As the LEWIS driver passed by Salisbury Cathedral, he pondered about whose scaffold towers Salisbury Cathedral used when it was being constructed between 1220 and 1258. Now, while LEWIS does have its an interesting history, we were not manufacturing scaffold towers 800 or odd years ago!! But we have been making the LEWIS scaffold towers and access equipment since 2004.
Mark, the driver, was blown away by the amazing cathedral and decided to discover more about it by chatting to his scaffold towers Salisbury client. As a proud local, this client provided this fantastic list of curious facts!!
Salisbury Cathedral Fascinating Facts
1. Tallest Spire in the UK
- The cathedral boasts the tallest church spire in the UK at 123 metres (404 feet).
- It was added in 1320, around 60 years after the main structure was completed.
- The spire is so heavy that it has caused the pillars beneath it to bend slightly over time.
2. Home to the Best-Preserved Magna Carta
- The cathedral houses one of the four remaining original 1215 Magna Carta documents.
- It is considered the best-preserved of them all, with its parchment and Latin script still in remarkable condition.
- The document is stored in the Chapter House, which also features a stunning medieval frieze.
3. Built in Just 38 Years
- Unlike many medieval cathedrals that took centuries to complete, Salisbury Cathedral was built between 1220 and 1258.
- This means that, unlike other cathedrals, it has a consistent architectural style, predominantly Early English Gothic.
4. Constructed on Marshland
- The entire cathedral stands on a foundation of just four feet of stone, resting on marshy ground.
- To this day, a test well in the cathedral shows that the water table sits just a few feet below the floor.
5. World’s Oldest Working Mechanical Clock
- Inside the cathedral is the world’s oldest working mechanical clock, built in 1386.
- It has no face—instead, it rings bells at regular intervals.
- The clock has been ticking for over 600 years and was rediscovered in 1928.
6. A Unique Relocation Story
- Salisbury Cathedral was not built on its original site.
- It was moved from Old Sarum, a former hilltop settlement, because of disputes between the clergy and the military.
- Legend says that the location was chosen by shooting an arrow (or a fallen bird carrying a cross), which landed at the site of the present cathedral.
Image by DepositPhotos
7. A Survivor of History
- The cathedral survived the English Civil War, despite soldiers using it as a stable.
- It also narrowly avoided destruction in World War II, unlike Coventry Cathedral, which was bombed.
- The spire has been struck by lightning multiple times but remains standing.
8. A Modern Artistic Connection
- In 2015, Salisbury Cathedral hosted an exhibition by Ai Weiwei, the Chinese contemporary artist, featuring 12 bronze animal heads.
- The cathedral frequently hosts modern art installations, blending history with contemporary expression.
9. Impressive Stained Glass and Chapter House
- The Prisoners of Conscience Window is a stunning modern stained-glass window dedicated to Amnesty International.
- The Chapter House contains an elaborate medieval frieze depicting biblical stories.
10. A Place of Pilgrimage and Film Fame
- Salisbury Cathedral was a major pilgrimage site in the Middle Ages.
- It has been featured in movies like “The Pillars of the Earth” and “Johnny English”.
This Scaffold Towers Salisbury article will be the first in more driver stories to follow about the fascinating places and facts they pick up along the way!!
In the meantime, you might enjoy watching this short video about delivering your access equipment with our fleet and drivers.
Some of the scaffold towers Salisbury that were being delivered can be found at our dedicated section for industrial scaffold towers.