Old Sarum

Old Sarum is the site of the earliest settlement of Salisbury, England, with evidence of human habitation as early as 3000 BC. It sits on a hill about two miles (3km) north of modern Salisbury on the west side of the road that leads to Stonehenge on the Salisbury Plain.

It was initially a hill fort and among the earliest records, Old Sarum is described as a city of the Belgae. Romans used it as a fort and called it Sorbiodunum. In the early middle ages Sarum was one of the most important towns in area and often used as a residence by the kings. After the Norman Conquest, the town was renamed Salisberie after the Earl who received the area. He built a wooden castle with a ditch, and in 1067 started a cathedral and bishop's palace. He completed it in 1092 (it burned down five days later), and in 1100 built a stone keep. A replacement cathedral was completed in 1190. In the 13th century area was becoming too small and water supply insufficient for the growing town and in 1219 construction of the new cathedral was started on a site initially called New Sarum, now known as Salisbury. Old Sarum was slowly abandoned and fell into ruin. Nothing is still standing there, but visitors may easily trace the outlines of the old castle and cathedral.