Some interesting facts about Salisbury Cathedral:
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
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