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In Great Wishford, just north of Salisbury in Wiltshire, this takes the form of claiming the continuation It is located just to the east of Grovely Woods, one of the largest tracts of forest in Wiltshire which

From the Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette, Thursday 24 October, 1839 HIGHWAY ROBBERY, AND DEATH OF ONE OF

built in the early 18th century on the site of the original manor house in the village of Stourton, in Wiltshire

Grovely Woods is one of the largest woodlands in Wiltshire, standing on a chalk ridge near the River

East Knoyle is a small Wiltshire village which sits just inside the border of the Cranborne Chase Area

This annual festival has run for the past 18 years and is the informal start of Christmas celebrations in Salisbury. The church is filled with Christmas trees and is open to the public for a week at the start of December, completely free to visit. Local choirs and bands perform festive favourites, a small café is open at the back of the church, and the whole event raises thousands of pounds for local charities. St. Thomas's Church is at the very heart of Salisbury: originally a place of worship for those who built the cathedral, it has remained an integral part of the city. Founded by Bishop Poore in 1219 as a small wooden building, it was soon rebuilt in stone and has undergone many changes over the years. It has some wonderful medieval paintings on its walls, most famous of course being the recently restored Doom Painting, the largest and best preserved in the UK. The Christmas Tree festival in St. Thomas's is one of the oldest in the UK, with the first one taking place in 2004. Although it comes a week or so after the switch on of the Christmas lights across the city, for many it is the Tree Festival which heralds the arrival of the festive season. The church is transformed into a small forest of trees, each one created by a different group; a charity looking to raise awareness, a community group who have made a tree to highlight their work, or a small business to advertise their services. Each tree is wildly different; there are some traditional trees but there are also many where creativity has flourished, and the trees are often made from and decorated with an eclectic assortment of objects. Arranged down the aisles, the nave, the Lady Chapel, even the High Altar, the trees fill the church with vivid colours and twinkling lights. Music is provided by an assortment of local groups - school choirs, brass bands, orchestras, singers, pianists, pipers and hand bell ringers, who all perform underneath the Doom Painting in front of the chancel. There is no obligation to sit and listen during their performances, although many do, but there are plenty of other people wandering around admiring the trees with the gentle hubbub of chatter as the backdrop. There is a small café open in the vestry at the back of the church. Although a church's vestry is usually a space for the clergy to change and have their offices, in St Thomas's it is known as 'The People's Vestry' and is an open space for everyone. Serving coffee, tea and cake, it is open for much of the tree festival and seems to do a thriving trade throughout. Visiting the Christmas Tree Festival The festival is free to visit. As you enter you are handed a printed programme which tells you about every tree on display. Each tree is numbered and so you can see who created it, what they've called it and the idea behind it. Many of the trees have further information underneath them so you can read more about what the organisation does. The trees are all very popular with kids, who love not just the lights and colours but the often whimsical decorations. You can stay as long as you like. Many people take their time to wander around, have a cup of tea, sit to listen to the music, and on the way out you return your programme and put a donation in the box. All of the money donated is split between local charities - in 2021 they made £13,000 to go to charities, and I suspect it is more and more each year, due to the popularity of the event. In 2022 they had maps next to the organ where you could put a sticker to show where you came from and although there was the expected heavy concentration of people from the local area, there were others from the far flung corners of the globe. Visiting at different times of day gives you a different experience. Visiting on a weekday morning has a far more peaceful and contemplative atmosphere, with the trees standing out vividly in the bright sunlight, the ornaments far more visible. Visiting towards the end of the day as darkness falls means that the lights from the trees overshadow the decorations, but give a wonderful luminous and festive effect. At weekends of course it is far busier, leading to a very jolly and cheery atmosphere, with young faces looking entranced by the lights and colours. The whole event is an enriching and rewarding experience, and even the hardiest of Scrooges would find it impossible to leave without feeling thoroughly festive. Visiting the Christmas Tree Festival Follow their website for dates of the next one Feeling festive in Salisbury? Try a Twilight Tower Tour of the cathedral

