Sherborne Castle


Click Photo for Gallery

New Road
Sherborne
Dorset
DT9 5NR

Tel: +44 (0)1935 812 072
+44 (0)1935 813 182 Ext.2 Estate Office enquiries
Fax: +44 (0)1935 816 727
Email: enquiries@sherbornecastle.com
Web: Attraction's Own Web Site

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The present Sherborne Castle was built by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1594 and has been the Stately Home of the Digby family since 1617. The Digby family added the four distinctive wings to the house in the 1620s and a Georgian extension of 1787 provided more accommodation and improved living facilities. Prince William of Orange was entertained here in 1688 and George III visited in 1789.

The State Rooms reflect a glorious variety of decorative styles from the great periods of English history: Tudor, Jacobean, Georgian and Victorian. There are splendid collections of art, furniture and porcelain. In the cellars the visitor can see 'finds' from the Old Castle, family artefacts and Raleigh's kitchen.

Capability Brown created the lake in 1753
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and gave Sherborne the very latest in landscape gardening. 30 acres of lakeside gardens with sweeping lawns, borders and majestic trees extend around the 50 acre lake in a perfect, rolling Capability Brown landscape.

Beside the lake are the 18th Century Orangery, 'Ginkgo' lawn and walled garden, whilst across it to the north the ground rises to reveal the ruins of Sherborne's old medieval castle, which succumbed to Cromwell's troops in 1645 during the Civil War. In World War I the Castle became a Red Cross Hospital for wounded soldiers and during World War II the Castle was Commando Headquarters for the D-Day landings.




  • Tearoom (morning coffees, light lunches, afternoon teas)



  • Toilets



  • Gift shop



  • Disabled access restricted to ground floor of Castle



  • Disabled access to garden not restricted (NB some steep slopes to certain areas, please ask for advice)



  • Ample free parking



  • Dogs on leads welcome with responsible owners


    • More Pictures
    (Click Photos for Gallery)
     
     

    Opening Times
    (2011 times)
    2nd April to 3oth October:
    Daily except Mondays and Fridays 11.00am - 4.30pm (last admission).

    NB On Saturdays, castle interior opens later at 2.00pm
    Open on Bank Holiday Mondays.

    Admission Charges
    (2011 prices)
    Gardens:
    Adult (no concessions) £5.00; Child (0-15yrs) free.

    Castle and Garden:
    Adult £9.50; Senior Citizen £9.00; Child (0-15yrs) Free.

    Group discount rates on application.

    Directions
    3/4 mile from Sherborne town centre; postcode DT9 5NR

    By Car: follow brown tourism signs from A30/A352
    By Rail: Sherborne Station 1/2 mile; South West Trains
    Show map of Sherborne Castle...

    Sherborne Castle Postcode for SatNav: DT9 5NR

    Nearby Attractions
    Sherborne Old Castle (< 1 Mile)*
    Built by Bishop Roger of Salisbury in the 12th century as a strongly defended palace, Sherborne Old Castle became a powerful Royalist base during the Civil War.
    Sherborne Museum (1 Mile)*
    Sherborne Museum, with over 15,000 items of local history, is in the heart of the town close to five of the most ancient buildings in its history: the Abbey, Sherborne School, the Almshouse, the Conduit and the Old Church House.
    Minterne Gardens (7 Miles)*
    The Minterne Valley, landscaped in the manner of Capability Brown in the 18th century, has been the home of the Churchill and Digby families for over 350 years.
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    * Distances shown are in a direct line. Distances by road will be longer.

    Nearby Hotels
    Eastbury Hotel (1 Mile)*
    In Georgian days, the Eastbury was a private residence. It is now an elegant hotel with a peaceful garden and excellent food, offering free parking.
    Sherborne Hotel (1 Mile)*
    Surrounded by pleasant lawns and mature trees, this attractive modern property located a few minutes' walk from the centre of the historic North Dorset market town.
    Globe & Crown (Formerly Globetrotters) (6 Miles)*
    Centrally located in the market town of Yeovil, this friendly, privately-run hotel provides good access to Devon and the South-West. The Westland Conference and Leisure Complex is also less than 5 minutes' drive away.
    more hotels near Sherborne Castle ...
    * Distances shown are in a direct line. Distances by road will be longer.

    Nearby Self Catering
    Jasmine Cottage (8 Miles)*
    Jasmine Cottage and Rose Cottage are two self-catering cottages, each sleeping 3 people. The single-storey cottages are located in the grounds of the owners' 15th century thatched cottage in the peaceful hamlet of Newton.
    Birds Nest (9 Miles)*
    The Birds Nest has been converted from a traditional cow byre, to provide comfortable holiday accommodation, which retaines the charm of a country cottage.
    Dairy House Farm Cottages (9 Miles)*
    Dairy House Farm Cottages consist of four Self-Catering holiday cottages situated in the Blackmore Vale an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty nestling under Bulbarrow Hill (second highest point in Dorset.
    Your property could be here
    Advertising your self catering property or holiday cottage on AboutBritain.com will get you noticed by thousands of potential guests every day.
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    * Distances shown are in a direct line. Distances by road will be longer.

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