Sherborne Accommodation

Sherborne Abbey foundedin the 8th century!
Sherborne holds regular markets selling local produce
Beautiful golden stone character buildings in the centre of Sherborne
Sherborne's Tourist Information Centre is the starting point for guided walks of the town
Markets are regularly held in the market square
The medieval quarter of Sherborne
Sherborne's historic centre is not mothballed but in constant use
Sherborne Old Castle just outside the town centre
Plenty of shopping opportunities in Sherborne

Sherborne Tourist Information

Sherborne is an historic market town in north west Dorset near the border with Somerset. In fact, many of the town's historic buildings are similar to those of South Somerset where they're built from the golden yellow Ham Stone.

Sherborne is an excellent base for historic buildings, shopping and exploring the wider countryside as it sits on the edge of Blackmore Vale - the beautiful green valley around the River Stour that was the setting in Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles. Hardy renamed Sherborne as "Sherton Abbas" in his books.

Featured Dorset Accommodation

Bluebell Cottage - Henstridge

Henstridge cottage for hire with cot & highchair, off road parking for 2 cars, shared garden, private patio, no pets or smoking. Ideal for couples, sleeps 2

£141 to £355 Per week. A £34 booking fee applies to this cottage

Sherborne Attractions

Sherborne has its roots in Saxon times from which it gets its name originating from the Saxon for clear stream. It was a capital of the old Kingdom of Wessex and two of the Saxon King's are buried in Sherborne Abbey. The town is fantastic for a range of historic architecture spanning medieval through to Georgian. Around the Abbey you'll find a cluster of fifteenth century buildings and on the outskirts are the two castles Sherborne Castle set around a Capability Brown lake and the ruins of Sherborne Old Castle. The almshouses of St John the Baptist & St John the Evangelist were built in 1438 and later extended by the Victorians although it's hard to tell as their extension mimicked the medieval style architecture.

You can pick up Blue Badge guided tours of the town at the Tourist Information Centre every Friday at 11am. Walks lasts around one and half hours and a small fee is charged.

Sherborne Tourist Information Centre, 3 Tilton Court, Digby Road, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3NL. Tel: 01935 815341. Fax: 01935 817210. Email: sherborne.tic@westdorset-dc.gov.uk

The town itself is fantastic for an eclectic range of specialist and boutique shops. Antique shops are in abundance and there are regular antique fairs and auctions. Sherborne continues its market town role through regular markets every Thursday and Saturday, where you can pick up a whole range of fresh Dorset produce as well as the monthly Farmers Markets on the third Friday in the month.

Sherborne Museum

To find out more about the local history try Sherborne Museum in the heart of Sherborne's historic centre.

The museum holds a huge array of items detailing the local history of the area including models of how the Old Castle would have looked before it fell into ruin, a wall painting dating from 1480 that was only discovered in 1962 under layers of paint and paper in a medieval house in the town and displays spanning the centuries including photographic and costume collections.

Check the weblink right for the latest opening times.

Sherborne Museum, Church Lane, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 3BP. Tel: 01935 812252. Email: info@sherbornemuseum.co.uk.

Sherborne Abbey

Sherborne Abbey was founded in AD705 by St Aldheim and originates from a Saxon Cathedral that was the central cathedral of the twenty six Saxon Bishops of Wessex.

Within the church you can see the oldest vaulted fan in the country. King Ethelred and King Ethelbert, the elder brothers of Alfred the Great, are both buried in the Abbey as is Lord John Digby whose family have lived in Sherborne New Castle since 1617. You'll see his tomb marked by an elaborate marble effigy.

The Abbey hosts the annual Sherborne Abbey Festival, a festival of classical music that is organised by volunteers in the town. It is usually held in May each year and you can find out more about the current year's festival from the Abbey website, link right.

Sherborne Abbey, Abbey Close, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3LQ. Tel: 01935 812452. Fax: 01935 812206.

Sherborne Castles

Sherborne Old Castle was built in the twelfth century by Bishop Roger of Salisbury as a defended palace that became a powerful Royalist base during the Civil War. It finally fell in 1645 after a fierce eleven day siege led by General Fairfax during the English Civil War.

English Heritage now manages the ruins of the castle and are open to visitors. Check the link right for opening times, admission fees and details of access. Sherborne Old Castle, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 3SA. Tel: 01935 812730.

Sherborne New Castle isn't all that new. It was originally a medieval hunting lodge within the deer park of Sherborne Old Castle. Sir Walter Raleigh fell in love with it and petitioned Elizabeth I to persuade the Church who owned it to transfer it to the Crown. This they did and Raleigh was granted a 99 year lease and was where he intended spending his retirement with his wife. He set upon modernising the Old Castle but decided to build a new home on the site of the old hunting lodge. The New Castle dates from 1594 and a stained glass window bears his initials. Unfortunately his plans were cut short after only nine years of living here when James I ordered his execution. The Castle was then bought by Sir John Digby in 1617 whose family have lived here ever since.

The castle is open to visitors from March to October on Tues-Thurs and Bank Holiday Mondays. You can tour round the castle and gardens with its lake that was created by Capability Brown in 1753. There is a shop and tearoom on the site or you can take your own picnic. There is also a varied programme of events throughout the year - check the weblink right for lots more information. You can also purchase a "Double Take" ticket which gives you admission to both castles.

Sherborne Golf Club

Sherborne has its own golf club on the outskirts of the town. Sherborne Golf Club is an eighteen hole parkland course with spectacular views across Blackmore Vale. The Club was formed in1894 as Blackmore Vale Golf Club. From the course you can see as far as Glastonbury Tor and Cheddar on a clear day.

Visitors are welcome, contact the Pro Shop for booking details Tel: 01935 812274.

Sherborne Golf Club, Higher Clatcombe, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 4RN. Tel: 01935 814431. Fax: 01935 814218. Email: secretary@sherbornegolfclub.co.uk

Featured Dorset Accommodation

Bluebell Cottage - Henstridge

Henstridge cottage for hire with cot & highchair, off road parking for 2 cars, shared garden, private patio, no pets or smoking. Ideal for couples, sleeps 2

£141 to £355 Per week. A £34 booking fee applies to this cottage