Friday, January 11, 2013

Salisbury Cathedral, England - Anglophile Friday

 Salisbury Cathedral Quire
by Thomas Gast, Trekearth.com

Where is Salisbury Cathedral?



Salisbury is about 1 1/2 hours southwest of London's Waterloo Station by train. I checked on prices, and if two people were traveling any off-peak times, the price for both would be £86.60 (round trip), which is approximatley $140 at the current exchange rate ($1.62 to £1). That's not in our favor, of course, but it's been a lot worse.

A couple sites for train travel from London to Salisbury are www.Britrail.com and www.thetrainline.com. Train times can be revised until about 12 weeks before travel, so it's a good idea to check close to travel time in case they make any surprises. Just in case you're planning a trip to Salisbury.

Salisbury Cathedral
wikipedia.com

(Maybe it's my astigmatism, but
I really want to rotate that photo just a bit to the right)


From Salisburycathedral.org.uk

'Salisbury is unique amongst medieval English cathedrals having been built in just 38 years (1220 - 1258) in a single architectural style, early English Gothic. The tower and spire (Britain’s tallest) were added about 50 years later. The building itself is remarkable, a testimony to the faith and practical skills of those who erected it.

'But it is much more than a historical monument. It is a living church and a place of prayer. As the Cathedral Church of the Salisbury diocese it is Mother Church of several hundred parishes in Wiltshire and Dorset. It is also a centre of pilgrimage for hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.

'Salisbury Cathedral’s copy (in the Chapter House)of Magna Carta is the best preserved of the four remaining original exemplars. It is held in the Chapter House and can be seen during normal visitor opening hours. The remaining Magna Carta 1215 are held at The British Library and Lincoln Castle.'



 World's oldest working clock? (AD1386)
salisburycathedral.org.uk

Also from their website:

 'What is special about Salisbury Cathedral?
  • Britain's finest 13th century Cathedral
  • An important heritage attraction and a beautiful and historic building
  • An iconic building recognised by Britain's tallest spire (123m/404ft)
  • Britain's largest secular Cathedral Cloisters with newly landscaped garden
  • Stunning setting in the largest and perhaps most lovely Cathedral Close in Britain (80 acres)
  • The best preserved of only four surviving original Magna Carta (AD1215), listed on the UNESCO ‘Memory of the World’ with huge worldwide recognition
  • Spectacular flowing ‘living water’ font by William Pye (2008)
  • A unique 13th century stone frieze of bible stories in the Chapter House
  • World's oldest working clock (AD1386)
  • The largest and earliest set of Quire stalls in Britain
  • Regular major art exhibitions/installations
  • A choir which continues a tradition of daily sung worship that goes back hundreds of years
  • Participates in Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Service'

***
Don't miss Choral Evensong, most days at 17:30 (5:30 PM)


***

View from Cathedral Tower
panoramio.com

More from SalisburyCathedral.org.uk

'Tower Tours: (£10 per adult)(every day April through September)

'Enjoy spectacular views as you explore the roof spaces and tower, climbing 332 steps in easy stages by narrow winding spiral staircases to reach the foot of the spire 225 feet above ground level. From here you can see up into the spire through the medieval scaffold, and from the outside you can look over the city and surrounding countryside.'

***

And when you're feeling a bit peckish...


'The Refectory Restaurant:
The Cathedral's Refectory Restaurant is open Monday to Saturdays from 9.30am to 5.30pm and Sundays from 10.00am to 5.00pm (except Christmas Day). This unique glass-roofed area provides a wonderful space in which to relax, meet up with friends and enjoy food and drink, with views of the spire soaring 123m (404 ft) above you.

'It offers a self-service buffet selection of homemade cakes and pastries throughout the day, Fair-trade coffee, fresh leaf tea, a selection of sandwiches, rolls and panini, afternoon tea - and plenty more besides. Freshly prepared hot lunches and homemade soup are served from midday through until 2.00pm. ‘Early bird’ and ‘cream tea specials’ are available.'

***

And all the above is only the cathedral. There's so much more in the area, but we'll save that for another time.

Everyone ready to go to Salisbury?

***


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Have a great weekend, everyone!

 
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24 comments:

Samantha said...

