In transcribing the following paragraphs from the Internet Archive online version, I have expanded the abbreviations for easier reading. — George P. Landow]
SALISBURY, or NEW SARUM, an ancient city, municiplaity, and parliamentary borough of England, capitol of country Wiltshire [is] 80 miles southwest of London by the on the South-Western railway, in a pleasant and fertile valley, at the junction of the Upper Avon with the united streams of the Willey and Nadder. Its houses, all of brick, are far from being handsome, and are greatly wanting in uniformity. The city is lighted with gas, and abundantly supplied with water from the Avon, which runs in clear streams through many of the streets in artificial channels.
At the head of its public buildings stands its magnificent cathedral, begun in 1220, and completed in 1258, one of the finest and most interesting specimens of Gothic architecture in the kingdom. It is in the form of a double cross, with a highly enriched tower, 404ft. in height; the interior is exquisitely beautiful from the loftiness of its elevation and the delicacy and lightness of its structure.
There are three parish churches in the city, all fine edifices; as is also the Roman Catholic chapel, a structure of great beauty, by Pugin. There are places of worship for Baptists, Wesleyans, Independents, and several meeting houses for other bodies. In the centre of the city is the market-place, a large open area, in which markets are held twice a- week; and on every alternate week, one of the largest cattle-markets in the west of England. At the southeast corner of this area stands the council-house, a modern square building of white brick, with a handsome Doric portico. There are several ancient edifices in the city, interesting from thoir an tiquity and architectural merits, but now in a state of decay, or altered to suit other purposes than the original. The principal schools are the choristers, the city grammar, and the bishop’s school, in which last 40 boys and girls are clothed and educated at the expense of the see; a training school for governesses in connection with the church of England, the British and national schools, and various private establish ments. The charitable institutions are numerous; they com prise an infirmary, the Godolphin charity, endowed for the maintenance and education of eight young orphan ladies; seven hospitals, the college of matrons, and various other en dowed charities.
Salisbury was at one time celebrated for its woollen manufactures, particularly flannels, but they are now extinct; the manufacturing industry of the city being at present limited to the making of scissors and other fine cutlery, a rope, twine, and sack factory, and to one or two establishments for hair-cloth weaving. Malting is extensively carried on, and the trade in beer is considerable. Salisbury returns two members to Parliament. Pop. 11,657. [IV, 807-08]
Bibliography
Blackie, Walker Graham. The Imperial Gazetteer: A General Dictionary of Geography, Physical, Political, Statistical and Descriptive. 4 vols. London: Blackie & Son, 1856. Internet Archive online version of a copy in the University of California Library. Web. 7 November 2018.
Last modified 7 November 2018