Historic sites in Southern England
Stonehenge. This post reprises a one-day tour taking in two important historic sites in Southern England. First, we departed our lodgings near Chichester in southern England and drove west towards Salisbury where we visited two important sites, namely Old Sarum and Stonehenge.Weather was relatively benign Old Sarum This is a hilltop location with a period of human occupation lasting about 4000 years, from the Neolithic to the medieval. Around 400 BC the site was an Iron-Age hill fort but the Romans appear to have ignored it. Next, the Saxons acquired control around the 6th century and it was used as stronghold against Viking attacks. Final phase was the medieval period when the invading Normans built a motte-and- bailey castle which evolved into a power base for Henry I comprising castle, cathedral and royal palace. In the 13th century a new cathedral was built in what is now Salisbury and Old Sarum was abandoned and went into decline. Video clip of Old Sarum ...