Salisbury Cathedral is more than just a place of worship for the faithful; as well as being a tourist attraction it is home to a variety of artworks, some permanent but mostly an ever changing display of exhibitions. These vary from static displays of contemporary art to interactive displays of light, sound and colour. Some of these are truly amazing and worth going out of your way to visit. Permanent Art on display at the Cathedral The Walking Madonna by Elizabeth Frink Perhaps the most memorable and iconic artwork in the grounds of the cathedral, this was originally intended to just be a temporary installation. The Walking Madonna is a life-size, plinth-less statue of a rather frail, older woman, walking away from the cathedral. She is dwarfed by the cathedral spire which soars over her diminutive frame, clad in a simple wimple and sackcloth habit, her eyes are lowered and there is a pensive expression on her face, but she is walking out with purpose, her body taut and focused. Her position walking away from the cathedral and at ground level amongst the people is considered fairly revolutionary for ecclesiastical art, which traditionally has its statues positioned haughtily above the visitors, looking down on them as they walk around the site, forever superior to them. She also has her back to the place of worship, not facing it or on the wall of it, which is usually done to ensure that the focus is always on the building. Instead, she mingles with the people, leaving the cathedral behind her and drawing their attention away from it. The intention behind this was that she is 'moving out from worship to be where human needs are to be met, not just in Salisbury but in the wide world'. Installed in 1981 and still in situ, she is a popular part of the cathedral grounds, and has been included in many a visitor's photograph, their arms over her shoulders or holding her now-polished hand which is perpetually half-raised as she strides out. She actually faces the site of Old Sarum, where the first two cathedrals were, before the construction of our magnificent present day one. She is also the start point for the popular long distance walk, the Avon Valley Path, which is from Salisbury Cathedral to Christchurch Priory some 34 miles away and which follows the River Avon. Walkers start their journey with her which seems entirely appropriate for the Walking Madonna. The Glass Prism Memorial to Rex Whistler Inside the cathedral in the Morning Chapel is a revolving glass prism with scenes of Salisbury Cathedral. It was created by famous glass engraver Laurence Whistler as a tribute to his brother, Rex Whistler, who died in 1944. Their parents at one time rented a house in the Cathedral Close and a blue plaque has recently been installed on their house. Both brothers were artists. Rex was a well known artist who painted portraits of the society set of the Bright Young Things, extensive murals, covers for the Radio Times and even adverts. He signed up with the Welsh Guards when World War II broke out, becoming the burial officer of his regiment, but was killed just a month after D-Day when he left his tank to aid some fellow soldiers. His brother, Laurence, started out as a poet, but soon turned to glass engraving, starting small with glasses and bowls before moving on to much larger designs, including work for the royals. Over 30 years he engraved every window in the Dorset church of Moreton, where Lawrence of Arabia is buried, and which are beautiful if you ever get the chance to visit. He engraved several glass prisms over his career. The one in Salisbury Cathedral, designed as a memorial to his brother in 1987, is contained within a bronze lantern which was gifted by the Welsh Guards. It depicts the cathedral both inside and out, the spire, the nave and the central column in the Chapter House, as well as the trees in the grounds and the birds soaring high above the spire. As the glass turns, the images link together, the light shining from above giving them a 3D effect. The bright areas are said to represent life and eternity, the dark one represent death and suffering. Crucifixion by Barbara Hepworth Located in a corner of the Cloisters is Construction (Crucifixion): Homage to Mondrian by famed British sculptor Barbara Hepworth. Created in 1966 and gifted to the cathedral by the sculptor, it is thought to explore the duality of Jesus Christ in geometric symbols and features