The People

From a “murdered” Knight, a beheaded Duke to a Nobel Laureate, all who have lived here and walked these streets have left their marks on Salisbury. In fact the beheaded Duke left blood stains, or so it is believed, in the King’s House which is now Salisbury Museum. The beheaded Duke was charged with treason by none other than King Richard 111 and was then parted from his head. The “murdered” knight was the crusader William Longespee. He was at the laying of the foundation stones of Salisbury Cathedral and was the first to be buried in a tomb inside the cathedral in 1226. His tale is one of intrigue and romance and his tomb is still visible in the cathedral. William Golding taught and wrote in Salisbury and his novel, “Lord of the Flies”, both enthrals and horrifies in equal measure. Who else left a mark here in this Cathedral City? Novelists, Poets, musicians, a Prime Minister, and a Russian Spy, to name but a few!