How a deserted, uninhabited hill became England's most notorious parliamentary rotten borough

Cultures · Published 10 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Old Sarum was once a thriving medieval fortress and cathedral city, but by the 17th century, it was effectively empty. Despite having no residents, it retained the right to elect two members to Parliament until 1832, turning this ghost town into a symbol of political corruption and systemic inequality.

The site of Old Sarum, located in Wiltshire, has been a focal point of human activity for millennia. Prehistoric settlements date back to 3000 BC, followed by an Iron Age hillfort established around 400 BC. The location saw successive occupations by Romans, Saxons, and Normans, the latter constructing a motte-and-bailey castle and a cathedral. At its peak, the site housed a royal palace used by Henry I and his successors, serving as a vital administrative and ecclesiastical hub.

The decline of Old Sarum was driven by intense friction between the clergy and the military garrison. Clerics complained of restricted access, harsh winds, and water shortages, eventually securing papal approval to relocate to the nearby plain. As the new city of Salisbury grew in the 13th century, the old town was systematically dismantled for stone. By 1322, Edward II ordered the castle's demolition, and by the 17th century, the site was largely abandoned.

Despite its physical decay, Old Sarum's political status persisted. As a pocket borough of the Pitt family, it continued to send two representatives to the House of Commons. By 1831, the borough had only eleven voters, all non-resident landowners. This absurdity made it the most famous of the rotten boroughs, eventually leading to its inclusion in the Reform Act 1832. Today, the site is a protected monument, while the name has been repurposed for modern housing developments nearby.

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