Salisbury’s charm mainly comes from the fact that the town has done a lot to protect its old buildings, many of which date back to the middle ages. It often feels as if you’ve travelled back in time when you’re in Salisbury. This is why we want to dedicate this article to the famous, and not so famous, medieval structures that still flourish in Salisbury and the surrounding areas. Expect to learn about:
- The King’s House (Salisbury Museum)
- Old Wardour Castle
- The Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum
- St Leonard’s Church, Berwick
- All Saints’ Church, Idmiston
- St Andrew’s Church, Rollestone
NB: Salisbury Cathedral is the town’s most famous medieval structure, which is why we wrote a separate article about it. Check it out if you’re interested!
The King’s House
The King’s House is a manor built in the 13th century, with the purpose of housing the Abbot of Sherborne Abbey. The Abbot used this house as his primary residence until 1539, when the Sherborne Abbey was disbanded during Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries. Afterwards, the house was lent to various families, as well as educational institutions, and it’s now the home of the Salisbury Museum. The manor was virtually rebuilt in the 15th and 16th centuries, although the porches and traces from the original windows can be still seen today. The house got its name from a famous visitor – King James I – who also brought his wife Queen Anne and son Prince Henry Frederick. You can view the rooms they occupied. Since the manor now hosts the Salisbury Museum, you can revel in their collections ranging from Stonehenge artefacts to fine art. King’s House is within walking distance to Salisbury Cathedral, in the heart of Salisbury. The museum will be open from 17 May to 31 December 2021, every day between 10 am and 5 pm, and you can buy tickets at the site.
Old Wardour Castle
Wardour Castle is a ruined 14th-century castle in Wardour (15 miles away from Salisbury). It was built by Baron Lovell, with the permission of King Richard II, and its construction started in 1392. The Lovell family lost the castle in 1461 due to their support of the then-deposed King Henry VI in the War of the Roses. Wardour Castle was subsequently bought by the Arundell family, who fiercely defended it during the English Revolution, but unfortunately, Wardour Castle was severely damaged in the process. The 8th Baron Arundell decided to build a new residence, New Wardour Castle, on the same lot in 1769, thus leaving Old Wardour Castle as a priced relic on the site. You can reach Old Wardour Castle by car, or public transport such as buses 26 and 27 (from Salisbury) or a train. Unfortunately, the trains and buses don’t take you straight to the location, but one mile away from it. We also recommend buying online tickets because they’re cheaper than the tickets on-site.
The Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum
The Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum is a military museum in Salisbury. The building is also known as “The Wardrobe” because it used to house the robes of the Bishop of Salisbury. The original structure came to be in 1254, but just like the King’s House, it was renovated extensively in the 15th century, and most of its original design is gone. In 1981, the building became the Duke of Edinburgh’s Royal Regiment Museum, and it was opened by the duke himself. It was later (2007) renamed to the Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum. The museum holds artefacts belonging to both the Berkshire and Wiltshire regiments from various wars in the past few centuries. The museum is open from 17 May-27 November 2021, Monday-Saturday 10 am-5 pm. You can buy tickets at the site. You can go there with a car, but you have to find parking yourself or you can take bus R1 from Salisbury’s city centre instead.
St Leonard’s Church, Berwick
St Leonard’s Church is a magnificent work of medieval Christian art in Berwick, Salisbury. It was built in the 12th century, and despite its Victorian restoration, it still pretty much feels like a Norman building. The carved Norman tympanum spelling Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) still stands strong, along with the Norman cylindrical font. There are monuments of the Howe family inside who are grieving for their children, and the church is often visited by parents sharing their plight. We advise you to go there by car as the transport from Salisbury is not very useful.
All Saints’ Church, Idmiston
All Saints’ Church in Idmiston is another remarkable church built in the 12th-14th centuries in the Salisbury area. Similar to St Leonard’s Church, it was heavily restored in the Victorian era, but it retains its medieval spirit. Its unique medieval features include a collection of carvings in the shape of corbel-heads, roof bosses, and scary gargoyles. You can easily reach the church by hopping on bus 66 from Endless Street, Salisbury, which takes you straight there.
St Andrew’s Church, Rollestone
St Andrew’s Church in Rollestone is a tiny, but rich in history, church. It was built in the 13th century by the Knights Hospitaller – Christian crusaders – who held possession of the church for 350 years (until Henry VIII’s Reformation). The church has marvellous oak benches with Jacobean ends and well-preserved Georgian heraldic glass. There are no suitable modes of transportation from Salisbury, so we advise you to go there by car if you can.
