Salisbury Cathedral: A Masterpiece in Stone

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After exploring the enormous earthworks and open views at Old Sarum, we made our way into Salisbury. And what a change of scene. One minute we had been looking out across the countryside; the next we were surrounded by beautiful old buildings and one of the most impressive cathedrals I’ve seen.

For me, Salisbury Cathedral was all about the architecture. There was so much to look at that I kept finding myself stopping, looking up, and reaching for my phone again.

Approaching Salisbury through one of its historic gateways.
Approaching Salisbury through one of its historic gateways.
The cathedral spire through the trees.
The cathedral spire through the trees.
Our first glimpse of Salisbury Cathedral through the trees.
Our first glimpse of Salisbury Cathedral through the trees.

A cathedral that makes you look up

The first thing that struck me was the sheer detail. The great west front is covered in pointed arches, carved figures and rows of windows. Then there’s that enormous spire rising above everything. Even from a distance it dominates the skyline, but standing close to the building gives you a completely different appreciation of its size.

The cathedral's magnificent west front.
The cathedral’s magnificent west front.
The west front and cathedral grounds beneath a blue sky.
The west front and cathedral grounds beneath a blue sky.
Close-up of the cathedral's carved exterior and soaring spire.
Close-up of the cathedral’s carved exterior and soaring spire.
Looking up at Salisbury Cathedral's remarkable spire.
Looking up at Salisbury Cathedral’s remarkable spire.
The cathedral's long side elevation and Gothic windows.
The cathedral’s long side elevation and Gothic windows.
The whole cathedral rising above the lawns.
The whole cathedral rising above the lawns.
A classic red phone box near the cathedral.
A classic red phone box near the cathedral.
The red phone box from a little further back.
The red phone box from a little further back.

The cathedral was largely built in the 13th century, and its spire, added later, is the tallest church spire in Britain. I find it extraordinary that builders centuries ago could create something so intricate and ambitious, without anything like the equipment we take for granted today.

Those incredible cloisters

If the outside was impressive, the cloisters were something else again. The long covered walkways seemed to stretch on forever, with one pointed arch following another. Looking down the corridor, the repeating shapes made the whole place feel almost perfectly symmetrical.

The extraordinary vaulted ceiling stretching along the cloister.
The extraordinary vaulted ceiling stretching along the cloister.

And then there were the windows. Not ordinary windows, but delicate stone openings looking onto a green courtyard. The sunlight, the old stone and the trees in the middle made such a lovely contrast. It was peaceful, but there was still so much detail everywhere I looked.

Entering the cathedral cloisters through a stone archway.
Entering the cathedral cloisters through a stone archway.
Delicate stone tracery framing the cloister garden.
Delicate stone tracery framing the cloister garden.
Sunlight falling across the peaceful cloister courtyard.
Sunlight falling across the peaceful cloister courtyard.
Stone arches and memorials along the cloister passage.
Stone arches and memorials along the cloister passage.
The beautiful trees at the heart of the cloister garden.
The beautiful trees at the heart of the cloister garden.
An intricately carved doorway inside the cathedral complex.
An intricately carved doorway inside the cathedral complex.
Vaulted stone ceilings and a table in an adjoining space.
Vaulted stone ceilings and a table in an adjoining space.
Sunlight making patterns across the old stone floor.
Sunlight making patterns across the old stone floor.

I loved how even a doorway or a section of ceiling could stop me in my tracks. Those little details are easy to miss when you’re hurrying, and this was definitely a place worth slowing down for.

A wander through Salisbury

After the cathedral, we had a look around the surrounding streets. Salisbury has some wonderful old buildings, and the medieval stone gateway made a lovely link between the cathedral grounds and the town. Then there were the timber-framed shopfronts, tucked in among the everyday shops and traffic.

Walking back through Salisbury's historic streets.
Walking back through Salisbury’s historic streets.
A closer view of the medieval stone gateway.
A closer view of the medieval stone gateway.
Timber-framed buildings and shops in Salisbury's centre.
Timber-framed buildings and shops in Salisbury’s centre.
An old carved stone on display behind glass.
An old carved stone on display behind glass.

What I’ll remember most, though, is the cathedral itself. From the enormous spire to the smallest carved arch, the architecture was absolutely fascinating. I’m glad I took so many photographs, because there was far too much to take in all at once.

Old Sarum surprised me with its scale and views. Salisbury Cathedral impressed me with what people could build in stone. Two very different places, and a wonderful combination for a day out.

For the other side of Salisbury’s history, there’s also our visit to Old Sarum, where the hilltop ruins and huge views tell a very different story.

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