What’s on in and around Salisbury
Summer 2010
Every Tuesday evening throughout the summer : Evening opening of the National Trust’s Mompesson House Garden
Enjoy the peace and quiet of the secluded walled garden of Mompesson House in the Cathedral Close on Tuesday evenings throughout the summer. Refreshments, including wine, will be available to purchase from the tearoom. Booking Not Needed. 6pm – 8pm
Mompesson House, The Close Salisbury Wiltshire SP1 2EL
Until 31 October, The Eye Decieved at Mompesson House
Mompesson House in Salisbury’s Cathedral Close holds an exhibition of seven intriguing trompe l’oeil panels by Martin Battersby. 11am-5pm.
Mompesson House, The Close Salisbury Wiltshire, SP1 2EL. 01722
2 September to 2 October, A Voyage Round My Father at Salisbury Playhouse
Salisbury Playhouse’s Autumn season opens with John Mortimer’s autobiographical play which is a warm and affectionate portrait of a son’s relationship with his father.
Tickets £10-£20. Salisbury Playhouse, Malthouse Lane, Salisbury, SP2 7RA. 01722 320333, www.salisburyplayhouse.com.
10 – 19 September, Southampton Boat Show
The UK’s leading outdoor boat show is held in one of Europe’s largest marinas, Mayflower Park, for a ten action packed days for anyone interested in boats, on-water activities or an active lifestyle. Explore more than 1,000 boats from small canoes and versatile dinghies to sleek sailing boats and motor yachts and browse the products, kit and services of hundreds of show exhibitors.
For more information and tickets call 0844 209 0333 or visit www.southamptonboatshow.com.
11 September, The Romsey Show, Broadlands, Romsey
Annual agricultural show showcasing the best in British farming. Cattle, goats and sheep from across the region compete for glory in the livestock classes. Hundreds of horses are entered into a number of equine events and traditional countryside activities are highlighted with displays of falconry and gun dog training. More unusual animals in the showground inlude otters, aplacas and water buffalo. There are also a number of popular food stalls and events together with a number of children’s activities.
8-6pm Broadlands Park, Romsey, SO51 9LQ. www.romseyshow.co.uk
11-18 September, Promenade
A vibrant new event in which Salisbury’s community of artists will join up with local businesses to create a city centre shop window exhibition of local talent. Salisbury will become a walk through gallery, leading visitors through the city as exciting artworks available to buy are exhibited in participating shops, restaurants, cafes and many other city centre windows. Guide maps can be picked up from Salisbury TIC.
13 September to 12 November, Luminality Sculpture Exhibition
Artworks by 8 renowned British based scuptors are exhibitied in and around Salisbury Cathedral.
9am-6.15pm, Salisbury Cathedral, Wiltshire, SP1 2EJ. www.salisburycathedral.org.uk.
13-19 September, Salisbury Food and Drink Festival
Featuring the best producers, retailers and restaurants from around the region. Salisbury Food and Drink Festival features events, foodie treats, tastings and films throughout the week, culminating on a vibrant Sunday market in Salisbury’s Market Square, providing the perfect opportunity to meet the talented people behind Salisbury’s thriving food and drink industry and taste their wares.
17 – 25 September, Jane Austen Festival, Bath
An easy train ride from Salisbury, Bath is holding a selection of events to celebrate the life and work of Jane Austen, including Europe’s largest Regency costumed Promenade where a multitude of people will be parading along the grand Georgian terraces of the 18th century city in full costume of the period. Further attractions of the event includesmall soirees, theatre, concerts, walking tours, food, talks and dancing.
Jane Austen Centre, 01722 443000. www.janeausten.co.uk.
There are also a number of year round attractions to visit in the Salisbury area
Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral is one of the finest medieval cathedrals in Britain and considered one of the leading examples of Early English architecture. The main body was completed in only 38 years.
The cathedral has the tallest church spire in the UK. If you wish you can take the “Tower Tour” where the interior of the hollow spire, with its ancient wood scaffolding, can be viewed. The cathedral also has the largest cloister and the largest cathedral close in Britain, an idyllic place in which to wander round. The Cathedral contains the world’s oldest working clock (from AD 1386) and has one of the four surviving original copies of the Magna Carta.
Stonehenge
Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located just eight miles north of Salisbury. Stonehenge is one of the most famous sites in the world and composed of earthworks surrounding a circular setting of large standing stones. It is at the centre of the most dense complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments in England, including several hundred burial mounds.
Wilton House
Wilton House is an English country house situated just outside of Salisbury at Wilton. It has been the country seat of the Earls of Pembroke for over 400 years. King Henry VIII presented the house and its estates to William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke (in the 1551 creation) in c.1544. Wilton House is now a popular visitor attraction, with a restaurant, gift shop and numerous tours and educational programmes.
Mottisfont Abbey
Mottisfont Abbey is set in glorious grounds alongside the fast-flowing River Test, just outside of Romsey and under half an hour’s drive from Salisbury. There are many layers of history for the visitor to explore, including the Gothic remains of the original 13th-century Augustinian priory. The River Test is one of the finest chalk steams in the world and the walled gardens house the National Collection of old-fashioned roses. A rare exhibition of the work of Beatrix Potter runs throughout the summer.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-mottisfont
Old Sarum
The original site of Salisbury, 2 miles north of where the city stands now. The mighty Iron Age hill fort was where the first cathedral once stood and the Romans, Normans and Saxons have all left their mark.
Through graphic interpretation panels on site, 5,000 years of history are told to visitors. Old Sarum is the perfect place for families, walkers and heritage lovers. You could even take a picnic and enjoy the fantastic views across the Wiltshire countryside.
www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/old-sarum/
The New Forest
The New Forest is an area of southern England, not far from Salisbury, which includes the largest remaining tracts of unenclosed pasture land, heathland and forest in the heavily-populated south east of England. It covers south-west Hampshire and extends into south-east Wiltshire. With countless walks, pubs, historical sites, a number of helpful visitor centres and no end of wildlife and beautiful scenery to enjoy, the New Forest is the perfect day out.
www.thenewforest.co.uk
