Aula le Stage and the Old Deanery (now the Medieval Hall). The registers on microfilm for christenings (1560-1973), marriages (1559-1966), and burials (1559-1973) are available at the Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office.