Old Sarum

England
List entry 1015675
Nation
England
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Historic England (NHLE)

Overview

History & significance

Old Sarum is a hillffort and medieval settlement located near Salisbury in Wiltshire, England. The site comprises an Iron Age fortification with impressive earthwork defences consisting of concentric ramparts and ditches, later occupied and substantially modified during the Norman period when a motte-and-bailey castle and cathedral were constructed within the fortifications. The Norman cathedral, founded in 1075, served as the seat of the Bishop of Salisbury until the establishment of the new cathedral at New Sarum in the thirteenth century, after which Old Sarum gradually declined in importance. The visible remains today include the substantial defensive earthworks and archaeological deposits that document continuous settlement and administrative significance from the Iron Age through the medieval period.

Old Sarum is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1015675. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Old Sarum?

Old Sarum is a hillffort and medieval settlement located near Salisbury in Wiltshire, England. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England (NHLE) under reference 1015675.

Who is responsible for protecting Old Sarum?

Old Sarum is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic England (NHLE) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in England. The official designation reference is 1015675.

What other scheduled monuments are near Old Sarum?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Woodbury ancient villages (4.9 km), Bowl barrow 430m north west of Northdown Barn (5.7 km), Round barrows S of Hare Warren (6.7 km).

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