bold colours from the palette of Piet Mondrian, which is referenced in the title of the piece. It weighs over 2.5 tonnes and had to be winched into the grounds over the top of the Cloisters. It is a curious piece and not one I am overly enamoured with. Temporary Art Exhibitions in Salisbury Cathedral There are regular temporary exhibitions in the cathedral, some of which are amazing, such as the poppies cascading down the West Front on the centenary of 1918, or Sarum Lights which lit up the whole of the interior with an incredible light show, to celebrate 800 years since the foundation stone for the cathedral was first laid. We have had a flock of white paper doves up the nave, which was echoed in the shop windows of Salisbury just after the Novichok incident, and ladders across the whole building in a rather twee exhibition which seemed to be about innocence. There has been an enormous Henry Moore in the grounds and countless other works, both good and bad. Some, such as the blue flying saucer, outstayed their welcome having been installed just before the pandemic but then stuck here for the duration. In June 2022, 'The Vanity of Small Differences' arrived in the cathedral. Six tapestries by Grayson Perry which provide a modern day interpretation of Hogarth's Rakes Progress, it was the first time they have been displayed in a religious setting. Truly fascinating, they document one man's progression through the social classes and imitate many of the great works of art from the centuries before. Find out more Read our Definitive Guide to Visiting Salisbury Cathedral >> Read about a Walk around the Cathedral Close >> Read about some of the Tombs and Memorials in Salisbury Cathedral >>

Millicent Garret Fawcett, scholar, politician and Postmaster General, was born and raised in Salisbury, Wiltshire

On the edges of Salisbury Plain in mid Wiltshire lies the quiet, unassuming village of Edington, the The final song sounded incredibly complicated to sing, based on words written by 17th century Wiltshire

Salisbury Guildhall, in the Market Square, is the local council building. Built in the 18th century and home to the Oak Court, a replica of the Old Bailey, the building is often open for visitors to pop in and have a quick look around, to learn more about Salisbury’s municipal history. Sometimes there are free guided tours which include the jail cells and other areas not normally accessible to the public. Salisbury Guildhall was built in the 18th century, although there has been a building on the site since the early 14th century. The original was built in the early 1300s and was known as The Bishop’s Guildhall, and it was from here that the Bishops would exercise their feudal rights of criminal and civil justice. In 1585, the Merchant’s Guild built a new headquarters nearby, calling it the Council House. After a mayoral banquet in November 1780, the Council House burnt down. The second Earl of Radnor offered to pay for the construction of a new one, but stipulated that it must be in the centre of the Market Square. His offer was politely refused until he agreed to a different location. After some discussion over which direction the building should face, which the Earl again lost; construction could finally go ahead. The opportunity was taken to demolish the Bishop’s Guildhall at the same time; it was in a terrible condition as the Bishop didn’t have the money to pay for its upkeep. The Bishop agreed willingly to the plans, and managed to convince the town corporation that they must include a gaol, allow space to hold the Bishop’s Court, the Courts of Dean and Chapter and the sessions for the Close, with the Bishop having no responsibility for the upkeep of the buildings. Payment to the city Gaoler had to be done by the Corporation but only with the Bishop’s approval. In exchange, the Bishop gave up his role as Clerk of the Market, handing it over the city. In 1795 an Act of Parliament was passed to enable these changes, the Bishop’s Guildhall was demolished and the new Guildhall was built on its site. Designed by Sir Robert Taylor, it was completed in 1795. Additions and alterations were made over the years, with a grand jury room added in 1829. The grand entrance to the building has a sweeping staircase, underneath which is a fireplace which is the sole survivor of the 1780 fire in the Merchant’s Guild. The banqueting hall is the principal room of the Guildhall and has hosted many important guests over the years, including King George III, Lord Nelson, Princess Diana and the current Queen. The walls are covered with an extensive picture collection, mostly of royalty, benefactors and Salisbury’s Mayors. There are some impressive chandeliers which were once candle powered and which date from 1797. Ladies of the Queen Mary Needlework Guild making uniforms for the military at a sewing