Salisbury History & Heritage

Salisbury has a long history and remains of the city’s past can be seen throughout the city still to this day. We draw inspiration from our rich heritage. Eight hundred years ago, a spire rose and a city that stands tall today planted its roots in the English countryside. That city became a magnet for generations of traders and travellers. Pilgrims seeking inspiration, farmers and fishermen bringing produce to market, artists and artisans laying out their wares.

The original site of the city can be found at nearby Old Sarum. Old Sarum was originally an Iron Age hill fort, reused by the Romans, Saxons and Normans. With tensions at Old Sarum between the church and army, a decision was made to relocate the city and the new cathedral was founded around two miles south. What remains today are the ruins of the old castle and the foundations of the original Cathedral. 

Legend has it that an archer shot his arrow from Old Sarum and wherever the arrow fell would be the site of the new city. 

Discover more about the fascinating history of both Old and New Sarum by downloading the augmented reality app on Apple and Android, find out more here. 

New Sarum – the modern day Salisbury

New Sarum, which became what is now the city of Salisbury developed in the medieval times with the Cathedral at the heart of the city.

Salisbury Cathedral has a wealth of history and the knowledgeable guides are on hand to showcase it for you. See the world’s oldest working clock, the best preserved original Magna Carta in the Chapter House and stained glass from across the centuries. Behind-the-scenes tours often too and include library tours, graffiti tours and visits to the stone masonry yard. 

The centre of the city is still laid out in a medieval ‘grid’ system and many of the streets still retain names of the old chequer system like Blue Boar Row, which was the home of the Blue Boar Chequer. Most of these chequers derived their names from the local inns that could be found there.

See examples of medieval history within the city including a medieval ‘doom’ painting in St Thomas’ Church in the city centre. It is widely believed that St Thomas’ Church pre-dates the Cathedral and was used as a place of worship by the stonemasons and builders of the soon-to-be place of worship. 

The Market Place has been holding regular markets since receiving its charter in 1227 and became an important area for trading local wares. The tradition continues to this day with the regular Tuesday and Saturday markets still taking place here to this day. 

On the corner of Butcher Row and Minster Street, the Poultry Cross still stands and remains one of the city’s landmarks. It dates from around 1250 and was once one of the four market crosses that indicated where the market could be found. As its name suggests, people used to sell poultry from beneath it. 

Discover examples of other architectural styles including Georgian and Queen Anne buildings in and around the Cathedral Close including the beautiful façade of the National Trust’s Mompesson House. Some of the city’s buildings have been influenced by notable architects including Sir Christopher Wren and Augustus Pugin. 

Find out more about Salisbury’s history

Learn more about Salisbury’s history on a visit to The Salisbury Museum, where you’ll find interactive exhibitions and galleries including the Wessex gallery and many artefacts from across the centuries not only from Salisbury but from the Stonehenge World Heritage Site too. 

Join Salisbury City Guides for one of their regular city walks departing from outside Salisbury Information Centre (daily in the summer months and weekends in the winter). The guides also run specialist themed walks at various times of the year and can also be booked for private guided walks for groups if pre-arranged. 

Another great way to discover more of Salisbury’s heritage is to look out for the annual Heritage Open Days run by the Salisbury Civic Society in September. They often give you the opportunity to go into historic places that are not normally open to the general public. Keep an eye on our events listings for details. 

If you are interested in military history then The Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum within the Cathedral Close offers an insight into the local regiment. The building the museum is housed in is historic in its own right and is also known as The Wardrobe. Or if aviation history is your thing then be sure to make a trip to Boscombe Down Aviation Collection at Old Sarum Airfield for a wealth of ex-military aircraft. 

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Stonehenge

The World Heritage Site of Stonehenge is just eight miles north of Salisbury. Outstanding exhibition galleries at the Stonehenge visitor centre explain the stone circle’s historic context and are well worth visiting. An audio guide will give you lots of information on the theories and history of the famous stone circle and be sure to explore the wider Stonehenge landscape where you will find barrows and other archaeological features including Woodhenge (now marked with a series of concrete posts). 

There are various options for getting to Stonehenge including The Stonehenge Tour which departs from Salisbury city centre and the railway station and other guided tours to the area. Visitors travelling independently are strongly encouraged to pre-book their tickets, particularly during peak times such as the school summer holidays and bank holiday weekends.