Besides all the most amazing and ancient buildings and houses dotted around Salisbury, there are many beautiful younger places. I was hard put to not photograph just about everything. I’ve scanned through my photos and pulled up the more interesting structures. Some are remnants of an older building, especially in The Close, others are dotted around the city. I hope you enjoy these as much as the others.
Front of the Medieval Hall
You can just see the spire of the Cathedral behind the building and the magical moon. I was lucky enough to work just around the corner from this building.
Back of the Medieval HallNot sure who this belongs to, but next door is the Archbishop’s house Also from the same era,slightly modernised In The CloseIn The CloseIn The CloseIn The CloseIn The Close facing the Cathedral – what a view…Arundells – in The CloseThe gate at De Vaux placeA house I saw in Harnham across the river Side view of above house. I totally love this house Alms Houses Alms Houses A relic of the ancient city gates 1378Old School House A side door of the old school house
A few random houses. The variety of architecture is wonderful, makes for an interesting mix
The Guildhall and War Memorial
And to end off today; the clouds finally blew away and I saw my first sunset since arriving last week Thursday and just in time for my departure tomorrow. Typical
And I couldn’t possibly end this post without a view of the Cathedral…the moon is almost full and it looks stunning
Good morning 😃😃 So, here we go. Over the last few days I’ve done some extensive walking, all round Salisbury to find you the oldest and most interesting of the buildings. Some of them date back to medieval times, circa 13th century, and certainly the inns date to the 15th and 16th centuries, with lots of renovations, repairs and restoration I’m sure.
I’ve not listed them in order of age, that would take a fair amount of time and I’m short on that atm, so I’ll just post them as I saw them over the last 3 days.
But I will say, there’s something quite extraordinary to be able to touch a wooden post that dates back to 1500!!! I mean seriously…think about how much has happened in the last 500+ years, and how many people have passed by or visited these buildings.
Without doubt I have to start with the Cathedral. Possibly not the oldest building in the area, but certainly the most famous. I know from reading many of the information posts dotted around, especially at the churches, that there are Saxon and Norman remains in some buildings, but mostly that is limited to the churches.
Salisbury Cathedral circa 1220What I really appreciate about Salisbury is that pretty much wherever you are in the city, you can see the spire of the cathedral…no tall buildings compete.
‘Salisbury Cathedral is the most beautiful structure in England, and the Close around it the most beautiful space’. (‘Notes from a Small Island’ Bill Bryson.)
Starting off with what I do know, this building was part of a larger set of buildings all linked to the Bishops of the Cathedral which if course dates back to the early 13th century; started in 1220. I can recommend reading this article about The Close and its history. https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/wilts/vol6/pp72-79
The Wardrobe housing The Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum. The original building on the site was constructed in 1254. It was rebuilt in the 15th century and was used to store the robes of the Bishop of Salisbury; hence it was known as the “Bishop’s Wardrobe” or “The Wardrobe“.
The Wardrobe Back of the Salisbury Museum The Salisbury Museum – The King’s House; the house was referred to as the Court of the Abbott of Sherborne in 13th-century documents. The Abbot of Sherborne Abbey used this house as his prebendal residence in Salisbury prior to 1539, when Sherborne Abbey was decommissioned during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. At that time the house was known as Sherborne PalaceThis is the top floors of a house that stands alongside St Nicholas Street on the river Rose and Crown – 13th century coaching innRose and Crown The carvings on the facade of this building are stunning 15th century inn; The New InnPheasant Inn circa 1500The Old Forge…I LOVE this house A 17th century Grade II listed building Reminds me of a similar building in Kingston Upon Thames The Poultry Cross featured in yesterday’s post about the 13th century market The Old Mill, Harnham – The Old Mill is a 15th century building with features dating back to 1250. After it’s early ecclesiastical beginnings, it was transformed in the 16th century to a paper mill.The Old Mill is just across the river and meadows from Salisbury proper Quaint thatched cottages in Harnham
I have images of many other buildings in the city which I’ll share in another post…
I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing some of these amazing buildings…have a fab day