party in the Banqueting Hall during World War I, and the same view of the room today. The Crown Court dealt with all court matters from 1795 – 2010. Now cleared of all of its court room furniture and tiered seating, the room has been re-designed to allow it to be used for Council functions. The trap door in the floor is now sealed but it was through here that the accused would ascend some very narrow stairs to the dock, to appear before the judge. Many would then have to return back down those stairs to the tiny gaol cells which are below. In January 1831, 339 cases from the Agricultural Swing Riots, a widespread revolt against harsh conditions and increased mechanisation of agriculture, were heard here, which resulted in 150 people being transported to Tasmania and two death sentences, which were later reprieved. It was also here that William Wright was sentenced to death, the last execution in nearby Fisherton Gaol in 1855. He had killed his common-law wife when she said she was going to leave him for another man, cutting her neck with a razor. He then turned the razor upon himself, cutting his throat but surviving. Newspaper reports say that when he was hanged, his wound re-opened, making it a particularly grisly sight. The tour guide in the centre of this picture is standing on the trap door that led to the jail cells. The Three Maces are still used for ceremonial occasions. The room now contains some of Salisbury’s silver collection, including three George II silver maces. These were commissioned in 1749 and are unique in England. The largest mace is the second biggest in the country. There is also the basting spoon made for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1897, used for basting an ox which was roasted in the Market Square. It is also here that you can see the Victoria Cross of Thomas Adlam. This is the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to a soldier. He lived in 2 Farley Road in Salisbury and received the medal for his actions in 1916 in the Somme, when he ‘rushed from shell hole to shell hole under heavy fire … was wounded in the leg but nevertheless, … captured the position and killed the [enemy] occupants.’ Read more about Tom Adlam and how he got the VC here >> The Oak Court is modelled on the Central Criminal Court of England and Wales, otherwise known as The Old Bailey. This court is exactly how you imagine court rooms to be based on every courtroom drama you may have seen on TV. With oak furniture throughout, a grand judge’s chair and an elevated dock for the accused, this is very impressive room. Used until 2010 as a Magistrate’s Court, it is now host to meetings and marriage ceremonies. In 1827, Justice Park sentenced 28 people to death in this room; one of them just for the crime of stealing half a crown. All but three were eventually reprieved. He gave one 18 year old lad life transportation for stealing a pocket handkerchief. In 1830, in the Salisbury Spring Assizes, Justice Gazalee addressed the Grand Jury saying that none of the crimes appeared to be ‘marked with circumstances of great moral turpitude.’ Nevertheless, of 130 prisoners he sentenced 29 to death, life transportation for five, 14 years for five, seven years for 11 and hard labour for the rest. The jail cells are tiny and only have space for one small and uncomfortable looking seat. The cells are below the main court rooms. There were originally two tiers of cells, one for men and one for women, but the ones for women have now been converted into council offices. What remains is the lower level of cells, four tiny rooms which lead off the lower tunnels. Used until 2000, they are no longer in use as they contravene all sorts of rules and regulations for the treatment of prisoners. They are said to be haunted and people have reported hearing the jangling of keys and footsteps in them. VISITING SALISBURY GUILDHALL How to get to Salisbury Guildhall Postcode: SP1 1JH What3words: become.washed.purely Public Transport: There are several bus stops opposite the Guildhall Square, on Blue Boar Row. Parking: There is no parking on site, but as it is in the centre of town, it is easily accessible from all of the central car parks. When is Salisbury Guildhall open? Monday – Friday: 9am - 5pm Events for the public are often held on Saturdays How much does it cost to visit Salisbury Guildhall? Entrance is free unless you are visiting one of the events that are sometimes held. For free guided tours, keep an eye on the Salisbury Civic Society events page. Are there any facilities at Salisbury Guildhall? There are loos on site. For food and drink, there are countless cafes and restaurants in the Guildhall Square. Visiting Salisbury? Our Salisbury City Guide has all the information you will need on places to visit, where to stay, eat and shop, day trips you can take and lots more.

