Salisbury Cathedral

HD version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBXMXSiP_DY

We journeyed from Oxford to Salisbury, about 75 miles to the southwest, for a little sight-seeing. I apologize up front for the poor video quality; I might need to look into a site that will allow me to upload more than 100mb.

Salisbury Cathedral was built from 1220 to 1258, with a spire added to that in 1320. We got to tour the cathedral and take the "Tower Tour" as part of our British History course (we take a lot of field trips). The background music in this video makes the serious tone almost laughable, with the midday tour becoming much more dramatic than it originally was. Originally, the church was of course Catholic, but then became high-church Anglican after the Reformation. At that time, the church became a lot more plain than it is now, with many more stained glass windows and elaborate murals Parts of what that may have been can still be glimpsed through some of the ceiling art. At one point, I zoom in on the ceiling and it looks like there is the division lines of brick construction, but those were simply painted on to give it a multiple stone appearance. Also, the writing on the windows was from the 1990s when money was being raised for repairs on the Spire. For a couple pounds people could etch a drawing or phrase into the glass. My favorite is the, "Good Luck Spire". We were lucky enough to get to the spire just in time for its noon chiming, which was so powerful, especially being inside. Even thought the spire has held for almost 700 years now, I still wasn't sure if I trusted it... In the view from the top of the spire, the cross formation of the cathedral can be clearly seen with double transepts on either side (I'm sure Dr. Smith is proud of my medieval architecture knowledge). From the tower, we were able to see one side of the cathedral at a time, as its positioned in the very center.