Local Study- Sherborne

Part 1: Saxon Sherborne

Sherborne’s name comes from the Saxon words Scir Burn meaning a clear brook or stream. 

Settled during Roman times, Sherborne was the gateway to rich lands lying to the west of the dense forest of Penselwood with water meadows.  The Saxons sought safety here from the invading Danes and by AD 705 a Saxon cathedral was founded here by Aldhelm, who was appointed the first bishop of Western Wessex. 

Alfred the Great may well have been schooled in the Cathedral where his brothers Ethelbert and Ethelbald are buried. It is likely that Alfred would have been present at their funerals, or would have at least visited their resting places. He would have been about eleven years old at the time of the first death, and about sixteen at the time of the second. It is also possible that a third brother of Alfred was buried at Sherborne as well.

It was the most important ecclesiastical location in an area covering Dorset, Devon and Cornwall. One of Anglo-Saxon history’s most important characters, Asser, King Alfred’s companion and “biographer” became bishop here. In order to understand the importance of Sherborne in Alfred’s time it is important to appreciate that it had a huge diocese, created by King Ine of Wessex in 705, that extended all the way down to Land’s End in Cornwall. The Abbey still has Saxon elements despite much of the earlier church being demolished by Roger of Caen to be replaced by a larger Norman one. As you walk around Sherborne, it is easy to be unaware of just how important this place would have been. It must have been one of the most important places in Wessex, perhaps even the most important, in a period before Winchester would be able to claim that title. 

Part 2: A Norman Castle in Sherborne

Sherborne old castle was built by Roger, Bishop of Salisbury, at the end of the Norman period between 1122-1135. 

Part 3: Tudor Sherborne

Famous Tudor, Sir Walter Raleigh owned and lived in both of the castles in Sherborne.

www.exploringbuildinghistory.co.uk/sir-walter-raleigh-in-dorset-part-1-the-rising-courtier-at-old-sherborne-castle/  

www.sherbornecastle.com/castles-in-dorset/ 

Sherborne has many examples of well-preserved Tudor architecture, including half-timbered buildings on Cheap Street and an Almshouse built in the 15th Centaury.

Part 4: War-time Sherborne

Although Sherborne was not a prominent target during World War II, the town did suffer an air raid on 30th September 1940. The intended main target for the raid had been the Westland Aircraft factory at Yeovil, but due to cloud cover, the target was missed that day and instead, the bombs were dropped on Sherborne. The town sustained substantial damage and a number of buildings were destroyed. Bombs fell near to Sherborne Abbey, but apart from broken windows the Abbey was not damaged. However, eighteen people were killed. Their names are recorded at the town’s war memorial by the Abbey alongside those of 29 American soldiers.

On the 30th March 1944 there was an accident in the grounds of US Army Hospital 228th Camp Unit near Sherborne. A truck rolled over a live mine, whilst the troops were recovering mines at the end of a mine-laying exercise. The colossal explosion hit C Company. In 1989 a plaque was placed outside Sherborne Abbey to honour those killed.

During World War II, Sherborne Castle served as Commando Headquarters for the D-Day landings.