Editing Salisbury Cathedral (section)

==History==
[[File:Richard Poore.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Sculpture on the west front of the cathedral of Bishop [[Richard Poore]] who oversaw the early years of its construction, beginning in 1220; he is holding a model of the cathedral]]
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[[File:Salisbury cathedral plan.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.2|Plan showing the double [[transept]]s with aisles and extended east end, but not the [[cloister]]s or [[chapter house]]]]
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Salisbury became the seat of a bishop in 1075. At the time, the city was at the now-abandoned site of [[Old Sarum]], on a hill about {{Convert|2|mi|km}} north of the present-day cathedral. [[Old Sarum Cathedral]] was built in the years after and was consecrated in 1092.<ref>Hunt, William. "[[:s:John de Villula (d.1122) (DNB00)|John de Villula]]" in the ''Dictionary of National Biography'', Vol.&nbsp;XXIX. Smith, Elder, &&nbsp;Co. (London), 1892. Hosted at [[:s:Main Page|Wikisource]]. Accessed 3 Jan 2015.</ref>

In 1197, bishop [[Herbert Poore]] sought permission to re-site the cathedral, possibly due to deteriorating relations between the clergy and the military at Old Sarum.<ref name=frosty2>Frost (2009), [https://books.google.com/books?id=7ob-vsvZmHUC&pg=PA34 p.&nbsp;34.]</ref><ref name=pbj>Robinson, J. Armitage. [[:s:Somerset Historical Essays/Peter of Blois#128|"Peter of Blois" in ''Somerset Historical Essays'', pp.&nbsp;128&nbsp;f.]] Oxford University Press (London), 1921.</ref> Permission was granted but the move was delayed repeatedly until the tenure of his successor and brother [[Richard Poore]].<ref>Evans, p. 10-11</ref> A legend tells that Bishop Poore shot an arrow in the direction he would build the cathedral; the arrow hit a deer, which died in the place where Salisbury Cathedral is now.{{efn|The cathedral crossing, Old Sarum, and [[Stonehenge]] are reputed to be aligned on a [[ley line]], although Clive L. N. Ruggles asserts that the site, on marshland, was chosen because a preferred site several miles to the west could not be obtained.<ref>{{cite book |title=Ancient Astronomy: An Encyclopedia of Cosmologies and Mythbooks |first1=Clive L. N. |last1=Ruggles |year=2005  |isbn=9781851094776 |type=Hardcover |publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]] |language=English |page=225 |quote=A notorious example...a ley line joining Stonehenge (third millennium B.C.E.), Old Sarum (first millennium B.C.E.), and Salisbury cathedral (C.E. 1220).}}</ref>}}

Construction was paid for by donations, principally from the canons and vicars of southeast England, who were asked to contribute a fixed annual sum until the building was completed.<ref>Evans, p. 13</ref> The [[foundation stone]]s were laid on 28 April 1220 by [[William Longespée, 3rd Earl of Salisbury]], and by [[Ela of Salisbury, 3rd Countess of Salisbury]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=The life of Ela, Countess of Salisbury |url=https://wshc.org.uk/blog/item/the-life-of-ela-countess-of-salisbury.html |website=Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre |date=15 September 2015 |access-date=24 April 2023}}</ref><ref>Evans, p. 15</ref> Much of the [[Freestone (masonry)|freestone]] for the cathedral came from the [[Teffont Evias Quarry and Lane Cutting|Teffont Evias Quarry]].<ref name="gent">[[Edward Cave|Sylvanus Urban]], wd., ''[[The Gentleman's Magazine|The Gentleman's Magazine, and Historical Chronicle]]'' (1830), [https://books.google.com/books?id=WLQUAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA105 p. 105] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307063747/https://books.google.com/books?id=WLQUAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA105 |date=7 March 2017 }} online at books.google.com</ref> As a result of the high [[water table]] on the new site, the cathedral was built on foundations only {{convert|4|ft|m}} deep. By 1258, the [[nave]], [[transept]]s, and [[Choir (architecture)|choir]] were complete.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Engineering Timelines - Salisbury Cathedral spire |url=http://www.engineering-timelines.com/scripts/engineeringItem.asp?id=113#:~:text=Salisbury%20Cathedral%20was%20built%20between,was%20constructed%20a%20little%20later. |access-date=2022-04-12 |website=www.engineering-timelines.com}}</ref> As a result of being mostly built in only 38 years, Salisbury has by far the most consistent architectural style of any medieval English cathedral.<ref name=BF>{{cite book|last1=Fletcher|first1=Banister |author-link1=Banister Fletcher (senior)|last2=Fletcher|first2=Banister |author-link2=Banister Fletcher (junior)|title=A History of Architecture on the Comparative Method for the Student, Craftsman, and Amateur|url=https://archive.org/stream/historyofarchite00fletuoft| year=1905|publisher=Batsford|location=London}}</ref><ref name=JH>{{cite book|last=Harvey|first=John |author-link=John Harvey (historian)|title=English Cathedrals|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OrIfAQAAMAAJ|year=1961|publisher=Batsford}}</ref> The style used is known as [[Early English Period|Early English Gothic]] or Lancet Gothic, the latter referring to the use of [[lancet window]]s which are not divided by [[tracery]].<ref name=ACT>{{cite book|last=Clifton-Taylor|first=Alec |author-link=Alec Clifton-Taylor|title=The Cathedrals of England|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KbOJj_Pi92QC|year=1986|publisher=Thames and Hudson|isbn=978-0-500-20062-9}}</ref><ref name=TB&C>{{cite book|last1=Tatton-Brown|first1=Tim |last2=Crook|first2=John |title=The English cathedral|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wkY3AQAAIAAJ|year=2002|publisher=New Holland|isbn=978-1-84330-120-2}}</ref>

