1. SALISBURY AND STONEHENGE. 



OLD SARUM. 



At 9.45 on Tuesday morning a start was made for Old 

 Sarum, that famous " city set on a hill," the Sorbiodunum of 

 Antoninus, and, for many years before the Roman occupation, 

 a hill fort of importance. 



Its strategic value was recognised by the Saxons, and it became in the ninth 

 century the object of contention between Saxon and Dane. Alfred in 871 

 gave orders for the strengthening of its fortifications. Sweyn is said to have 

 captured and burnt the town in 1003, and here 30 years later died Canute, 

 Sweyn's son. Herman, Bishop of the united sees of Ramsbury and Sherborne, 

 in consequence of the decision of the Council of London held under Archbishop 

 Lanfranc, translated the seat of the bishopric to Old Sarum, and in 1078 laid 

 the foundations of a Cathedral which was finished by Bishop Osmund, the 

 Conqueror's nephew, who drew up the celebrated " Sarum Use " which still 

 bears his name. After it was deserted by Bishop Poore, who laid the found- 

 ation of the present Cathedral in 1220, and after the incorporation of the new 

 city which sprang up around it seven years later, Old Sarum soon began to 

 decay, and in 1331 the materials of its Cathedral and other buildings were 

 brought down to build the present close wall, and possibly the spire in the 

 city. The old town itself seems to have afforded a convenient quarry for all 

 those in its neighbourhood who wished to build, so that when Leland in Henry 

 VIII. 's reign viewed the place it was entirely deserted, " not one house, neither 

 within nor without Old Saresbyrie, inhabited." The subsequent history of 

 Old Sarum, how though deserted it still returned two members to 

 represent it in Parliament, and became notorious as the rottenest of rotten 

 boroughs until the Reform Bill swept it away, are matters of modern history. 

 Purchased by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, it passed into the possession 

 of the Dean and Chapter of Salisbury, who, having placed it under the pro 

 tection of the Conservators of Ancient Monuments, have consented to tho 

 systematic excavation of the site which is now in progress. 



On arrival at Old Sarum the party, who were accompanied 

 by Dr. Black more and Mr. Dor an Webb, were received by 

 Colonel Hawley, who is in charge of the excavations, and 

 who, leading the way, pointed out clearly exactly what has 

 been done, and also stated what has been found, in the excava- 

 tion of the Norman Castle. 



The site of Old Sarum cathedral, lying between the prehistoric outer vallum 

 and the Norman castle vallum, was uncovered some 80 years ago and then 

 covered in again, and the work now in progress is on the site of the castle. 

 Passing over the causeway and through the gatehouse, with its drum towers, and 

 walking through the inner bailey, the party came to the site of the great tower 



