Salisbury Cathedral

From Open Encyclopedia

Image:Salisbury Cathedral.jpg Image:Salisbury Cathedral from the Bishop's Grounds c.1825.jpg

Salisbury Cathedral is located in Salisbury, United Kingdom. Building commenced when the bishopric was moved here from Old Sarum in 1220 during the tenure of Richard Poore. By 1258 the nave, transepts and choir were complete. The magnificent west front was ready by 1265. The only significant parts of the cathedral still missing were the tower and spire, which dominated the skyline from 1320. At 404 feet (123 metres) it is the tallest spire in England.

While the great spire is the cathedral's crowning glory, it has also proved to be its most troublesome feature. Together with the tower, it added 6,397 tons (6,500 tonnes) to the weight of the building and but for the addition of buttresses, bracing arches and iron ties over the succeeding centuries, it might well have suffered the fate of spires on other great ecclesiastical buildings (such as Malmesbury Abbey) and fallen down. To this day the large supporting pillars at the corners of the spire are seen to bend inwards under the strain. The addition of tie beams above the crossing led to a false ceiling being installed below the lantern stage of the tower.

Significant (and very controversial) changes to the cathedral were made by the architect James Wyatt in 1790, including replacement of the original choir screen and demolition of the bell tower which stood about 320 feet (100 metres) north west of the main building. Salisbury is one of only two English cathedrals to lack a ring of bells, the other being Norwich Cathedral.

Image:SalisburyDB424.jpg The cathedral is the subject of famous paintings by John Constable. The view depicted in the paintings has changed very little in almost two centuries.