There is a lot on offer for families in Salisbury and the surrounding areas, whether you want a peaceful day at the beach, a walk through the forest, to ping around on inflatables, a day at a theme park or just splashing around in puddles. Here we list our top picks for kids in the area - all tried and tested by our own youngsters. Riverbourne Farm is in the Salisbury suburb of Laverstock. It is a community run farm which is free to visit and has donkeys, goats, pigs, rabbits, birds and plenty more. You can buy a bag of food to feed the animals, have a bite in the farm café or just wander around looking at the friendly animals. There are often trails, activities and events on offer. Best for: under 10's Food: café on site Distance from town centre: 20 min walk Noise levels: Peaceful Clownabout is a typical soft play centre which is ideal for little ones. Ball pools, slides, tunnels, climbing frames, all the usual stuff you expect from such places, with free parking. If you visit during school times, it is usually just toddlers playing, so there are no bigger kids to knock them over. Best for: under 10's Food: café on site Distance from town centre: 15 min walk Noise levels: Cacophony LazerA starts at 6.30 in the soft play area used for Clownabout. Kids and adults can run around the ball pools and climbing frames with laser guns shooting each other. Best for: Over 10's to adult Food: café on site Distance from town centre: 15 min walk Noise levels: Peaceful JumpinFun is an inflatable park on the outskirts of Salisbury and although it is for all ages, they do run toddler sessions with soft play and ball pools. If you want to avoid the bigger kids then take your under 5s during a school day. There is a large café area filled with decent food and bored parents. Best for: under 15s Food: café on site Distance from town centre: 23 mins by bus Noise levels: Cacophony Strikers is Salisbury's only bowling alley, in the same building as ClownAbout but separated by the café. There are only a few lanes so it is a good idea to book in advance. You can pay £2.50 extra and let the kids have a go on the climbing wall too. Best for: all ages Food: Food and drinks on site Distance from town centre: 15 min walk Noise levels: tolerable Odeon Cinema is in the centre of town and shows all of the latest films which you can watch in medieval splendour. Best for: all ages Food: Snacks and drinks on site Distance from town centre: 2 min walk Noise levels: peaceful Salisbury Escape Rooms are the only ones put together by ex-detectives and have been voted the #1 attraction in the area for fun and games. They cater to all ages and get great reviews. Best for: 10+ Food: None on site Distance from town centre: 5 minutes walk Noise levels: Peaceful Wilton House is not just a stately home, but has a large adventure playground in its grounds, with huge wooden slides, climbing nets, swing boats, trampolines and more, as well as an area just for the under 5's. It's very popular with families as parents get to enjoy sitting on the pristine grass and wandering through the gardens while their kids run riot. Read more about visiting Wilton House >> Best for: any age Food: Café and ice cream stand on site Distance from town centre: About 20 minutes by bus, 10 by car Noise levels: Tolerable Salisbury has some excellent playparks which will appeal to all ages - whether its paddling in the shallow waters of the River Avon in Lizzie Gardens, following the Fairy Trail in Avon Valley Nature Reserve or playing on slides and swings in several of the parks. For older children, try Churchill Gardens which has a skate park, parkour and outdoor gym. Outside Salisbury Paultons Park is a big deal in these parts, and now has international acclaim thanks to Peppa Pig World which was added a few years ago. There are loads of rides for all ages, particularly the younger ones, with rollercoasters, pirate ships, log flumes and all sorts of rides to induce screaming. The park itself is lovely, with wonderful grounds and even some rides that adults can cope with. Best for: all ages Food: cafés, restaurants and snack bars on site Distance from Salisbury: 17 miles Public Transport: Catch the X7 from Salisbury to Southampton and get out at Ower Adventure Wonderland is a theme park for little ones near Bournemouth with rides, animals, soft play, mazes, trampolines and theatre. There is loads for young kids to do here and it will easily fill a whole day. Older kids and teenagers will be less