Old Sarum

Old Sarum is an archaeological hilltop site in Wiltshire that combines an Iron Age hillfort with later Norman and medieval remains. It is an important visible example of sequential settlement and fortification on the same summit.

The hill was first fortified in the Iron Age and subsequently reused in Roman and early medieval periods. After the Norman conquest a motte-and-bailey castle and a cathedral were established on the site; the cathedral chapter was relocated to the new city of Salisbury in the early 13th century and Old Sarum declined thereafter.

Perched on a chalk ridge about 3 km north of Salisbury in southern England, the site overlooks the surrounding plain and is approached from the modern A345 and nearby parking and visitor facilities.

• Proximity to Salisbury: Located about 3 kilometres north of Salisbury town centre and managed as a heritage site accessible to the public.

What to See #

• Motte and earthworks: Extensive earthworks of an Iron Age hillfort topped by a Norman motte and bailey castle; the motte and surrounding banks are clearly visible on the summit.
• Cathedral ruins: Remains of the medieval cathedral and associated foundations from the 11th and 12th centuries, now visible as low stone footings within the hillfort enclosure.