Unusual Facts & Figures

• The Cathedral was built in just 38 years (AD1220-1258)
• 60,000 tons of Chilmark Stone and 10,000 tons of Purbeck Stone were used to build the Cathedral
• 28,000 tons of oak were used to construct the roof
• 420 tons of lead covering 4 acres were used on the roof
• Britain's tallest spire (123m/404ft) was built between AD1310-1333 adding another 6,500 tons
• The spire now leans 69.85cm (27.5ins) to the south and 44.44cm (17.5ins) to the west
• The best preserved of only four surviving original Magna Carta (AD1215) is on display in the Chapter House
• Europe's oldest working clock (AD1386), now situated in the north nave aisle, used to be located in the Bell Tower (demolished in 1789). It has "ticked" more than 5 million times since it was first built
• Salisbury has the largest Cathedral Close in Britain (80 acres)
• It has Britain's largest Cathedral Cloisters
• The Quire stalls are the largest and earliest complete set in Britain
• It is reputed that there are 365 (the number of days in a year) windows and 8760 (the number of hours in a year) marble pillars
• The Close gates are locked from 11.30pm every night through until 7am next morning
• The first Cathedral School was founded by Bishop Osmund in 1091 at Old Sarum - the original settlement site for Salisbury
• Salisbury was the first Cathedral to have a girls' choir - founded in 1991
• There are 67 statues on the West Front
• A dead rat which carried traces of arsenic was found inside the skull of William Longespée when his tomb was opened centuries later