The symbolic move to New Sarum: an investigation into the move from Old Sarum to New Sarum using two contemporary sources

This paper attempts to show that we must see the move from Old Sarum to the current site of Salisbury as a symbolic endeavour as well as a pragmatic reality. In order to do this the study will concentrate on two contemporary accounts which describe the intention to move, and the desire to complete the translation, to the new site. In expressing their sentiments the two writers borrow heavily from the Bible, in both form and content, suggesting that whatever the political and environmental reasons were for suggesting the move, the resulting events were seen as possessing immense symbolic significance.