than impressed. Best for: under 10's Food: cafés, restaurants and snack bars on site Distance from Salisbury: 25 miles Public Transport: Car is easiest Cholderton Charlies is a farm with a soft play centre and lots of things to do in the village of Cholderton. Its popular with young ones and often has events and activities on. Just 5 miles from Stonehenge, you could visit this farm afterwards to give the kids some fun as they really won't be impressed by Stonehenge. Best for: under 10s Food: café on site Distance from Salisbury: 11 miles Public Transport: Catch the X67 from Salisbury to Tidworth, get out at Rare Breeds Farm stop Go Ape in Moors Valley Park is a tree top course which has different difficulty levels, set in acres of forest. Moors Valley also has fishing, a mini train, large playparks and other activities on the huge site. It can get busy at peak times and queuing to pay for parking can be a nightmare, but the kids will enjoy it there. Best for: all ages Food: café on site Distance from Salisbury: 20 miles Public Transport: Car is easiest New Forest Water Park on the A338 road to Bournemouth, this outdoor water park has inflatables on a large lake for kids to leap around on. It is only open in the warmer months but is great for older kids. There is also kayaking, paddle boarding and wakeboarding on offer. Best for: older kids Food: Distance from Salisbury: 13 miles Public Transport: Get the X3 Salisbury to Bournemouth bus and get out at the New Forest Water Park stop The Hawk Conservancy near Andover is an excellent day out as well as a really worthwhile charity. There are flying shows which adults and kids love, the site is immaculate and they offer lots of experiences such as Owls by Moonlight which is great fun. Best for: all ages Food: Restaurants on site Distance from Salisbury: 19 miles Public Transport: Car is easiest Beaulieu is more than a stately home, it is also home to the National Motor Museum which will keep all car-mad kids very happy. There is also playparks, a monorail, a James Bond experience and a few small rides - I particularly recommend the ride through the history of motoring which is very relaxing and strangely absorbing. Easily enough to do for a full day out. Best for: all ages Food: cafés, restaurants and snack bars on site Distance from Salisbury: 27 miles Public Transport: Catch the train to Romsey then C17 bus to Beaulieu Bournemouth Beaches are great for a traditional day by the sea in this very popular resort. Its an easy bus journey from Salisbury with regular buses. The pier is packed with activities, the sand is golden, the sea blue and there are ice creams, beach huts and everything else you could want for a day beside the sea. Best for: all ages Food: cafés, restaurants and snack bars abound Distance from Salisbury: 28 miles Public Transport: Catch the X3 bus from Salisbury to Bournemouth Marwell Zoo is the largest zoo in the area and has hundreds of animals and five adventure playparks. The giraffes, tigers and penguins are the most popular attractions, but there is a wide variety and something for everyone. Best for: all ages Food: cafés, restaurants and snack bars on site Distance from Salisbury: 30 miles Public Transport: Car is easiest Longleat is the safari park that started them all, and was once home to the eccentric Lord Bath and his wifelets. It is an excellent park with a wide variety of animals, some fabulous playparks and some great activities for kids. I particularly recommend feeding nectar to the birds, which land on you and drink it from your hands. Best for: all ages Food: cafés, restaurants and snack bars on site Distance from Salisbury: 27 miles Public Transport: Car is easiest Snowtrax in Christchurch is for any kid who has wanted to hurtle down a slope at full speed in a ringo or a skibob. They also have an alpine adventure park, snowboarding and dry skiing on offer. Best for: all ages Food: café on site Distance from Salisbury: 21 miles Public Transport: Car is easiest New Forest Wildlife Park near Ashurst is a small wildlife park but its great for younger kids, very easy to get around in a pretty site and up close to the animals. Just down the road is Longdown Activity Farm which is great for young ones. Best for: under 10s Food: cafés, restaurants and snack bars on site Distance from Salisbury: 21 miles Public Transport: Car is easiest Want to read more? Find out what day trips you can take from Salisbury and how to get there with public transport.

