THE historic offices of the Church of England in Salisbury are to be sold as staff move into alternative accommodation in Wilton, Stourpaine and Sarum College.

The building in Crane Street, Salisbury, which was once a workhouse, is no longer suitable for the needs of the Diocese of Salisbury which, in common with many organisations, has seen changes to patterns of work and meetings in recent years.

The Diocese is also seeking to reduce its carbon footprint and achieve the ambitious Church of England’s net zero by 2030 target.

Many of the 38 diocesan staff are moving to share the purpose-built accommodation of the Diocesan Board of Education, which supports the Church of England’s schools across Wiltshire and Dorset, based close to Wilton’s park and ride. Some staff will work across the diocese, using locations at Stourpaine in Dorset, and Sarum College in Salisbury.

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The origins of the building on Crane Street date back to the 15th century, when it was built as a private home for the Audley family.

The building operated as the Salisbury parish workhouse from 1634.

It was threatened with demolition according to a newspaper report in 1881, which said the Town Council was offering the building for sale, on condition, “that the purchaser should pull the building down and erect something new on its site, setting it back so as to allow the street being made wider and a new bridge being erected".

Fortunately, it was saved by the Church of England, whose administrative offices have remained in the building to this day.

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The old building boasts some significant features, including a large archway and carriage through-way and, to the West, a 15th century Hall with a fine timber roof and four carved corbels, a Solar Undercroft with a stone privy projecting over the site of the Close Ditch and above it the Solar (a room designed as the family’s private living quarters) with a late 16th century plaster ceiling.  

David Pain, chief executive of the Diocese of Salisbury, said: “This is a fabulous old building, right at the heart of Salisbury and close to the Cathedral, but with staff now working across the whole diocese, it is no longer a practical base for the team.

“The Diocese of Salisbury, as part of the Church of England, is committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions and the move will also help us to achieve that goal. We hope a purchaser will come forward to take this fabulous building, which has so much history, into a new future.”