Salisbury Cathedral and Magna Carta

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Construction Salisbury Cathedral began in 1220 under the supervision of Elias of Dereham, and the main sections were completed in just 38 years. Elias was present at Runnymede in 1215, and was given the task of distributing copies of the Magna Carta around England, so he understandably brought one to his home parish. Today, Salisbury’s is the best-preserved of the four surviving original copies, and its history is brought to life by a fascinating interactive exhibition. The cathedral’s tower and spire were completed in 1320, and great pains have been taken to keep them standing - after Lincoln Cathedral’s spire collapsed in 1549, Salisbury’s became the tallest in the country. It’s in this tower that visitors will find the world’s oldest mechanical clock, which dates from 1386. Not only does Salisbury have the tallest tower in the UK, it also has the largest cloister in Britain. For more information, please visit salisburycathedral.org.uk