Salisbury Cathedral School
Encyclopedia
Salisbury Cathedral School is a school located in Salisbury
, Wiltshire
, England
. It was founded in 1091 by Saint Osmund at Old Sarum
. It was moved 150 years later to the newly built Salisbury Cathedral
. In 1947 it was relocated to the former Bishop's Palace in the grounds of the cathedral. The building is designated as a Grade I listed building by English Heritage
. The choristers
of Salisbury Cathedral
are educated at the school.
and Earl of Dorset
, who was recognized for his good works when he was canonised several hundred years later in 1456. Osmund was born in Normandy and was a first cousin of William the Conqueror, King of England: William's father, Robert the Magnificent, Duke of Normandy, was the brother of Isabella, Countess of Séez, the mother of Osmund.
The first known graduate of the school was John of Salisbury
who served Archbishop Thomas Becket
until he was murdered in 1170. John was quoted by Eleanor of Aquitaine
.
After 150 years, the school was moved to the newly built Salisbury Cathedral
where it remained for hundreds of years. However, in 1947 it was relocated to the former Bishop's Palace in the grounds of the cathedral. This building was designated as a Grade I listed building by English Heritage
on 28 February 1952.
More recently, a library partly funded by the former book store chain, Ottakar's
, was erected within the school. (Two members of the Heneage family (who started Ottakar's) attended the school). It was opened on October 16, 2002.
in the city of Salisbury. The school occupies 27 acres in the south end of the Close, which at 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) is the largest Cathedral Close in Britain. The main school building is the former Bishop's Palace, parts of which date from the building of the cathedral in the 13th century. The pre-preparatory part of the school is located in newer buildings adjacent to the palace. The pre-prep is a self-contained unit, though children have lunch in the main school, and also use some of the main school facilities such as the chapel, library and ICT suite. The school's boarding house is also located in the Close. Sports facilities on the school campus include football, rugby and cricket pitches, athletics track, tennis courts/hockey pitches and a swimming pool. It is adjacent to Bishop Wordsworth's School
.
Salisbury
Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It was founded in 1091 by Saint Osmund at Old Sarum
Old Sarum
Old Sarum is the site of the earliest settlement of Salisbury, in England. The site contains evidence of human habitation as early as 3000 BC. Old Sarum is mentioned in some of the earliest records in the country...
. It was moved 150 years later to the newly built Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is an Anglican cathedral in Salisbury, England, considered one of the leading examples of Early English architecture....
. In 1947 it was relocated to the former Bishop's Palace in the grounds of the cathedral. The building is designated as a Grade I listed building by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
. The choristers
Salisbury Cathedral Choir
The Choir of Salisbury Cathedral exists to sing services in Salisbury Cathedral and has probably been in existence since consecration in 1258.The choir comprises sixteen boy choristers and sixteen girl choristers aged between 8 - 13 years and six professional Lay Vicars singing countertenor, tenor...
of Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is an Anglican cathedral in Salisbury, England, considered one of the leading examples of Early English architecture....
are educated at the school.
History
The school was founded by Osmund, the Bishop of Old SarumOld Sarum
Old Sarum is the site of the earliest settlement of Salisbury, in England. The site contains evidence of human habitation as early as 3000 BC. Old Sarum is mentioned in some of the earliest records in the country...
and Earl of Dorset
Earl of Dorset
Earl of Dorset is a title that has been created at least four times in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1411 for Thomas Beaufort, who was later created Duke of Exeter. The peerages became extinct on his death....
, who was recognized for his good works when he was canonised several hundred years later in 1456. Osmund was born in Normandy and was a first cousin of William the Conqueror, King of England: William's father, Robert the Magnificent, Duke of Normandy, was the brother of Isabella, Countess of Séez, the mother of Osmund.
The first known graduate of the school was John of Salisbury
John of Salisbury
John of Salisbury , who described himself as Johannes Parvus , was an English author, educationalist, diplomat and bishop of Chartres, and was born at Salisbury.-Early life and education:...
who served Archbishop Thomas Becket
Thomas Becket
Thomas Becket was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170. He is venerated as a saint and martyr by both the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion...
until he was murdered in 1170. John was quoted by Eleanor of Aquitaine
Eleanor of Aquitaine
Eleanor of Aquitaine was one of the wealthiest and most powerful women in Western Europe during the High Middle Ages. As well as being Duchess of Aquitaine in her own right, she was queen consort of France and of England...
.
