Sherborne facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sherborne
Market town
Sherborne Abbey
Sherborne
Population	Expression error: "String Module Error: Target string is empty" must be numeric ()
OS grid reference	ST638165
• London	124 mi (200 km)
Civil parish	Sherborne
Unitary authority	Dorset
Ceremonial county	Dorset
Region	South West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Sherborne
Postcode district	DT9
Dialling code	01935
Police	Dorset
Fire	Dorset
Ambulance	South Western
EU Parliament	South West England
UK Parliament	West Dorset
List of places UK England Dorset 50°56′49″N 2°31′02″W / 50.9469°N 2.5171°W / 50.9469; -2.5171

Sherborne is a historic market town and civil parish located in the northwest of Dorset, South West England. It sits by the River Yeo, at the edge of the Blackmore Vale, about 6 kilometers east of Yeovil. The town also includes the small areas of Nether Coombe and Lower Clatcombe. The main A30 road, which connects London to Penzance, goes through Sherborne. In 2021, the town had a population of 10,361 people.

Sherborne is famous for its old buildings. These include Sherborne Abbey, a grand church, and several independent schools. It also has two castles: the remains of a very old 12th-century fortified palace and a beautiful 16th-century mansion called Sherborne Castle. This mansion was built by the famous explorer Sir Walter Raleigh. Many of the town's old buildings, including the abbey, are made from a special yellow stone called ochre-coloured ham stone.

The town is easy to reach by train, as it has its own Sherborne railway station.

What's in a Name?

The town's name, Sherborne, comes from the Saxon words scir burne. This means "clear stream." It was named after a small brook that flows through the middle of the town. This name was even mentioned in the old Domesday Book, a survey of England from 1086.

A Glimpse into Sherborne's Past

The Conduit, an old water feature in Sherborne.

Sherborne has a long and interesting history. In 705 AD, the area's church system was divided. King Ine then founded an abbey in Sherborne for St Aldhelm, who became the first Bishop of Sherborne. This abbey covered a large area, including Dorset, Somerset, and Devon.

Two of King Alfred the Great's older brothers, King Æthelbald and King Æthelberht, are buried in Sherborne Abbey. The large Sherborne church area lasted until about 909 AD. At that time, it was split further, with Sherborne only covering Dorset.

In 1075, the bishop's main church moved to Old Sarum. The church in Sherborne then became a Benedictine monastery, a place where monks lived and prayed. In 1437, a fire damaged the Abbey after some disagreements between the town and the monastery. However, much of the original Norman building still stands today. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539, the monastery buildings were bought by Sir John Horsey and became the local parish church.

Castles and Famous Residents

In the 12th century, Roger de Caen, who was a bishop and a powerful official, built a strong, fortified palace in Sherborne. During the English Civil War, this palace was destroyed in 1645 by General Fairfax's army. Its ruins are now looked after by English Heritage.

Later, in 1594, the famous explorer and writer Sir Walter Raleigh built a new, grand mansion. This mansion was built on the same land as the old palace. Today, it is known as Sherborne Castle.

Sherborne was also home to Captain Christopher Levett. He was an early explorer of New England in America. He lived in Sherborne after working for the King in Somerset.

How Sherborne is Governed

Sherborne is part of the West Dorset parliamentary constituency for the UK national parliament. This means people in Sherborne vote for a Member of Parliament (MP) to represent them in the government. As of 2024, the MP for this area is Edward Morello.

For local matters, Sherborne is part of the Dorset unitary authority. This is the highest level of local government. Sherborne elects two members to the Dorset Council. These members represent the areas called Sherborne East and Sherborne West.

At a more local level, Sherborne has a civil parish council. This council has 12 members and calls itself the Sherborne Town Council. They help manage local services and community matters for the town.

Coat of arms of Arms of Sherborne Town Council

Notes Registered 1986 Crest Out of an Ancient Crown Or a double headed and twin-tailed Wyvern displayed Argent armed and langued Gules. Torse Argent and Azure Supporters On either side a Griffin segreant reguardant the aquiline parts Argent beaked and gorged with an Ancient Crown Or the leonine parts also Or armed and langued Gules. Motto Soli Deo Honor Et Gloria (To God Alone Be Honour And Glory)

Schools in Sherborne

Education has been important in Sherborne for a very long time. There has been a school here since the time of King Alfred, who himself was educated in the town.

Independent Schools

• Sherborne School: This school was re-founded in 1550 as King Edward's grammar school. It used some of the old abbey buildings. Today, it's known simply as Sherborne School. It is one of Britain's well-known independent schools. Many famous people have studied here, including Alan Turing, Jeremy Irons, and Chris Martin. The school also runs Sherborne International, which helps students from other countries learn about the British public school system.

