Old Sarum

Yesterday we went on a trip to collect a chair from an auction rooms near Salisbury. This took us close to what is considered to be the early Salisbury. Old Sarum's raised position gives wonderful views over the surrounding land.

We started out from the car park with a walk around the double ramparts.

Old Sarum goes back to 400 BC when it was an Iron Age Fort. It would have been an ideal location for viewing in all directions and the now overgrown ramparts would have acted as added security.

They now make a pleasant walk.

Evidence of the next occupiers, the Romans can be seen with the straight Roman roads approaching Old Sarum.

It is soon evident from walking round that the sight was occupied later on.

Soon after the Norman Conquest a castle was built here and became a Royal Palce in the 12th Century for Henry 1 and later Henry 11. There are random parts of the walls left but it is pretty difficult to imagine it as a palace.

Behind the palace was the first Salisbury Cathedral, the layout of which is easy to see.

It was not that long before there were disputes between the church and the state and by 1220 a new Catherdral was built on the present site and a market town built up round it. The spire of the cathedral is clear to be seen for many a mile.

It now makes a pleasant place to visit and is used by many for picnics, dog walking and historical visits. 

It is a location that I had heard of and passed close to many times so it was interesting to take the time to actually explore it.