e-mail: civic@salisburycivicsociety.org.uk

Update: Wednesday 2nd May 2012 (Tisbury Visit)

PROTECTING OUR HERITAGE, SECURING OUR ENVIRONMENT, SHAPING OUR FUTURE

Welcome!
Objectives of the Society

To promote high standards of planning and architecture
To educate in the architecture, history and geography of the area
To secure the preservation, development and improvement of features of public interest
within the former Salisbury District

We are able to contribute effectively in many areas and are represented on several groups including
Salisbury Vision Board and its Public Realm Survey sub group, Salisbury City Community Area Partnership Steering Group, Salisbury Design Forum and Chairmanship of the Salisbury Conservation Advisory Panel.  We also have a good working relationship with Wiltshire Council, Salisbury City Council and CPRE.

If you would like to help us achieve our objectives, please

JOIN US

The Society is a registered charity(No 293143) and a member of Civic Voice. It has some 400 members and three committees whose members give their time voluntarily

See Our Programme for 2012 through menu tab

VISIT TO TISBURY

On a damp Wednesday 25th April 24 members paid a visit to Tisbury where Mr Rex Sawyer, who is an author actively involved with the Tisbury History Society, acted as our guide.   Our first port of call was the Church of St. John the Baptist.  The original Norman church was built between 1180 and 1200 with many changes and additions since then.   There were strong connections with the Arundell family.  In the churchyard there is a yew tree over 1,000 years old and a 13th century cross on an 18th century stem. The parents of Rudyard Kipling are buried here.

After a welcome cup of tea with home made cakes at the South Western Hotel we moved on to the splendid Tithe Barn at Place Farm. Supposedly the largest (though not the longest) tithe barn in England it is some 200 feet long.  It dates from the 15th Century.  It is part of the group at Place Farm that includes the farmhouse and gatehouses, considered one of the finest surviving groups of monastic grange buildings in England.  This tithe barn is believed to have the largest single expanse of thatch in the country.  We were very fortunate in being able to enter it and view the magnificent very high triple tie beams bracing the raised cruck roof timbers.

A most enjoyable visit and our thanks go to Rex Sawyer for his expert guidance.

ARUNDELLS PLAQUE TO SIR EDWARD HEATH

On 17th February 2012 Salisbury Civic Society with the support of the Trustees unveiled a plaque to Sir Edward Heath at Arundells in the Cathedral Close where Sir Edward Heath lived from 1985 until his death in 2005.

There was a small reception in Arundells where the guests heard reminiscences about Sir Edward from Lord Armstrong, the Dean, the Mayor of Salisbury and Robert Key before Dame Rosemary Spencer unveiled the plaque. More can be found about the house at www.arundells.org

From L to R: John Glen MP, The Right Revd Nicholas Holtam (Bishop of Salisbury), Jane Scott (Leader Wiltshire Council), The Very Revd June Osborne (Dean of Salisbury), Dame Rosemary Spencer (President Salisbury Civic Society), Lord Armstrong of Ilminster (Trustee Sir Edward Heath Charitable Foundation), Robert Key (former Salisbury MP), Councillor John Abbott (Mayor of Salisbury), Lord Congleton (Patron Salisbury Civic Society), Brig Alastair Clark (Chairman Salisbury Civic Society)

  Salisbury in Detail

Please follow the link on the menu to find out more about the Society's extremely successful publication "Salisbury in Detail" including details of how to order.

The History of Salisbury as told by its Plaques

For some time the Society has been intending to publish a new guide to plaques in Salisbury which will include not only our Blue Plaques but also all other plaques of interest located within the central area. We are fortunate in that we have a member, Alan Clarke, who has volunteered to take on this daunting task.

His work has borne much fruit and you should click on the plaque to go to to the website he has set up

Here you will learn more about the project which has made excellent progress. He would welcome any contributions by email to jac314159@mac.com but points out that the contents have not yet been reviewed in terms of accuracy, capital letters, correct English etc.

At the site there is available for download a full colour 8 page Plaque Guide with map to enable you to walk around Salisbury and trace the history for yourself. You can print it in colour or in grayscale to suit your requirements.

Public Realm - Salisbury Streetscape - Streets for People

A copy of our 2006 report is available on this site in Adobe Acrobat format. To reach it please follow this link - Streetscape Report

Equal Opportunities Policy

The Society has a formal Equal Opportunities Policy and it can be read at this link.