Saint Ann's Gate & Cathedral Close Walls, Salisbury

Saint Ann鈥檚 Gate, built around 1331, is one of the gateways to Salisbury Cathedral鈥檚 sprawling Close鈥攖he largest in Britain. Spanning a green and tranquil 80 acres, the Close offers an escape from the busy city streets. Originally called 鈥淣ew Sarum鈥� by Bishop Richard Poore, the area鈥檚 history is steeped in legend. One tale claims the bishop fired an arrow over the River Avon, hitting a deer, and chose that spot to build. While that makes for a great story, the reality was more practical: the bishop wanted a diocese of his own.

Fast forward to the 14th century, and Edward III gives the thumbs-up for a fortified stone wall around the Close, using stones salvaged from Old Sarum鈥檚 abandoned cathedral. Saint Ann鈥檚 Gate, with its central stone arch and two-story height, was part of this grand effort to protect the clergy. Over the centuries, the Close evolved. In the 18th century, architect James Wyatt controversially reimagined it鈥攑ulling down the bell tower, moving gravestones, and altering the cathedral鈥檚 interior.

The Close, once entirely ecclesiastical, now houses not only the clergy but also the well-heeled. Visitors can admire several public buildings, while others remain private, their moss-covered roofs and mullioned windows peeking through wrought iron railings. Narrow alleyways invite exploration, and grassy lawns with benches provide the perfect spot to soak up the history.

All in all, the Close is a intriguind patchwork of architectural styles, but also a peaceful haven where you can easily lose yourself in centuries of beauty and intrigue.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Salisbury. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Saint Ann's Gate & Cathedral Close Walls
Sight Location: Salisbury, England (See walking tours in Salisbury)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Salisbury, England

Create Your Own Walk in Salisbury

Creating your own self-guided walk in Salisbury is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Cathedral Close Tour

Salisbury Cathedral, apart from being renowned as the holder of Britain鈥檚 tallest spire, the world鈥檚 best preserved original copy of Magna Carta (1215) and Europe鈥檚 oldest working clock, is also famous for its Close, the largest in the country, measuring 80 acres (or 32 hectares).

The areas surrounding cathedrals' grounds, sometimes extending for hundreds of meters from the main... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles

Historical Houses Tour

Founded more than 800 years ago, Salisbury understandably has a great number of historical, architectural, and cultural gems worthy of a visit. The medieval houses, churches, inns, and hospitals blend harmoniously with the modern sites of the city.

Your exploration of these treasures can be started at Trinity Hospital, a picturesque almshouse founded in the 14th century, offering a glimpse... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles

Salisbury Introduction Walking Tour

Salisbury鈥檚 roots lie in Old Sarum, an Iron Age hillfort located about two miles from today鈥檚 city center. The Romans and Saxons each left their mark on this ancient settlement, which became a significant town by the 11th century. After the Norman Conquest in 1066, Old Sarum grew into a fortress town, hosting a castle and becoming the seat of the Salisbury Bishopric in 1075. Yet the site鈥檚... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles

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