Old Sarum

Welcome, traveler, to the sweeping, wind-scoured heights of Old Sarum. I invite you to pause for a moment here, at the threshold of one of the most historically layered and intensely fascinating sites in all of southern England. …

As we begin our ascent along the outer edge of the site, take a moment to look at the sheer scale of the banks and ditches that surround us. These are the magnificent Iron Age earthworks, the foundational architecture of Old…

You are now approaching what was once the bustling, heavily guarded entrance to the inner sanctum of the castle: the East Gate. As you cross the newly constructed wooden bridge that leads over the deep ravine, pause at the center…

As you step beyond the East Gate and into the inner castle complex, we encounter the fascinating remains of the castle's chapels. This specific area perfectly encapsulates the strict, unyielding social hierarchy that governed…

You are now standing in the Inner Bailey, the very nucleus of the Norman castle. Look around at this central courtyard area. …

Walk up the gentle incline toward the highest point of the inner bailey. You are now entering what was the Upper Bailey, a highly restricted zone utilized exclusively by the royal family, the highest nobles of the realm, and…

As we explore the domestic realities of the Royal Palace, we arrive at a spot that is rarely the focus of romantic medieval poetry, but is absolutely essential to understanding daily life at Old Sarum. Look down at these deep,…

Moving into the southern quadrant of the inner bailey, we encounter the foundations of the Bake House. This structure is a later addition to the castle complex, built during the thirteenth century, and it speaks directly to the…

Look out across the grassy expanse of the outer bailey, lying between the inner castle walls and the ancient Iron Age banks. You will see the faint, ghostly outlines of an enormous building etched into the turf. …

As we conclude our journey and make our way back toward the entrance, let us reflect on the bizarre and astonishing afterlife of Old Sarum. Following the departure of the clergy in the twelve twenties, the lifeblood drained…