The only major sections begun later were the [[cloisters]], added in 1240, the [[chapter house]] in 1263, the [[Steeple (architecture)|tower]] and [[spire]], which at {{convert|404|ft|m}} dominated the skyline from 1330.<ref name="spire123m">{{cite web |url=https://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/history/adding-spire |title=Adding the Spire. |publisher=Salisbury Cathedral Website |date=13 September 2018 |access-date=13 September 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913223554/https://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/history/adding-spire |archive-date=13 September 2018}}</ref>  In total, 70,000 tons of stone, 3,000 tons of timber and 450 tons of lead were used in the construction of the cathedral.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/architecture_cathedral_01.shtml#three|title=The Cathedrals of Britain|website=BBC History|access-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105174526/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/architecture_cathedral_01.shtml#three|archive-date=5 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Upon completion, it had the highest masonry spire in England and the third highest overall, after [[Lincoln Cathedral|Lincoln]] and [[Old St Paul's Cathedral|St Paul's]]. The collapse of the latter two spires in the mid-16th century left Salisbury's as the highest overall.{{citation needed|date=February 2025|reason= some dispute; see talk page}}

In the 17th century, [[Christopher Wren]] designed restoration measures to strengthen the central pillars, which by then had visibly deformed under the weight of the tower and spire.<ref name="ross"/> Significant changes to the cathedral were made by the architect [[James Wyatt]] in 1790, including the replacement of the original [[rood screen]] and demolition of a [[bell tower]] which stood about {{convert|320|ft|m}} northwest of the main building.

=== 21st century ===
In 2008, the cathedral celebrated the 750th anniversary of its consecration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/press-release-archive/salisbury-cathedrals-750th-anniversary-open-day-overwhelming-success |title=Salisbury Cathedral's 750th Anniversary Open Day An Overwhelming Success |publisher=Salisbury Cathedral |language=en |date=28 April 2008 |access-date=19 October 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208125528/http://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/press-release-archive/salisbury-cathedrals-750th-anniversary-open-day-overwhelming-success |archive-date=8 December 2015 }}</ref> In 2023, the completion of a programme of external restoration begun in 1985 saw the removal of scaffolding that had stood around the building for some 37 years.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-somerset-66753871|first1=Emma |last1=Colman|first2=Dawn|last2=Limbu|title=Salisbury Cathedral restoration complete after four decades|work=[[BBC News]]|date=10 September 2023|access-date=25 June 2024}}</ref>

