Old Sarum, in Wiltshire, is a now-desolate hillfort run by English Heritage. But it was once one of the most important sites in southern England: so important that it had two members of Parliament. Then, it became a "rotten borough": and a warning about power. Thanks to English Heritage: more information and how to visit: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/old-sarum/ Research and script assistance from Jess Jewell Drone camera by Jamie Bellinger Edited by Michelle Martin: https://twitter.com/mrsmmartin Audio mix by Graham Haerther: https://haerther.net/ Filmed safely, following all local and national guidance: https://www.tomscott.com/safe/ SOURCES: Corfield, P. (2000). Power and the professions in Britain 1700-1850. London: Routledge. Dodsworth, W. (1814). An historical description of the cathedral church of Salisbury : including an account of the monuments, chiefly extracted from Gough's "Sepulchral Monuments," and other authentic documents : also, biographical memoirs of the Bishops of Salisbury, from the earliest period by W. Dodsworth, verger of the Cathedral English Heritage's own research page: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/old-sarum/history/research/ http://www.historyhome.co.uk/c-eight/constitu/parlrep.htm 🟥 MORE FROM TOM: https://www.tomscott.com/ (you can find contact details and social links there too) 📰 WEEKLY NEWSLETTER with good stuff from the rest of the internet: https://www.tomscott.com/newsletter/ ❓ LATERAL, free weekly podcast: https://lateralcast.com/ null ➕ TOM SCOTT PLUS: null 👥 THE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES: null