Former Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Salisbury, England Verified listing

Former Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Salisbury, England

Salisbury Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, stands as one of the finest examples of Early English Gothic architecture in Salisbury, England. The cathedral was constructed between 1220 and 1258, showcasing an extraordinary unity in its design. Additionally, the spire, finished by 1330, reaches a remarkable height of 404 feet (123 meters), making it the tallest in England.

Originally, the cathedral was located at Old Sarum, approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) north of its present site. In 1197, Bishop Herbert Poore proposed relocating the cathedral. However, it was not until Richard Poore, his brother, took charge in the early 13th century that the relocation plan began to materialize. On 28 April 1220, the Earl and Countess of Salisbury laid the first foundation stones. By 1258, the nave, transepts, and choir had been completed. Later, the cloisters were added in 1240, followed by the chapter house in 1263. Eventually, the tower and spire were finished by 1330, completing the cathedral's main structure.

At first, Salisbury’s spire ranked third in height among the tallest spires in England. Nevertheless, after the collapse of the spires at Lincoln Cathedral and Old St Paul’s Cathedral in the 16th century, Salisbury’s spire became the tallest in the country.

Moreover, the cathedral close is the largest in Britain and contains several architecturally significant buildings. Pevsner, an architectural historian, described it as "the most beautiful of England’s closes." Inside, the cathedral houses one of the oldest working clocks in the world. Furthermore, it preserves one of the four surviving original copies of the Magna Carta. In 2008, the cathedral celebrated its 750th anniversary. Finally, in 2023, after 37 years of restoration, the scaffolding was removed, and the cathedral revealed its fully restored exterior.

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