Old Sarum Cathedral

Old Sarum Cathedral was a Roman Catholic and Norman cathedral at old Salisbury, now known as Old Sarum between 1092 and 1220. Only its foundations remain, in the northwest quadrant of the circular outer bailey of the site, which is located near modern Salisbury, Wiltshire, in the United Kingdom. The cathedral was the seat of the bishops of Salisbury during the early Norman period and the original source of the Sarum Rite.

At its greatest extent, the Norman cathedral was 185 feet (56 m) from end to end, smaller than most of the cathedrals being constructed at the time. Built in the standard cruciform shape, the building had a nave of seven bays with cross-shaped piers, an apse and a central crossing tower, as well as several peripheral chapels.

The cathedral's six altars comprised the high altar; the altars of St Martin, St Nicholas, and All Saints at the end of the central nave; and the altars of the Holy Cross (the parish altar) and St Stephen against the pulpit.

During the Norman conquest of England following his 1066 victory at Hastings, King William I used Old Sarum (itself known at the time by variants of "Saresbury" or "Salisbury") as a base of operations. It was a strong fortress on a high hill surrounded by a massive wall. In 1075, the Council of London translated Herman to Old Sarum as Seriberiensis episcopus, "bishop of Seribury". The see was a new foundation, uniting the former dioceses of Sherborne and Ramsbury. (Herman's initial choice for his seat had been at Malmesbury, but this plan had been blocked by the local monks and Earl Godwin.) Its district covered the counties of Dorset, Wiltshire, and Berkshire.

...
Wikipedia