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Salisbury is correctly known as the city of New Sarum. It was founded in 1220 ad. The city of Old Sarum existed on a hilltop two miles north of the existing medieval heart of the city. For at least 2,000 years Old Sarum had been a fortified hilltop settlement. The Romans developed it as an important hub of the road network in southern England up to around 300 AD. The invading Normans built an imposing castle on the site and also built Salisbury's first cathedral. By the 12th Century the town was very short of water and friction had developed between the military and the ecclesiastical authorities.


The Bishop petitioned the Pope to remove the Cathedral to its present site and construction commenced in 1220. At the same time, the Bishop laid out a fully planned grid system of streets and waterways known as "The Chequers". By 1295 Wiltshire was the most prosperous county in England deriving its wealth from the production of wool. In 1295 Wiltshire sent 28 Members of Parliament to London - and 10 of them came from what is now the constituency of Salisbury.
The most famous "Rotten Borough" in British political history was Old Sarum which in 1832 returned 2 Members of Parliament on the votes of just five electors. The most famous of the MPs elected in this way was Prime Minister William Pitt.

With the raising of the British County Regiments in 18th Century there commenced Salisbury's long association with the military. The Wiltshire Regiment has now been incorporated into the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment.

Salisbury Constituency comprises the city itself and over 100 villages and towns spread over 400 square miles (750 square kilometres) of prosperous southern England. The economy is especially broadly based and consequently unemployment stands at just a little over 1%. The largest single employer is the Ministry of Defence, followed by the local hospital and health service and in the private sector financial services, defence industries, car components, agricultural engineering distribution companies, retailing, tourism, education and agriculture.


The quality of life in Salisbury is high - and this inevitably makes it a high-cost area in which to live. The cultural life of the community is rich and diverse.

 


Rob joins Salisbury's attempt at the world line-dancing record - a near miss!
Copyright Salisbury Newspapers

 

 

 

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