Salisbury Cathedral Quire
by Thomas Gast, Trekearth.com
Where is Salisbury Cathedral?
A couple sites for train travel from London to Salisbury are www.Britrail.com and www.thetrainline.com. Train times can be revised until about 12 weeks before travel, so it's a good idea to check close to travel time in case they make any surprises. Just in case you're planning a trip to Salisbury.
(Maybe it's my astigmatism, but
I really want to rotate that photo just a bit to the right)
'Salisbury is unique amongst medieval English cathedrals having been built in just 38 years (1220 - 1258) in a single architectural style, early English Gothic. The tower and spire (Britain’s tallest) were added about 50 years later. The building itself is remarkable, a testimony to the faith and practical skills of those who erected it.
'But it is much more than a historical monument. It is a living church and a place of prayer. As the Cathedral Church of the Salisbury diocese it is Mother Church of several hundred parishes in Wiltshire and Dorset. It is also a centre of pilgrimage for hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.
'Salisbury Cathedral’s copy (in the Chapter House)of Magna Carta is the best preserved of the four remaining original exemplars. It is held in the Chapter House and can be seen during normal visitor opening hours. The remaining Magna Carta 1215 are held at The British Library and Lincoln Castle.'
World's oldest working clock? (AD1386)
Also from their website:
'What is special about Salisbury Cathedral?
- Britain's finest 13th century Cathedral
- An important heritage attraction and a beautiful and historic building
- An iconic building recognised by Britain's tallest spire (123m/404ft)
- Britain's largest secular Cathedral Cloisters with newly landscaped garden
- Stunning setting in the largest and perhaps most lovely Cathedral Close in Britain (80 acres)
- The best preserved of only four surviving original Magna Carta (AD1215), listed on the UNESCO ‘Memory of the World’ with huge worldwide recognition
- Spectacular flowing ‘living water’ font by William Pye (2008)
- A unique 13th century stone frieze of bible stories in the Chapter House
- World's oldest working clock (AD1386)
- The largest and earliest set of Quire stalls in Britain
- Regular major art exhibitions/installations
- A choir which continues a tradition of daily sung worship that goes back hundreds of years
- Participates in Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Service'
Don't miss Choral Evensong, most days at 17:30 (5:30 PM)
View from Cathedral Tower
More from SalisburyCathedral.org.uk
'Tower Tours: (£10 per adult)(every day April through September)
'Enjoy spectacular views as you explore the roof spaces and tower, climbing 332 steps in easy stages by narrow winding spiral staircases to reach the foot of the spire 225 feet above ground level. From here you can see up into the spire through the medieval scaffold, and from the outside you can look over the city and surrounding countryside.'
And when you're feeling a bit peckish...
'The Refectory Restaurant:
The Cathedral's Refectory Restaurant is open Monday to Saturdays from 9.30am to 5.30pm and Sundays from 10.00am to 5.00pm (except Christmas Day). This unique glass-roofed area provides a wonderful space in which to relax, meet up with friends and enjoy food and drink, with views of the spire soaring 123m (404 ft) above you.
'It offers a self-service buffet selection of homemade cakes and pastries throughout the day, Fair-trade coffee, fresh leaf tea, a selection of sandwiches, rolls and panini, afternoon tea - and plenty more besides. Freshly prepared hot lunches and homemade soup are served from midday through until 2.00pm. ‘Early bird’ and ‘cream tea specials’ are available.'
And all the above is only the cathedral. There's so much more in the area, but we'll save that for another time.
Everyone ready to go to Salisbury?
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