Salisbury has many hidden secrets.....

Salisbury has a long and relevant past - find out more here. 

Sir Christopher Wren

Sir Christopher Wren may not have designed or left a building of worth here, but he did have influence over something very important. 

Tallest Church Spire

Completed by 1330, the tower and spire, at 404 feet (123 m), are the tallest church spires in England.

Economic Success

How did Salisbury make its money over the centuries?

Find out more here. 

Salisbury Specialities

In addition to the wool trade, Salisbury had two other very distinctive specialities - that of cutlery and bone lace manufacture. 

  

The Plague

The plague arrived in Salisbury in 1563, 1626 and 1630. 

Poor sanitation and a lack of understanding about the disease meant that the only defence Salisbury had was to quarantine. 

 

The Demise of the Stagecoach

The launch of the railways in Salisbury led to the end of the stagecoach. 

Initially, the railway was opened to carry goods on January 27, 1847 buy on March 1 that year , it began to carry passengers. 

Salisbury Bishop and the Gaol

By 1246, the Bishop had a prison in Salisbury but in 1346, prisoners were kept in the cells in the Guildhall. 

Policing in Salisbury

There is reference of two constables being appointed in the early 15th century. They held office for several years but later in the same century, the numbers were increased to four. Eventually, by the 1500's, the constables were assigned a ward each.  

A Revamped Industry

A revival of the clothing trade was enjoyed in the latter part of the 18th century, with the introduction of newer types of cloth. A dark mottled 'marble-cloth', became known as a speciality of Salisbury and Wilton.

How well do you know Salisbury? Try our fun quiz. 

INSIDE Salisbury is not just about the news, as important as that is. We believe the culture, history, environment, and people make Salisbury so special. But how much do you really know about the city we call home?

Test your knowledge with this fun quiz.

We need your consent to load the translations

We use a third-party service to translate the website content that may collect data about your activity. Please review the details in the privacy policy and accept the service to view the translations.