The height of Our Lady steeple at Salisbury was never found so little
as 400 foot, and never more than 406 foot, by the observations of
Thom. Nash, surveyor of the workes of this church: but Colonell John
Wyndham did take the height more accurately, An° 1684, by a
barometer: sc. the height of the weather-dore of Our Lady Church
steeple at Salisbury from the ground is 4280 inches. The mercury
subsided in that height 42/100 of an inch. He affirms that the height
of the said steeple is 404 foot, which he hath tryed severall times;
and by the help of his barometer, which is accurately made according
to his direction, he will with great facility take the height of any
mountain: quod N.B. [Col. Wyndham's measurement has been adopted as
correct by most authors who have written on the subject since.- J. B.]
Memorandum. About 1669 or 1670 Bishop Ward invited Sir Christopher
Wren to Salisbury, out of curiosity, to survey the church there, as to
the steeple, architecture, &c. He was above a weeke about it, and
writt a sheet or a sheet and a halfe, an account of it, which he
presented to the bishop. I asked the bishop since for it, and he told
me he had lent it, to whom he could not tell, and had no copy of it.
'Tis great pity the paines of so great an artist should be lost. Sir
Christopher tells me he hath no copie of it neither.
This year, 1691, Mr. Anth. Wood tells me, he hath gott a transcript of
Sir Chr. Wren's paper; which obtain, and insert here.
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