With its magnificent Early English cathedral, timbered buildings and
historic houses, Salisbury has a wealth of history and architectural
treasures. Its story began 2,500 years ago when an Iron Age fort was
built on Salisbury Hill, 2 miles north of the modern town centre, and
developed into the town of Old Sarum. The origins of modern Salisbury
(New Sarum) date from 1217 when the bishop relocated his seat to
Church-owned land to the south of the hill. Work on the cathedral
started in 1220 and a thriving town developed in the years that
followed. Its woollen cloth industry, together with its location on the
road from London to Exeter, brought trade and prosperity here. In this
book, authors Paul Rabbitts and Liz Gordon take the reader on an
engaging tour of Salisbury's landmarks and significant buildings from
across the centuries. Here are the structures that reveal the history of
the town, showing how it developed and telling the story of its people
and their way of life. The wide range of structures included range from
the cathedral to bridges, almshouses to inns, and cinemas to townhouses.
Illustrated throughout, this broad and accessible perspective of
Salisbury's architectural heritage will interest residents and visitors
alike.
