Many of Salisbury’s most important buildings and institutions began life in Fisherton.

Hospitals, railway stations, prisons, theatres, gasworks and malthouses, inns and housing – all things vital to Salisbury’s wellbeing...

Fisherton is Salisbury’s older neighbour.

It was a village at least 150 years before the city of New Sarum was first laid out in the 13th century.

The original settlement probably lay along what is now Mill Road, between the station and the river.

Here was its church and although it was demolished more than a century ago, the graveyard remains lovingly maintained as ‘The Secret Garden’.

When Salisbury arrived next door the people of Fisherton sensed a good thing.

They found themselves in between the two most important towns in South Wiltshire, Salisbury and Wilton, and the road connecting them was ripe for commercial development.

Later on, in 1578, the County Gaol for Wiltshire was built next to Fisherton Bridge and later still, in 1771, the Infirmary opened nearby.

Progress of a different sort turned all Salisbury eyes on Fisherton in 1856-7, with the building of railway stations. Now Fisherton Street linked Salisbury to the outside world!

It is unfortunate that some of the wonderful buildings presented to us by our Victorian/Edwardian predecessors have been demolished and it seems unbelievable that as late as the 1970s, the wonderful green façade of the present day Foxtrot vintage cloths shop was down for demolition.

There are a few tickets remaining for two Salisbury History Festival guided walks on Bank Holiday Monday 10.30am and 2pm: ‘Historic Fisherton’also includes a special tour of the Freemasons’ Hall in Crane Street.

Tickets from the History Bookshop next to Fisherton Mill.

On Thursday August 26, Neil Leacy will present historic film of old Salisbury at Salisbury Museum, 7.30pm. Tickets available from the Rocketship Bookshop, Bridge Street.

 

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