Salisbury Cathedral

After leaving Longleat House at 3 pm on the 15th June we headed for Salisbury and the Cathedral and were lucky to get a park close to it.  When we got there we discovered that viewing of the Cathedral and the copy of the Magna Carta that is stored there was free as they were holding an open day to celebrate 800 years of the signing of the Magna Carta.  It turned out to be a very important day and was being celebrated in London with the Queen attending and the USA also.  We were able to see the copy held in the Cathedral, one of 4 that are still in existence and the best preserved. There were about 40 copies originally written in June 1215 on pigment skin by various people. They were holding celebrations at the Cathedral that night and were getting ready for them.

Salisbury Cathedral

The copy of the Magna Carta held in Salisbury Cathedral, 800 years old on 15th June 2015

The Cathedral was very impressive inside, very high and large with the large columns up each side.  it was built in Medieval times 800 years ago, taking 38 years, an example of early English Gothic Architecture (13th century) and has the tallest spire at 123 metres (404 feet) in England.



View of inside of the cathedral looking towards the back of it.

                                                     

Building the Cathedral

It also had the oldest clock in Europe in it and it chimed every hour.

Notice about the Oldest Working Clock in Europe

This is the oldest working clock.

The Cloisters and the fan walks were some of the largest in England as are the grounds and the Cathedral Close around it which also has Museums and other important houses enclosed in it.

The Cathedral Cloisters 

The large fan walk in the Cloisters

View of the Cathedral from the back.

After this great visit to the Cathedral on a very special day it was back on the road and to Brighton via the motorways, arriving at the apartment late at night, very tired.