Salisbury

This page is about the city in England. For the capital of Zimbabwe, see Harare. For the town in the United States, see Salisbury, Connecticut.

The River Avon running through the centre of Salisbury

Salisbury is a city in Wiltshire, South West England. It is the only city in Wiltshire and is its second largest settlement. It sits at the joining of five rivers: the Nadder, Ebble, Wylye, and Bourne, which are tributaries to the Hampshire Avon, which flows to the south coast and into the sea at Christchurch in Dorset.

To the north of Salisbury is an old settlement surrounded by mounds and ditches for protection. It is called Old Sarum. Today there are only a few ruined stone foundations. This was the original town that was first occupied about 5,000 years ago. Experts think it was built there because it was close to the River Avon for water and it was near major trackways across the country.

Salisbury Cathedral has a copy of the Magna Carta.

Salisbury has 45,000 people. Salisbury is about 15 kilometers (9.5 miles) from Stonehenge.

Salisbury Media

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  A reconstruction of Old Sarum in the 12th century

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  Salisbury viewed from Old Sarum

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  The Great West Front of Salisbury Cathedral

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  Minster Street, Salisbury. Signed Louise Rayner. Watercolour and gouache, 34.5 x 25 cm

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  Secret Spitfire Memorial, view from the south

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  Salisbury Guildhall, completed in 1795, is now the meeting place of the City Council.

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  Queen Elizabeth Gardens, showing part of the River Avon diverted through the gardens

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  The 15th-century Poultry Cross marked the section of the market trading in poultry.

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  Butchers Row in the city centre

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  High Street, en:Salisbury, England, 2004-07-24. Copyright © Kaihsu Tai.