Catherine Phillipson, Author at 332 Steps

What are the Westminster Chimes?

Or, why do so many churches ring the same tune?

Do you have bell ringers?

A sharp-eyed visitor noticed that our big bell might once have been rung with ropes.

Why do you have cloisters if you didn’t have monks?

I mean, they are very pretty but why put in all that effort if you’re not going to use the space.

Where are the monks?

When our visitors are told our cloisters are the largest in the UK it is reasonable that they ask “So where are the monks now?”

Why is Oak Apple Day being celebrated?

All together now: “Grovely! Grovely! Grovely! And All Grovely!” Oak Apple day or Royal Oak Day is the 29th of…

Is it the tallest spire in the world?

As I may have mentioned before, the trick when you are talking about -ests is to qualify them. Tall-est building? Tall-est cathedral? Tall-est in the world, Europe, the UK, England, Wiltshire? Tall-est spire made of stone?

How much does the cathedral weigh?

I believe this question might have been inspired by the movie “Up”.

Can you recommend some lighter reading?

If you are now yearning to read books containing the phrase “where five rivers meet” then here are some of the Salisbury-based books that were recommended to me.