02/08/2025
Old Sarum, located near Salisbury in Wiltshire, England, is one of the most remarkable multi-period archaeological sites in Britain. Its history spans over 5,000 years and includes phases of Neolithic, Iron Age, Roman, Saxon, and Norman occupation.
The hillfort itself was originally established during the Iron Age, around 400 BC, as a strategically positioned settlement. Its elevated position offered natural defences and extensive views over the surrounding countryside. The fort was constructed with concentric ditches and ramparts, typical of Iron Age defensive architecture.
Under Roman rule, the site, known as Sorbiodunum, became a key regional centre. Roads converged there, and archaeological evidence suggests a small Roman town or posting station developed within or near the earlier earthworks.
Following the decline of Roman Britain, Old Sarum saw renewed importance during the Saxon period. In the 9th and 10th centuries, it served as a fortified burh, part of King Alfred’s network of defences against Viking incursions.
Its most significant transformation came after the Norman Conquest. In 1070, William the Conqueror ordered the construction of a royal motte-and-bailey castle within the old hillfort, and by 1092, a cathedral was built there. Old Sarum became a vital administrative and ecclesiastical centre , with a growing population within its fortified bounds.
However, the exposed hilltop proved inhospitable and constrained further growth.
By the early 13th century, both the cathedral and the population relocated to the valley below, where the new city of Salisbury was founded in 1220. Old Sarum then fell into decline and was eventually abandoned.
