Of all the houses in the Close this was the only one tied to a particular office. In 1277, when Robert of Wykhampton became Bishop, he assigned this canonical house to Walter Scammel, his successor as Dean and his successors in perpetuity. With the exception of a break during the Commonwealth this continued until 1922. Then the Dean, no doubt feeling the pressure for expansion from the Diocesan Training College, in the King`s House next door, sought a smaller and more manageable residence on the Bishop`s Walk, on the east side of the Close.

In 1592, whilst at an evensong in February, John Farrant Snr. the Organist and Choirmaster, took it into his head to attempt to murder Dean John Bridges. Leaving the choir he made his way out of the cathedral and across to the Deanery where he found the Dean at his desk. Drawing a knife he made to stab the Dean but the latter perceiving the threat jumped up, dashed upstairs, and locked himself in a bedroom. Frustrated in his design, Farrant returned to the choir and took it through the remainder of the service. It was several days before the Chapter summoned Farrant before them to answer for his actions, but being a man of intemperate character he declined to appear or apologise. The case was held over and in the meantime John Farrant disappeared, turning up to apply for the post of Organist and Choirmaster at Hereford Cathedral some weeks later.

J.M.W.Turner in a painting, which is one of five by the artist owned by the Salisbury Museum, has shown the North Porch of the cathedral. In the background one can see the gate and roof of the old deanery. Turner visited Salisbury between 1795 and 1811 to make a series of paintings of the city and cathedral for Sir Richard Colt Hoare.

The architecture of the medieval buildings, is described in detail by Norman Drinkwater in the Journal of the Society of Antiquaries of London Vol XLIV, in 1964, and also by Margaret Wood in "The English Mediaeval House". There were many alterations made in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and it was incorporated into the College of Sarum St. Michael in 1922.

After World War II the additional buildings, now private flats, were added and it was whilst occupying a first floor flat, overlooking the cathedral's west front, that Susan Howatch began her series of "Starbridge" novels. When the College was dissolved in 1978 there were plans to demolish the older buildings. Happily the oldest part of the deanery was saved and restored, to become the Medieval Hall where the Summer visitor may find refreshment and entertainment.

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Text by John Bushell - Photographs by Roger Croft
Extracts from the Salisbury Cathedral Close Guide - © Copyright, Close Publications 1997