• Leweston School: This school started in 1891. It was originally a boarding school for girls. In 1948, the senior school moved to the Leweston Manor estate. It became fully co-educational (for both boys and girls) between 2018 and 2021.

• Sherborne School for Girls: Often called Sherborne Girls, this school was founded in 1895. Famous former students include opera singer Emma Kirkby.

• Sherborne Preparatory School: This school is located across from Sherborne School. Many of its students go on to attend either Sherborne School or Sherborne Girls.

Other Schools

Until 1992, there were also two grammar schools in Sherborne: Foster's School for Boys and Lord Digby's School for Girls. These schools later joined with another local school to form The Gryphon School.

The town also has two primary schools for younger children: Sherborne Abbey Primary School and Sherborne Primary School.

Sherborne House, a historic building in Sherborne.

Local News and Radio

Sherborne has its own local radio station called Abbey104. This is a community-based station that broadcasts to the town and nearby areas in Dorset and Somerset.

For local news, the town's newspapers are the Sherborne Mercury and the Dorset Echo.

Amazing Historic Buildings

Sherborne is full of old and interesting buildings. There are 378 buildings in the town that are officially "listed." This means they are protected because of their historical importance. Among these, 14 are Grade I listed, which is the highest level of protection.

Notable Structures

• St Johns' Almshouses: These almshouses were founded in 1437 to provide housing for the poor. The building was finished in 1448. It was expanded in 1866 and still provides homes today.

St Johns' Almshouses, a historic place of residence.

• The Abbey Gatehouse: This was once the main entrance to the old Benedictine monastery. After the monastery was closed, the building was sold. Since 1966, it has been home to the Sherborne Museum.

• Sherborne House: This building was designed by Benjamin Bastard. It is famous for a large painting (mural) by Sir James Thornhill. In 2004, it was featured on the BBC's Restoration TV show.

Other important old buildings include the Hospice of St Julian, built in 1405. Also, No. 101 Newland was built in 1297, making it very old! St Emerenciana's Chapel (now Nethercoombe Farm) was built in the late 14th century. The Conduit was originally built in 1520 in the Abbey Cloister as a washing place for the monks. It was moved to the market place in 1560.

Churches in Sherborne

The United Reformed and Methodist Church, seen from Cheap Street.

The most well-known church in Sherborne is Sherborne Abbey, which is the main Church of England parish church. St Paul's Church is another Church of England church, located in the northeast of the town. The Bishop of Sherborne is a special bishop who helps the main Bishop of Salisbury.

There is also a Catholic church in Sherborne, called the Church of The Sacred Heart and St Aldhelm. It is located on Westbury.

Cheap Street Church is a shared church for both the Methodist and United Reformed groups. It was originally a Methodist church, built in stages during the mid-to-late 19th century.

Sherborne's Population Over Time

In 2011, about 28.7% of the people living in Sherborne were aged 65 or older.

Famous People from Sherborne

Several notable people have connections to Sherborne:

• Mike Davis: A rugby player and coach who played for the England team.
• John Hyatt (1767-1826): An important nonconformist pastor and missionary.
• Rev Sir James Marchant: A social reformer who died in Sherborne in 1956.
• Andrew Simpson (1976–2013): An Olympic sailor who lived in the town.
• Michael Walford: An Olympic field hockey player who lived and worked in Sherborne for many years.

Environment and Community Efforts

Sherborne has a very active community that cares about the environment. There are several groups in the area focused on protecting nature and promoting sustainability.

The Quarr Local Nature Reserve, at the north end of town, is a good example. It uses an old quarry and landfill site for nature. Sherborne also became an official Transition Town in 2009. This means the community works together on projects and events to respond to climate change and other environmental challenges.

Pack Monday Fair

For many centuries, Sherborne has hosted a special annual street fair called Pack Monday Fair. It starts on the Monday after October 10th. Originally, it was a fair for farming goods. Today, it's a fun event with many stalls, sideshows, and a funfair for everyone to enjoy.

Sports and Fun Activities

Sherborne has various sports clubs for people to join. There is a non-League football club called Sherborne Town FC. The town also has a cricket club (Sherborne CC) and a rugby club, Sherborne RFC.

Sherborne's International Connections

Sherborne is a founding member of the Douzelage. This is a special group of 24 towns across the European Union that are twinned with each other. This active program started in 1991. There are regular events, like markets where goods from other countries are sold, and festivals. This helps people from different countries connect and learn about each other.

The towns in the Douzelage include:

Did you know that Sherbourne Street, Toronto and the Sherbourne (TTC) subway station in Toronto, Canada, were named after this town? This is because Thomas Ridout, an important official from Upper Canada and a resident of Toronto, was born in Sherborne.

Images for kids

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  Sherborne Abbey

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  The Conduit

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  Sherborne House

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  St Johns' Almshouses

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  United Reformed and Methodist Church

See also

In Spanish: Sherborne para niños