Salisbury in historic gazetteers

Gazetteer of the British Isles (Edinburgh: Bartholomew, 1887). John Bartholomew

Salisbury (or New Sarum). par. and mun. bor., city, and co. town of Wilts, on the Upper Avon, at confluence of the Bourne and the Nadder and Wiley, 28 miles W. of Winchester and 83 SW. of London by rail - mun. bor., 616 ac., pop. 14,792; parl. bor., pop. 16,435; 4 Banks, 4 newspapers. Market-days, Tuesday and Saturday. Salisbury dates from the beginning of the 13th century, when the see was transferred from Old Sarum to New Sarum. The cathedral, begun in 1220, and completed in 1258, is one of the finest specimens of Gothic architecture in the kingdom. The principal trade is in agricultural produce, and the cattle market is one of the largest in the west of England. The mfrs. include fine cutlery and steel goods, shoes, ropes, twine, haircloth, malting, and brewing. The woollen mfr. is extinct. William Pitt (1708-1778), first Earl of Chatham, was a native. Salisbury gives the title of marquis to the family of Cecil. It was made a free city by Henry III., and was incorporated by James I. It returns 1 member to Parliament; it returned 2 members from the time of Edward I. until 1885, when its parliamentary limits were extended.