Old Sarum

Old Sarum was another stop on our ticket to visit Stonehenge from Salisbury. It is the site of the earliest settlement of Salisbury in England. The site contains human habitation as early as 3,000 B.C.

There is a castle up on the top of Old Sarum, but you had to pay to go in. We opted to visit the ruins of a cathedral, which also stood on the top of the hill.

Old Sarum was originally a hill fort strategically placed on the conunction of two trade routes and the River Avon, Hamshire.

Achaeological remains of rough stone tools suggest people hac occupied the hilltop area since Neolithis times. A protective hill forst was constructed by the local inhabitants during the British Iron Age. The Romans, who occupied Britain between AD 43 and AD 410, held the site as a military station.

This isn't technically part of Old Sarum but it was a kite stuck in a tree at the top of Old Sarum, so I think it counts. Plus, it's pretty.

A motte and bailey castle was built in around 1069, shortly after the Norman conquest, and the town was renamed. We didn't want to pay to enter the castle but we did have the opportunity to visit the ruins of a cathedral and bishop's palace that was built around 1075.

By 1219, the limitations of space on the hilltop site had become cause for concern, with the cathedral and castle in close proximity and their respective chiefs in regular conflict. Eventually, the bishop asked for the cathedral's relocation.
(This was a sign pointing out the years in which different parts of the now-ruined cathedral were built - yellow is late 11th century, red is early 12th century, and green is mid to late 12 century.)

The site of a new cathedral was consecrated later that year and in 1220 the bishop started construction on the new location, what would become Salisbury Cathedral.

The view from the top of the hill was also quite lovely, but as there was nothing huge or recognizable it wasn't as impressive in photos. The ruins themselves were quite extensive, and you could see the layout and everything.

That's it for Salisbury and the surrounding area. Our next stop was Bath, but you're going to have to wait until tomorrow for that one, it's past midnight here and I am going to bed! Hope you've enjoyed yourself.