Might be cheaper to hire a small car between you!!

Trace4J said...

Beautiful photos.
Woolie HUGS
Trace

Unknown said...

The Cathedral is amazing.. and the view from it is almost as spectacular!

Yenta Mary said...

Oh, so much to say! The cathedral is so gorgeous! And how completely remarkable that it was finished so quickly - such an utter anomaly. Imagine having tea there ... sigh ... :)

MadSnapper said...

i would love to see this magnificent building and that surrounding country side...

Terri D said...

Breathtakingly beautiful! Thanks for sharing the history! I was in awe of the cathedrals when we were in Italy. Ancient and amazing buildings, full of so much beauty.

Cranberry Morning said...

Actually, if Kevin and were going to do this, we would rent a car, probably in Reading, and then have easier access to the entire surrounding area. But there are a lot of Americans who don't like the idea of sitting on the 'wrong' side of the car, looking the 'wrong' direction for their rear-view mirror, the shifter being on the left instead of the right, looking right-left-right before pulling out (instead of left-right-left), and driving on the 'wrong' side of the road. :-)

Unknown said...

John is oohing and aahing over this Cathedral ( he's never been to this one - so really enjoyed your post )
He especially loved hearing about the clock! His chest is a little puffed out right now ( being British and all ) isn't that sickening?
Have a great wknd Judy!
Hugs,
Suzan

Sarah Shoesmith said...

It is not your eyes - that photo does need rotating a bit to the right.

A lovely post - I really enjoyed reading it, although if you are going there this weekend, wear your thermals!

Diane said...

Wow! It really amazes me people constructed this style and size architechture so long ago. Think about it-- no modern tools or cranes, etc!

Anonymous said...

truly a remarkable piece of architecture and the countryside around it is totally breathtaking! Great post Judy! Happy Friday to you, xoxo

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

It would indeed be an adventure to travel to someplace like this! What amazing photos! Love your beautiful soap, too!

RURAL said...

Stunning architecture.

How many times have you been?

Jen

SImple and Serene Living said...

I'm more than ready. Sooo beautiful :)

Ruth Kelly said...

We were in Bristol but did not get to that area in England. Stone henge was closed because of the foot and mouth disease so we didn't go there either.

Robin said...

That's so funny, I was helping a friend this morning, we were looking at prices from Waterloo to Salisbury, we found £72.60 for a return ticket for two, then I come on to look at your blog. Hope you have a great weekend.

Denise said...

Wow, so very awesome.

Unknown said...

Beautiful photos, I like old churches and cathedrals. Interesting history. Am back home from my trip and going back to normal routines, have some catching up to do. Enjoy your weekend.
Hugs,
Eva

Debra Hawkins said...

Oooo! I have a thing for churches and this is BEAUTIFUl!

Empty Nester said...

Oh my goodness, Judy! The cathedral is stunning! If I ever get over there, I'm taking you with me. I'll have my very own tour guide! :)

Chatty Crone said...

I'm ready - when are we going? I really enjoyed the history of Salisbury Cathedral - it makes it so much more real when presented this way.

Pam said...

I would love to go to Salisbury! It looks beautiful.

Anne said...

Hello, Dear! Beautiful!! I would love to go! ♥ I've come to your blog from the blog of one of my sweet commenters ~ you know how that goes ~ :) ~ Now following you!
So nice to "meet" you!
Hugs,
Anne

J_on_tour said...

Wonderful building. Difficult to believe that it only took 38 years to build in comparison to other cathedrals in history. This has to be one of the top ten cathedrals in the UK.

( I opted to pencil draw Salisbury Cathedral when I was at Junior school, it was difficult & took me weeks but I was pleased with the result .. even though the eraser took the top layer off the paper !!. I remember 10 years later making it to Salisbury in a day from home by train with the help of a charter trip to London & an Exeter bound express. I didn't have a lot of time as it was quite a walk from the railway station. In more recent times ( 6 or 7 years ago), I made it there on the seemingly short but torturous rail route from Bristol to spend a bit more time around town. The two things that stick in my mind from that trip was having to stand right back against the perimeter wall trying to get all of the Cathedral and spire into the photo with a fixed 50mm lens & the entrance fee !! )

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