40 
Old Sarum. On Wednesday, August 20th, 40 members paid 
a visit to Old Sarum. They left Bournemouth 
by the 10.25 a.m. train, and, on arrival at Salisbury, drove to 
Old Sarum, where they were met by Colonel Hawley, F.S.A., who 
is in charge of the excavations. Commencing on the east side 
of the Castle, they were first shown the Chapel with remains of 
the altar, the vestry, hall and treasury, the last-named appeared 
to have been of special strength, three steps remaining of a 
spiral staircase, show that it must Lave had an upper storey. 
Near by were four masonry rubbish pits, two being of a depth 
of about 40ft. Adjoining these was a strong square tower on the 
Castle rampart, the foundations of which had been 
strengthened with cement and concrete. Close to this, on the 
north side, were double gates, the hole in the wall to receive the 
bar being still to be seen. The entrance had been blocked up and 
a postern made for strategic purposes for greater security. 
Another very deep pit adjoining the gates showed that it had 
been built with very solid masonry. 
Leaving the Castle, the party passed round the east front 
of the Castle ditch to the north-west quarter of the city, where 
formerly stood the Norman Cathedral. The excavations of the 
Cathedral have only recently been carried out. Its full outline 
is not yet excavated, but it appears to consist of a west front 
with towers raised upon foundations of great depth and strength, 
embedded in the solid rock of the hill, a nave 150ft. long by 80ft. 
wide extending eastwards with transepts, that on the south 
having a porch, and that on the north a vaulted chamber or 
crypt. 
The excavations on the south side of the Cathedral show that 
it was used as a cemetery, and there had been a postern passage 
to the Castle ditch from the south angle of the precinct wall of 
the garth. The west gate of the city was discovered about 150ft. 
south-west of the west front of the Cathedral, while along the 
curtain wall of the city northwards for nearly 200 yards indications 
of buildings, pits and towers have yet to be examined. 
Colonel Hawley then conducted the party to the temporary 
museum erected within the city ramparts, where the fragmentary 
relics of carved stone, implements of war and domestic vessels 
were stored. 
In accordance with a decree of the Council of London (1078) 
Bishop Herman, of Sherborne, removed his seat to Old Sarum 
and commenced to build a new Cathedral, and his successor, 
Bishop Osmond, a relative of William the Conqueror, more 
energetically prosecuted the task, as he united in his own 
person the offices of Castellan of the Castle and Bishop of the See. 
The Cathedral was completed and consecrated in 1092, and only 
a few days later it was severely damaged by a thunderstorm. The 
Bishop set about the repair of the damage, and his successor, 
Bishop Roger, either rebuilt or repaired it in a most costly manner. 
