Contributed Collaborative Post
Check out these 8 fun facts about the cultured, beautiful and fascinating city of Salisbury.
Salisbury’s Valentine’s Day Spot
Salisbury is the ideal place for you to visit next Valentine’s Day. Lover, a village just outside Salisbury, is packed out on Cupid’s best day, simply because it sounds so romantic. And Lover isn’t the only unusual sounding place near Salisbury, as you can visit New Zealand and Tiddleywink too!
Oldest Clock In The World
The turret clock on Salisbury Cathedral is the oldest working mechanical clock in the world, dating back to 1386. In that time, it has ticked more than 4.4. billion times! The cathedral is one of the most visited spots in Salisbury and it has the tallest spire in Britain, at 40 feet high.
Are You A ‘Lord of The Flies’ Fan?
If you’re a fan of Lord of the Flies, then you’ll be interested to know that the author of the class, William Golding, was actually teaching at Salisbury’s Wordsworth’s School when he penned it.
Famous Faces Hailing From Salisbury
Many a famous face was born in Salisbury, including Blue singer Duncan James, Michael Crawford, Joseph Fiennes, and rugby player Matt Evans.
The Mystery of Stonehenge Lives on
To this day, we’re still not certain what Stonehenge actually is, what it was for, and who built it. Perhaps the huge mystery surrounding these apparently strategically placed rocks is why it receives around 800,000 tourists every year.
Salisbury’s Close Link With Zimbabwe? (Yes, really!)
Although the weather is completely different, Zimbabwe and Salisbury have very close links – the capital of Zimbabwe used to be called Salisbury until 1982. At that point it was changed to its current name – Harare.
Jay Z is a Famous Visitor to Salisbury
Yes, rap star Jay Z has been known to turn up unannounced in Salisbury! He launched his album “Magna Carta Holy Grail” at the cathedral itself, alongside a picture of the original Magna Carta too.When you visit the famous cathedral, you never know who you might bump into!
The Site of The Oldest Hotel in Europe
Alongside all the other claims to fame that Salisbury has, it’s also home to The Red Lion Hotel, the oldest purpose-built hotel in the whole of Europe (the building has always been a hotel rather than being converted). Built in 1220, the hotel was actually used to house the workers who were building Salisbury Cathedral at the time.
This is a contributed collaborative post.
