7/9 Salisbury Cathedral

I had been here many years ago, but only briefly, and I wanted to spend a little more time in the cathedral and town.  So, after I visited Old Sarum, it was still just a little past noon, so I headed the very few miles down the highway to Salisbury.  As is typical, it took me a while to find a parking lot, and even more time to park in it.  

The cars in the UK are small, but the parking spaces are small also, and there are marked white lines you must stay within or you will be ticketed.  After finding a space that is slightly larger than some of the others, like on an end, and getting into it, I end up driving backward and forwards to get my vehicle in the middle of the side lines.  When I do this successfully, both I and the next-door driver can squeeze in or out of a slightly opened door.  

Anyway, a brief walk got me past a stream and a swan family, and I entered the cathedral. Salisbury Cathedral is know for three things:  the tallest spire in the UK, having an original copy of the Magna Carta, and having the oldest working mechanical clock in the world.    

 Here are a couple of parent swans and their young cygnets I noticed while walking to the cathedral from the car park.  They look almost as big as their parents.  

 

 This is the River Avon.  Note how clear the water is. 

 

Lots of locals and visitors in the center shopping area of Salisbury.    

 

 

Entrance gate to the cathedral grounds.  

The cathedral and its famous steeple.  

 

 

One of the major entrances to the cathedral.  

 

 

The nave or major central area of the church.   

 

This 700 year old clock does not have a face, and only tells the hour, but it was an important invention of its time.  It tolled the hours only, but that told the priests when they were expected to do things.  

 

On the far back, you can see two large white items which are the weights used to run the clock.  The clock still works and someone pulls the cords to raise the two weights which power the clock.   

 

Some views of other parts of the church.  

 

 

 

 

Below is the choir area, which the British call the Quire.   

 

 

View of the choir ceiling showing the detailed decoration. 

A view of the quire and the organ pipes.

 

 

 

The priory which monks and priests met.  

The Magna Carta is a document that King John was forced to sign in 1215, giving some of his power to the people.  In other words, this document is the basis of all democracies.  There are only four surviving copies, and this is one of them.   

 

I did not take any photos of the Magna Carta, as it is kept within a dark room with very minimal lighting to preserve the writing.  However, if you are interested, here is a site that describes this document and how it is being preserved:  https://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/discover/magna-carta/