After 150 years, the school was moved to the newly built Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is an Anglican cathedral in Salisbury, England, considered one of the leading examples of Early English architecture....
where it remained for hundreds of years. However, in 1947 it was relocated to the former Bishop's Palace in the grounds of the cathedral. This building was designated as a Grade I listed building by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
on 28 February 1952.
More recently, a library partly funded by the former book store chain, Ottakar's
Ottakar's
Ottakar's was a chain of bookshops in the United Kingdom founded in 1987 by James Heneage. Following a takeover by the HMV Group plc in 2006, the chain was merged into the Waterstone's brand.-History:...
, was erected within the school. (Two members of the Heneage family (who started Ottakar's) attended the school). It was opened on October 16, 2002.
Location
Salisbury Cathedral School is located entirely within the Cathedral CloseCathedral Close
A cathedral close is an architectural term referring to the series of buildings that serve as appendages to a cathedral. These may include buildings housing diocesan offices, schools, free-standing chapels associated with the cathedral, and the houses of the bishop and other clergy associated with...
in the city of Salisbury. The school occupies 27 acres in the south end of the Close, which at 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) is the largest Cathedral Close in Britain. The main school building is the former Bishop's Palace, parts of which date from the building of the cathedral in the 13th century. The pre-preparatory part of the school is located in newer buildings adjacent to the palace. The pre-prep is a self-contained unit, though children have lunch in the main school, and also use some of the main school facilities such as the chapel, library and ICT suite. The school's boarding house is also located in the Close. Sports facilities on the school campus include football, rugby and cricket pitches, athletics track, tennis courts/hockey pitches and a swimming pool. It is adjacent to Bishop Wordsworth's School
Bishop Wordsworth's School
Bishop Wordsworth's School is a Church of England boys' day grammar school located in Salisbury, England. In 2010, there were 748 pupils aged between 11 and 18. The school is regularly amongst the top-performing schools in England, and in 2011 was the top school performer for the English...
.
Notable former pupils
- Professor John BlackingJohn BlackingJohn Anthony Randoll Blacking was a British ethnomusicologist and social anthropologist.John Blacking was educated at Salisbury Cathedral School and at King's College, Cambridge, where he was a pupil of the illustrious anthropologist, Meyer Fortes.After serving with the British Army in Malaysia,...
(1928–1990), anthropologist and ethnomusicologist - Iona BrownIona BrownIona Brown, OBE was a British violinist and conductor.Elizabeth Iona Brown was born in Salisbury. Her parents Antony and Fiona were both musicians...
(1941-2004), violinist and conductor - Nicholas DanielNicholas DanielNicholas Daniel is a British oboist and conductor. He won the BBC Young Musician of the Year Competition at eighteen and has since become one of the United Kingdom's most distinguished soloists...
(born 1962), oboistOboeThe oboe is a double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family. In English, prior to 1770, the instrument was called "hautbois" , "hoboy", or "French hoboy". The spelling "oboe" was adopted into English ca... - William Benson Earle (1740–1796), philanthropist, composer
- David GascoyneDavid GascoyneDavid Gascoyne was an English poet associated with the Surrealist movement.-Early life and Surrealism:...
(1916-2001), surrealist poet
- James HarrisJames Harris (grammarian)James Harris, FRS was an English politician and grammarian.-Life and works:He was born at Salisbury and educated at the grammar school in the Close at Salisbury, and at Wadham College, Oxford. On leaving the university he was entered at Lincoln's Inn as a student of law, though not intended for...
(1709-1780), grammarian and politician - James Harris, 1st Earl of MalmesburyJames Harris, 1st Earl of MalmesburyJames Harris, 1st Earl of Malmesbury GCB was an English diplomatist.-Early life :...
(1746–1820), son of the above - Air Vice-Marshal David Hills CBOrder of the BathThe Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
OBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 1925) - John of SalisburyJohn of SalisburyJohn of Salisbury , who described himself as Johannes Parvus , was an English author, educationalist, diplomat and bishop of Chartres, and was born at Salisbury.-Early life and education:...
(c. 1120–1180), author, diplomat and bishop of Chartres - Robert KeyRobert Key (politician)Simon Robert Key known as Robert Key is a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom. He is the former Member of Parliament for Salisbury, Wiltshire.-Early life:...
MPMember of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(born 1945), Conservative politician - Michael MatesMichael MatesMichael John Mates is a Conservative Party politician who was the Member of Parliament for the constituency of East Hampshire from 1974 to 2010.He has been a member of the Privy Council since February 2004.-Education:...
MP (born 1934), Conservative politician