SARUM KIND OF WONDERFUL

Last week we went to Salisbury.  Present-day Salisbury was established in 1220, after it was decided that the ancient town on nearby hills, which had been there since prehistoric times, was less well placed for 'modern' communication.  The result is that the low-lying city does flood from time to time.  There are five rivers nearby, two of which flow through the heart of the city.

Much of the old centre of town around the still flourishing market remains.

And the roads off make clear what business was once conducted there.

An old inn in the centre.

In the central city is the original church of  St Thomas, built in 1220.

In the 15th century the Doom painting (the Final Judgement) was painted over the Chancel.  It was plastered over sometime later and is thus almost perfectly preserved.

The church has many mediaeval decorations including this interesting coat of arms, which has the arms of Elizabeth I supported by a lion and a dragon - thus pre-union with Scotland.  I wonder whether we will revert to this if Scotland separates.

You can also see a Christmas tree in the background.  Why do churches have Christmas trees?  And, if they accept these pagan symbols of their holiest of festivals, why do they not accept that it is bad luck to keep the tree after Christmas?  Anyway, under the tree is a grave to one Jane Eyre.  Of course it is not the fictitious one in the book, but I thought it was interesting.  Thanks to the tree, I had to make do with this photograph which stood nearby.

The churchyard is entirely surrounded by mediaeval buildings, the original structure only really visible from the rear.

 The clock on the church tower has figures which strike the quarters. 

But they strike a little early and I nearly missed them . . .

 

This is one of gates to the old city.

Around the cathedral square stand rows of mediaeval manor houses, several of which date back to the 13th century.

This is Arundells on the square, which was Sir Edward Heath's home.