Old Sarum History
One of the key historic sites in the history of England, the site of Old Sarum was occupied as a hillfort as early as 3000 BC, then taken over by the Romans from the indigenous British tribe known as the Atrebates. Captured later on by the Wessex King Cynric, it became a stronghold of William the Conqueror during the norman conquest in the 11th century. Here, he established a mote-&-bailey castle surrounded by a ring of defenses where at the center William's royal tower looked over his realm, surrounded by a busy courtyard and keep and a village as well as a cathedral that predates the world famous Salisbury Cathedral we know today.
While in the intervening medieval period due to upheavels in the political and religious situation in England, Old Sarum was abandoned in favour of present-day Salisbury, the site remained an important place for both locals and pilgrims. Today it is an important route for visitors to England as it is quite near to another important site - the world famous Stonehenge.
The Use of Sarum, also known as the Sarum Rite or Use of Salisbury, is a variant ("use") of the Roman Rite widely used for the ordering of Christian public worship, including the Mass and the Divine Office. It was established by Saint Osmund, Bishop of Salisbury,[1] and Richard Poore in the 11th century and was originally the local form used in the Cathedral and Diocese of Salisbury, England.
While you might need to procure tickets to enter the remains of the old castle in the inner circle of the hill, our microcache - 'Sarum Rite' can be accessed without procuring a ticket as it is hidden among the ancient ruins of the old cathedral, among its very old stones, which is in the second 'ring' that encircles the central mote-&-bailey, the same level of the parking lot. As a side note, if you are into ghosts, one of us (Roche - the ghost sensitive person) swears she spotted, in her periphery vision, the figure of a monk, walking towards the path to the edge of the trees!
Thanks for visiting and Happy geocaching!
Cache Details
This is a micro cache.
This site is accessible 24/7 for walkers and the main Old Sarum Castle ruins are accessable by way of the English Heritage Bridge (fees apply) The main English Heritage carpark has a £3 parking fee at the time of this being posted, this is free to members.
There is a public parking area next to the rugby pitch further down the road, if you are into walking.
Image Credit:
Model Photo - John B. Thorp. Photo: Kurt Kastner. - Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26914411
Areal Photo - By MARKEDWARDS - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=62133374
Cache placed with the kind permission of English Heritage
Congratulations to 37251 for being First to Find (FTF) at 2150hrs on launch day!!