Take a leisurely trip along a section the Kennet and Avon Canal, one of Britain's prettiest canals, on the Kenavon Venture. You can choose from daytime or evening trips, some with music and a lively quiz as an added attraction. The pace of progress makes this trip perfect for the Slow Traveller. The Kenavon Venture is a purpose built public trip boat on the Kennet and Avon Canal operating from The Wharf in Devizes. The boat is 60 feet long,10 feet wide and has spacious seating for up to 40 passengers. It is operated by volunteers of the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust. A licensed bar, refreshments and a toilet are available on board. The Trust runs both afternoon and evening trips, the schedule depending on the time of year. The day trips stop at Caen Locks to allow for visits and walks along the dramatic stretch of locks and a stop for ice cream at the canalside café. Slow Travel joined an evening trip in the autumn, beginning by enjoying the last rays of sunshine, passing well tended gardens at the start of the route. We then chugged tranquilly and slowly along, delighting in glimpses of the canal’s wildlife and flora and listening to the knowledgeable volunteers talk about the origins and history of the canal. Runners, walkers, cyclists and families were enjoying the towpath. Kayaks and canoes slid past. Swans took an interest in our passage. Many of the canal boats were brightly painted in traditional colours – one with a good crop of runner beans and herbs on the roof. The boat stopped for a delivery of fish/veggie burgers and chips on board - which were quickly distributed, steaming hot and very tasty. As night fell, attention turned to a light-hearted but quite challenging quiz set by the crew for the assorted passengers. It was gentle, amusing fun and we were soon back at Devizes Wharf to end the trip. A TRIP ON THE KENAVON VENTURE How to get there The MV Kenavon Venture is moored on the wharf at Devizes, close to the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust museum. Postcode: SN10 1EB. Pay and Display public car parking is available on the wharf. How much does it cost for a trip? Prices vary according to season and the type of trip on offer. Please visit the website >> Are there any facilities at Devizes Wharf? Shops, pubs, cafes and restaurants are all available locally.

A writer and politician, she set up the Wiltshire Women's Land Army in 1916 which saw her being awarded

One of the major parks in Salisbury, this riverside park has beautiful views of Salisbury Cathedral and the River Avon, a good play area, plenty of places to relax and some great paddling spots. Opened in 1960 to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II seven years earlier, 'Lizzie Gardens' as it is know to the locals, is the park which is closest to the town centre. Flanked on two sides by the River Avon and with a shallow tributary running through it, the park is dominated by the presence of water. Paths traverse the park and around the water's edge, and at one corner there is a bridge across the river to 'Town Path', which leads people through the ancient water meadows to the suburb of Harnham. From here you can see Salisbury Cathedral and the view painted by John Constable in one of his most famous paintings. It is possible to see kingfishers and other river wildlife swooping around the area, or a family of swans gliding by on the still river. A central island surrounded by shallow water is the perfect place for children to paddle in the summer, and the water is often filled with them splashing around with nets and balls, while parents picnic on the grass verges. Summer also sees Music In The Park - regular events where people can just turn up and enjoy free music in the sunshine, as well as Park Yoga - free yoga sessions on Sunday mornings. There is also a really good play park for children, with a wide variety of equipment, including some which is accessible for wheelchair users. Lizzie Gardens made international headlines in 2018, when Salisbury was at the centre of the Novichok poisoning scandal. It is thought that the spies mixed the poison in the facilities here, and is where the poison was found in a perfume bottle and given to a local resident, who tragically died. The park was cordoned off from the public for several months, and had to be fully decontaminated before it was opened up again. Nowadays though, it is just a lovely park for a peaceful stroll, or to rest on one of the many benches overlooking the river. It's not just a park for the summer though, as autumn sees the leaves changing colours, spring has a plethora of bulbs and in the winter, it makes an excellent spot for snowmen and snowball fights. VISITING QUEEN ELIZABETH GARDENS How to get to Queen Elizabeth Gardens Postcode: SP2 7TD what3words: There are several ways in, the main entrance is at shop.dimes.factories Public Transport: The park is within an easy walking distance of the train stations. The nearest bus stop is the Fisherton Street Clock Tower stop, with a short walk by the river to the park. Parking: If you are driving, which I don't really recommend in Salisbury, there is paid parking right next to the park at the Lush House Car Park. When is the Queen Elizabeth Gardens open? The park is open all hours, all year round. How much does it cost to visit Queen Elizabeth Gardens? The park is free to visit. Are there any facilities at Queen Elizabeth Gardens? There are public loos and often an ice cream van. Shops, cafes and restaurants are a short walk away. See our Salisbury City Guide for details on how to get to Salisbury, locally owned accommodation, restaurants and shops, further places to visit and things to do.

