Until I visited Old Sarum I never knew it was a hillfort let alone have a cathedral there but the place is huge and the place dates back to 400BC. The Normans took it over and built a Motte & Bailey Castle along with a Royal Palace and Great Cathedral. It lasted 300 years till the Salisbury Bishop fell out with the Wiltshire sheriff causing the removal of the church to where the present Salisbury is now.English Heritage now own the site and the outline of the cathedral is still there

This is a model of Old Sarum Cathedral which is part of a bigger one at Salisbury Cathedral picture is from Wickipedia  so it will give you an idea as to what I will be showing you in the rest of the blog.
The picture shows the Cathedral from the North so the chancel is on the left hand side beside that you can see the cloisters. 

This is what is there now just the outline





there is an information board telling you about the Cathedrals 




an another telling you about the fellow who had it moved.

 This looks from the east end of the site where the chancel & altar would have been





This to the old east gate of the castle 800 years ago I'd have been looking at a huge support pillar had I been stood in the same place







This view would be looking down the nave to the chancel

which they think looked like this according to the board in the photo





The information is on the right and you should be able to read it if you click on the photo




 Same view only from outside the west end wall
The South Transept 




If you remember the first picture you can see a building in front of the North Transept, well this is what is left of that.





This was the Vestry or Treasury  there were windows as we can see from the dips in the stonework, just beyond you can see the outline of the Cloister





the place was supported on these pillars
 Small alcove in the wall





Looking along to the Cloister end of the vestry
 This was one of the windows that let light in the place




The outer wall of the Cathedral and part of the cloister looking to the Vestry
and this was part of the cloister with the vestry at the end

The new cathedral can be seen in the distance and that is where all the robbed stone from the original went so if you visit the new one you will also be walking in parts of the old one

Hope you have enjoyed my little trip round Old Sarum Cathedral
Have a good Weekend