The earliest cathedral in Wiltshire was constructed a few miles north of the present day city in the ancient settlement of Old Sarum. However, by the beginning of the 13th century, conditions there had become cramped and inconvenient, which resulted in Bishop Poore negotiating with the Pope for both a new cathedral and a new site.

The foundation stone of the new Salisbury Cathedral was laid by Bishop Poore in 1220 on a rough field called St Mary's Mead. Within 40 years, the Gothic style structure had been completed in local Chilmark and Purbeck stone. One of the glories of the cathedral is the Geometric Chapter House, completed in the second half of the 13th century, and still containing a fine medieval frieze of finely carved sculptures. It is also home to a valuable collection of medieval manuscripts and other early historical documents, but the highlight has to be the Magna Carta. Salisbury has one of the best preserved examples of the four surviving original texts of this momentous agreement between King John and the barons.

Salisbury Cathedral is most famously recognised today for its incredible spire, at 404ft the tallest spire in Britain, but the original design for the cathedral had not included this towering structure. With foundations only 4ft deep supporting this immense weight (some 6,500 tons), it is no wonder that a lean of some 27ins to the south, and some 17ins to the west, has been recorded.

Other impressive statistics about Salisbury Cathedral include the fact that, although never a monastic church, it does boast the largest cloisters in Britain, which were utilised as a prison during the Civil War. Salisbury Cathedral can also claim not only the largest, but also the most architecturally important Cathedral Close in Britain. Covering an area of some 80 acres, and comprising a collection of historical buildings spanning some seven centuries, it is a very popular with visitors to the city.

Externally, this magnificent cathedral has remained largely unaltered since the mid 14th century but, sadly, only 10 of the original statues on the West Front have survived - the remainder were added during a Victorian restoration. However, it is a very different story for the interior of the cathedral. James Wyatt's restoration could be loosely interpreted as a demolition programme - the choir screen, high altar, and stained glass windows were all removed to give an uninterrupted view down the nave. When Sir George Gilbert Scott was commissioned to undertake further restoration just 70 years later, he tried to return the cathedral to its former appearance.

Captured for eternity by Constable and Turner, Salisbury Cathedral presents both a romantic and majestic vision that is difficult to forget. But it is also worth remembering the early cathedral site, and make a visit to Old Sarum where the foundations of the old Norman church are clearly marked.