Salisbury Cathedral

Salisbury Cathedral stands in the middle of a spacious close in the city of Salisbury. Built between 1220 and 1258, it is a fine example of Early English Gothic design. The tower and spire were finished by 1330, making the spire the tallest in England at 123 metres. The cathedral replaced an earlier building at Old Sarum, two kilometres to the north. Bishop Richard Poore led the move after his brother Herbert Poore first proposed it. The cathedral holds one of the four surviving original copies of Magna Carta. Its clock is among the oldest working examples in the world. The close around the cathedral is Britain’s largest and is often called the most beautiful of England’s cathedral closes. In 2008 the cathedral marked the 750th anniversary of its consecration. After 37 years of scaffolding, the exterior was fully revealed again in 2023. Inside, the nave, transepts and choir form a single coherent space. The cloisters and chapter house were added later in the 13th century. The west front shows rich Early English Gothic detail with lancet windows, quatrefoils and a gable containing Christ in Majesty. Peregrine falcons have nested on the tower since 2013. A sculpture by Sophie Ryder once stood in the grounds, though it was moved after people collided with it while texting.