Which cathedral in England has the world’s oldest working cathedral clock, installed around 1386?

Salisbury Cathedral has the world’s oldest working cathedral clock, installed around 1386.

The clock is a remarkable medieval mechanism with no conventional clock face. It strikes the hours using a bell and was probably made for the earlier cathedral at Old Sarum before being moved to the new cathedral at Salisbury. Its surviving iron frame and machinery provide an exceptional record of medieval timekeeping.

Salisbury Cathedral itself was built mainly between 1220 and 1258 after the episcopal seat moved from Old Sarum. The church is a major example of Early English Gothic architecture and has an unusually coherent design because it was constructed comparatively quickly.

The clock should not be confused with Salisbury’s famous spire, which is the tallest church spire in the United Kingdom. The clock’s importance lies in its age and continued operation, while the spire is a separate architectural record.