The morning after returning from Bath (see my previous post), I was on my way to the town of Salisbury. Though the cathedral there is famous for having the tallest spire in England, the primary attraction, Stonehenge, lies a 30 minute bus ride outside of town.
Our train arrived in Salisbury just before 10am, but because it was a Sunday, much of the city was still closed. We were still able to see many interesting sights, including the town clock tower.
The river Avon flows through the town and incidentally flows through Bath as well, where we had been the previous day.
This cross has been expanded several times over the years. It was originally a lone spire, then the buttresses were added, and finally the roof during Victoria’s reign. It’s still used by merchants on rainy market days.
The cathedral didn’t open to the public until after morning services, so we decided to go out to Stonehenge first thing in the morning. The bus ride was slightly expensive at £24, but the price included Stonehenge admission and there was only one bus service available, so we took it.
Fortunately, the rain stopped just as we arrived at Stonehenge.
Probably the best photo I took at the site. The sky was really dramatic as the storm cleared.
The fields around Stonehenge were occupied by grazing sheep. The mound to the center-left is a Neolithic burial mound. They dotted the countryside for miles. You could see perhaps two dozen from Stonehenge itself.
In the chapter room (where the clerics from all over the diocese would meet), the best preserved example of the Magna Carta is on display. The Latin text is extremely cramped and extensively abbreviated, but I was still able to read bits of it. Photographs unfortunately weren’t allowed.
On my way back to the train station, I walked through a very pretty little park with a view of the cathedral’s spire.
