Salisbury

Until the 13th century, the city was the center of the bishopric of Salisbury.

In 1226, King Henry III granted Bishop Salisbury the right to hold a fair in the city and its environs, lasting eight days in mid-August. Thus, starting in 1227, fairs began to be held regularly. In the 15th century, the market was dotted with stone crosses marking places where you could buy goods from certain industries of handicraft and agriculture. To date, only the cross with the image of poultry has been preserved. Over the centuries, the dates of the fair have moved, and today the fair is held for three days from the third Monday in October, usually on weekends.

The city’s economy and trade are facilitated by the world-famous ancient monument of megalithic culture Stonehenge , located about 13 km north-west of the city, as well as the archaeological site of Old Sarum (the former city that was depopulated after the resettlement of residents to the place of present Salisbury).

City shopping centers are located on the three main streets of the city: The Old George Mall, The Maltings and Winchester Street. The main places of work of the local population are Salisbury District Hospital, Friends Provident and the pyrotechnic company Pains Wessex.

In 2019, The Sunday Times named Salisbury the best place to live in England ^[2] .

Salisbury was an important center of music in the 18th century. Philologist James Harris, a friend of the composer Handel , held concerts in the city for almost 50 years before his death in 1780 with many of the most famous musicians and singers of the time.

There is a society of artists in Salisbury, which, in turn, has galleries located in the city center, including one in a public library. The romantic John Constable liked to depict in his landscapes the spire of the local cathedral (the highest in England - 123 m) and the countryside in the area (see View of the Cathedral in Salisbury from the Episcopal Garden ).

The annual Salisbury International Arts Festival , held in late May and early June, includes a program with theatrical performances, live music, dancing, and art and sculpture exhibitions.

• Salisbury Cathedral
• Salisburg Steak
• Skripals poisoning - a resonant event that occurred in Salisbury on March 4, 2018
• Porton Down - Military Technopark near Salisbury