The cathedral previously employed five [[cathedral constable]]s (known as "Close Constables"), whose duties mainly concerned the maintenance of law and order in the cathedral close. They were made redundant in 2010 as part of cost-cutting measures.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/7928053/Anger-after-Salisbury-Cathedral-Constables-scrapped-to-save-money.html|title=Anger after Salisbury Cathedral Constables 'scrapped to save money'|last=Hough|first=Andrew|date=6 August 2010|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|access-date=24 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025051006/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/7928053/Anger-after-Salisbury-Cathedral-Constables-scrapped-to-save-money.html|archive-date=25 October 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> The constables were first appointed when the cathedral became a [[liberty (division)|liberty]] in 1611 and survived until the introduction of municipal police forces in 1835 with the [[Municipal Corporations Act 1835|Municipal Corporations Act]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cathedralconstables.co.uk/pb/wp_04804f3d/wp_04804f3d.html|title=Salisbury Cathedral Close Constables|publisher=Cathedral Constables' Association|access-date=24 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110911220717/http://www.cathedralconstables.co.uk/pb/wp_04804f3d/wp_04804f3d.html|archive-date=11 September 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1800 they were given the power, along with the city constables, to execute any justices' or court orders requiring the conveyance of prisoners to or from the county jail (at Fisherton Anger, then outside the city of Salisbury) as if it were the city jail (and, in so doing, they were made immune from any legal action for acting outside their respective jurisdictions).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lawcom.gov.uk/docs/gaols.pdf|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110202093443/http://www.lawcom.gov.uk/docs/gaols.pdf|title=Statute Law Revision: Gaols: Repeal Proposals|date=April 2006|publisher=[[Law Commission (England and Wales)|Law Commission]]|access-date=17 June 2011|archive-date=2 February 2011}}</ref> The right of the cathedral, as a liberty, to maintain a separate police force was conclusively terminated by the [[Local Government Act 1888]].<ref>[http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1888/pdf/ukpga_18880041_en.pdf section 48(3)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091208084146/http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1888/pdf/ukpga_18880041_en.pdf |date=8 December 2009 }}, [[Local Government Act 1888]]</ref><ref>[http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1888/pdf/ukpga_18880041_en.pdf section 119(4)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091208084146/http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1888/pdf/ukpga_18880041_en.pdf |date=8 December 2009 }}, [[Local Government Act 1888]]</ref>

Between 1864 and 1953 there were records of [[peregrine falcon]]s being present at the cathedral. More arrived in 2013 and have been hatching every year since with their nests on the cathedral's tower.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/visit-what-see/peregrine-falcons-0|title=Peregrine Falcons {{!}} Salisbury Cathedral|website=www.salisburycathedral.org.uk|language=en|access-date=2018-06-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704063448/https://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/visit-what-see/peregrine-falcons-0|archive-date=4 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2016, the cathedral chapter placed [[Sophie Ryder]]'s sculpture ''The Kiss'' (of a pair of hands) straddling a path in the grounds. It was moved shortly thereafter, due to pedestrians colliding with it while texting.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://metro.co.uk/2016/02/20/this-20ft-statue-had-to-be-moved-because-people-walked-into-it-while-texting-5707564/#ixzz40ojL2ErO|title=This 20ft statue had to be moved because people walked into it while texting|last=Burke|first=Dave|date=20 February 2016|newspaper=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]]|access-date=3 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704063550/https://metro.co.uk/2016/02/20/this-20ft-statue-had-to-be-moved-because-people-walked-into-it-while-texting-5707564/#ixzz40ojL2ErO|archive-date=4 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2018 there was an attempted theft of the cathedral's copy of [[Magna Carta]]; the alarms were triggered and a 45-year-old man was later detained on suspicion of attempted theft, criminal damage and possession of an offensive weapon. The outer layer of a double-layered glass case containing the document was broken, but the document suffered no damage.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-45991475|title=Man arrested for Magna Carta theft attempt at Salisbury Cathedral|work=BBC News|date=26 October 2018|access-date=26 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026101516/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-45991475|archive-date=26 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2020 Mark Royden, from Kent, was found guilty of the attempted theft, which caused £14,466 of damage, and of criminal damage.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-wiltshire-51315721|title=Man found guilty of trying to steal Magna Carta|date=2020-01-30|work=BBC News: Wiltshire|access-date=2020-01-31|language=en-GB}}</ref>

From 16 January 2021, while closed to services during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in England|COVID-19 pandemic]], the cathedral was used to accommodate the [[COVID-19 vaccination programme in the United Kingdom|vaccination programme in the United Kingdom]], a day after [[Lichfield Cathedral]] became the first place of worship to become part of the immunisation plan against the [[COVID-19 pandemic in England|pandemic in England]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Morris|first=Steven|date=2021-01-16|title=Covid vaccine jabs accompanied by organ music at Salisbury Cathedral|language=en|website=The Guardian|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/16/covid-jabs-to-be-accompanied-by-organ-music-at-salisbury-cathedral|access-date=2021-01-16|archive-url=|archive-date=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-01-15|title=Covid-19: Lichfield Cathedral turned into vaccination centre|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-55683025|access-date=2021-01-16}}</ref> A selection of music was played on the organ as people received their vaccinations.<ref name=":0" /> In February 2024, the full exterior of the cathedral could be seen for the first time in 38 years after the removal of scaffolding that had been erected for extensive renovation works.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-68276414|title=Salisbury Cathedral finally sheds exterior scaffolding|website=BBC News |date=13 February 2024|access-date=13 February 2024}}</ref>