Only open for tours and on special open days, a visit to Salisbury Cathedral's library gives the visitor a chance to have a fascinating glimpse inside a literary treasure trove of books and ancient manuscripts, some of which date back to the 9th century. The library in Salisbury Cathedral is a small but venerable one. It was started in the late 11th century by Bishop Osmund who established a scriptorium in the cathedral at Old Sarum, the precursor to our current cathedral. The manuscripts written there in the 1100s and early 1200s, of which 60 still survive, were the start of the collection. The library was built in 1445 and is above the eastern end of the cathedral over the Cloisters. It was once twice its current size, covering the whole of the side of the cloister, but its weight was causing the stones underneath to crack, so it was reduced around 1760. It is reached by an ancient wooden door tucked away in the South Transept, one that visitors normally ignore as they leave the main body of the cathedral and head to the Chapter House. It is up 37 spiral stone steps to a light and airy room with wonderful views over the cloisters. One end is filled with rows of bookshelves, the other has long tables, a desk and an octagonal table and chairs all made specifically for the library and this is where the archivists and librarians carry out their work cataloguing the collection. The books were originally housed in oak bookshelves from 30 trees donated by Henry VI, although the bookshelves you see today are elm, grown in the cathedral grounds, and were installed in the 1980s. Originally it was a chained library with books chained to the edges of the shelves, but today some of the more valuable books are kept behind iron grilles instead, and the remaining chains hang redundantly on the wall. The library holds about 12,000 books, although with cataloguing still in process, that figure could change. The earliest books are handwritten manuscripts, written before the invention of printing, some dating from the 9th century. These were written with quills on parchment. The rest of the books in the collection date from the 1470s to the early 20th century. Many are rare printed books donated over the years to the library and although many are theological, there are plenty of other subjects covered. Bishop Seth Ward, an early member of the Royal Society, bequeathed 300 books in 1689 which included medieval and scientific texts. Another benefactor was Bishop Edmund Geste who donated over 1000 books on contemporary Protestant reformation. Significant books include the 10th century Salisbury Psalter as well as 43 incunabula. Incunabula is Latin for 'cradle' and refers to books printed before 1501 which are from the very earliest period of printing. The earliest fonts used were designed to look like script and as if they had been handwritten. The only exceptions were the first letters of paragraphs and significant keywords, which were added by hand with coloured dyes. Perhaps the most famous book in the library is the one containing a squashed mouse. Some of the books are from the Cathedral School and two of the books used to teach Latin to the choirboys, printed in the 1600s, were used by the boys in the 1870s to kill mice. A perfectly flat mouse, fur still intact, can still be found in the pages of one of these books, with a handwritten note saying 'the first mouse we killed was August the 2nd'. The library contains other objects of interest other than just books. Two oak storage chests also reside within, one dating from the early 1400s and carved in a Gothic style, another from the 1600s is carved with leaf and flower designs. There is an old English Dial Clock, made in 1789 and given to the library by a former Cathedral Librarian. On the back of the clock is a label which reads "Given by Canon Quirk, librarian on 13 May 1942, the day of the recapture of Tobruk by the VIII army". Visiting Salisbury Cathedral Library You can either book a library tour, where you are shown around by one of the cathedral archivists and which usually ends with a cream tea in the refectory, or you can sign up to the mailing list and look out for library open days, which are included as part of your admission to the cathedral. Read our Definitive Guide to visiting Salisbury Cathedral >>