In September, The Arts Society Salisbury will be taking a walk around Bugmore or ‘Boggy Moor’.

This was a marshy area to the south of the city that for 300 years was the site of a Franciscan Friary operated by the Grey Friars.

Demolished by Henry VIII and now only obliquely referred to in street names, its former importance deserves our attention today.

In the early 17th century, the area was also the site of a workhouse and, when the new workhouse was built in Crane Street, it became a pest house to care for victims of epidemics such as plague, smallpox and cholera.

Nearby can be seen a medieval red light district, a modern almshouse, and a Victorian Catholic church.

The walk will also look briefly at the work of Gothic revivalist AWG Pugin, who began his architectural career in Salisbury.

The society’s 2024 lecture series has now been confirmed

The programme which gives details of all the talks will be available in the Information Centre and library from September.

A variety of subjects will be discussed, including Making Sense of Portraits in Country Houses; The Legacy of The Beatles: Here, There and Everywhere; Art & The Atlantic Slave Trade – Perspectives from England; and the ‘Wild Men of the North’: Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven Canadian artists.

The next lecture and will be on October 10 when Douglas Skeggs’ subject will be David Hockney – The Old Master of the Modern World.

From the early abstract expressionist images, to the photo-montages of the mid-80s, this talk follows the career of an artist whose wit and imagination have never faltered.

All lectures are held at St Francis Church, Beatrice Road, Salisbury and start at 1.50pm.

If you would like further information, please see the website: www.theartssocietysalisbury.org.uk and Facebook, search for The Arts Society Salisbury.

If you wish to telephone: 01722 331216.