Synopsis (from book cover):
Sarum is the towering story of five families through 100 centuries of turmoil, tyranny, passion and properity. In a novel of extraordinary richness the whole sweep of British civilisation unfolds through the story of one place, Salisbury, from beyond recorded time to the present day. The landscaped – as old as time itself – shapes the destinies of five families. The Wilsons and the Shockleys, locked in a cycle of revenge and rivalry for more than 400 years. The Masons, who pour their inspired love of stone into the creation of Stonehenge and Salisbury Cathedral. The Porters, descended from a young Roman Soldier in exile. And the aristocratic Norman Godefrois, who will fall to the very bottom of the social ladder before their fortunes revive.
Book Review:
This is an epic saga that takes the reader from the dawn of civilisation as the iceage retreats right through to more recent times. The history is well researched and the story unfolds to reveal how Salisbury started, grew and developed over the years.
The characters within the story tell us of the unfolding social history of the different eras. I was sad to leave some of the characters behind when the book moved forward to the next era. I enjoyed reading about the building of Stonehenge and Salisbury Cathedral. The book inevitably covered more unpleasant topics such as the effects of the recurring plague.
The book is well worth a read, but it will take a bit of time to get through its 1344 pages.
Tags: Book Review, Edward Rutherford, Historical, Novel, Salisbury, Sarum
Although Christmas this year has been an especially busy one for me, I have found a few moments to get my photo collections in order. I have been working on sorting out my flickr collections so that they are up to date and the photos can be viewed by various collections. It is only the 2012/13 photos that need work on them, prior to that my photos are very orderly 
I have made good progress but I am not quite finished yet…
I am also working on my ‘Cherry on Her Travels’ blogs. The latest update as I journey back through time is my mini break to Nottingham in March last year:
Tags: Cherry on Her Travels, Mini Break, Nottingham
The Consistory Court Stalls were reconstructed in 1934 from fragments from the 14th centuray stalls in the choir left over after their rearrangement by Sir George Gilbert Scott in the 1860s.
They were used as seats for the bishop and his officers when holding church courts. The misericords, or carvings under the seats, are of 20th century workmanship except for the one on the right, which is 14th century and shows a wyvern (a mythical beast) with a snail on leaf.
The figures on the lectern represent the Virgin Mary and her mother Saint Anne. *
*From Cathedral information board.
Tags: Hereford, Hereford Cathedral, Heritage
This is the place where prayers were offered for the soul of John Stanbury, Bishop of Hereford 1453 – 74.
Tags: Hereford, Hereford Cathedral, Stained Glass, Stained Glass Windows, The Stanbury Chapel
See deep enough, and you see musically; the heart of Nature being everywhere music, if you can only reach it.
Thomas Carlyle (1795 – 1881)
Tags: Bee, Cherie's Place Thought, Flower, National Trust, Wallington
The refurbished shrine of St Thomas of Hereford has been a focus of pilgramage since the end of the 13th century. Born in 1218, Thomas Cantilupe went on to be a much-loved Bishop of Hereford. The coloured hanging either side of the tomb tell the story of his life.
The stone and marble tomb base is one of the best preserved medieval shrines in England and one of only a few that escaped destruction during during the reformation. Thomas’ body rested here from 1287-1349. Many miracles of healing were reported to have taken place. Pilgrims still journey to the site to light candles and leave prayers.
More information about St Thomas can be found here.
Tags: Hereford, Hereford Cathedral, The Shrine of St Thomas
