TimeRef - History Timelines - Salisbury Cathedral

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At the Council of London held in 1075 Archbishop Lanfranc proposed the movement of several English Bishoprics to other sites. One of these was the Bishopric of Sherborne and Wilton whose bishop was Herbert of Lothringia. Herbert began the construction of a new cathedral in the confines of the Castle of Sarum. In 1078 Herbert was succeeded by Osmond a Norman who came to England with William the Conqueror. Osmond completed and dedicated the cathedral in 1092. In 1220 it was decided to move the cathedral to a new site. The chosen site was only 2 miles away from Sarum, on meadowland next to the river. The new cathedral was built in a relatively short period of time and was constructed in a consistent style of Early English architecture. The construction was orchestrated by various Bishops starting with Bishop Roger Poore. Six years after the start of construction, when the choir was complete, the bodies of St. Osmond and other important Bishops were moved to the new cathedral. The cloisters were added between 1263 and 1284 and are the earliest that have remained unchanged in England. They form a perfect square and are the same length as the nave. The chapter house is octagonal in shape and has a central pillar with a vaulted ceiling. The spire and its tower were built between 1320 and 1380 and the spire is the highest of its period in the world reaching to a height of 404 feet. Edward III granted Bishop Richard de Wyvile the right to use the stone from the old cathedral and the houses that belonged to it in the construction of the new cathedral and the tower at Salisbury may contain some of this stone.

Mini Timeline

Year	Month	Details
1101	Apr 2	Henry I appoints Roger, a Norman Monk, as Chancellor
		Henry I appointed Roger, a Norman Monk, as Chancellor. While in Caen Henry and his elder brother William (Rufus) had entered a church and requested the priest say mass. The priest impressed the two with his efficiency that they made him their chaplain. Roger then became chancellor and later Bishop of Salisbury. Roger helped build many churches and castles.¹
1139	Jun	Roger, Bishop of Salisbury is arrested
		King Stephen arrested Roger, the Bishop of Salisbury. Bishop Roger was a powerful landowner and had several castles. Stephen also arrested Alexander, the bishop of Lincoln and had him imprisoned. Stephen wanted to take control to bishop Roger's castles and the bishop was taken to his castle at Devizes where he was held captive outside the walls and starved until the castle surrendered. Roger's son was also captured and tortured until the castle finally fell to the King. Roger's castle at Sherborne was also captured by Stephen. The castles at Newark and Sleaford in Lincolnshire belonging to bishop Alexander were forced to surrender to the King using the same underhand tactics.
1194		Plans to move Old Sarum cathedral
		Bishop Herbert Poore presented plans to move the cathedral at Old Sarum to a new site nearer the river to be called New Sarum, or now Salisbury. Richard I approved the plan.
1220 - 1225		Work on the Lady Chapel of Salisbury Cathedral
		The Lady Chapel of Salisbury Cathedral appears to be the starting point of the construction of the new cathedral. Work continued until 1225.²
		Salisbury Cathedral rebuilding started
		A new site 2 miles from the original site at Old Sarum was chosen for the new Salisbury Cathedral. For a Cathedral the building work was completed in a very short time and the building was consecrated in 1258 only 38 years later.
1225 - 1237		Salisbury Choir
		Work on the Choir at Salisbury Cathedral started in 1225 and lasted until 1237.²
1237 - 1258		Transepts and Nave of Salisbury Cathedral
		Constrution of the major transept and nave of Salisbury Cathedral started in 1237 and lasted until 1258. Salisbury Cathedral has a smaller choir transept.²
1258 - 1266		The West Front of Salisbury Cathedral
		Work on the excellent West Front of Salisbury Cathedral began around 1258 and took until 1266.²
1263 - 1284		Salisbury Cathedral Cloisters
		The cloisters at Salisbury Cathedral were started around 1263 and the work on them continued until around 1284.²
1275		Chapter-house at Salisbury
		The Chapter-house at Salisbury Cathedral was begun in 1275.²
1334 - 1380		The sprire of Salisbury Cathedral
		The tower and spire of Salisbury Cathedral were constructed between 1334 and 1380. The spire at 404ft was the tallest stone spire built in the Medieval era.²