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A Quick Tour of the Castle

Walk through 400 years of history and discover the “Great stories of Sherborne Castle”.  See Nationally important collections of art, porcelain and furniture. History will come alive for you.

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A brief introduction to Sherborne Castle

Visitors from all over the world have been attracted to its outstanding collections of art and furniture, connection to Sir Walter Raleigh and to admire Capability Brown’s landscape. Sherborne Castle remains the family home of the Wingfield Digby Family.

12th Century

Sherborne in Dorset has had a castle since the 12th Century. Roger Bishop of Salisbury built a castle to the east of the Town to administer the western part of his large diocese.

12th Century
Early Tudor Times

In early Tudor times the Bishops built a small Hunting Lodge in the deer park attached to the Old Castle from which to observe the chase.

Early Tudor Times
1592

Sir Walter Raleigh acquired the Old Castle in 1592. 

1592
1594

At first he tried to modernise it, but then he built a new house in 1594 in the deer park. It was on the site of the Hunting Lodge which he incorporated into the foundations. His house was rectangular and four storeys high, with large square-headed windows filled with diamond pane glass.

1594
1600

In 1600 he added hexagonal turrets to the four corners of his house, topped with heraldic beasts. The house was rendered from the outset, in the latest fashion.

1600
1617

In 1617 the diplomat Sir John Digby acquired Sherborne Castle and he added four wings to Raleigh’s building, giving the house its present H-shape. He copied the style adopted by Raleigh, of square-headed windows, and balustraded roofs with heraldic beasts, and added hexagonal turrets at the end of each wing, so the house looks of one piece.

1617
Civil War

In the Civil War the Digbys fought for the Royalist cause and the Old Castle was garrisoned and suffered two sieges.

Civil War
1645

After the second siege in 1645 Col Fairfax and his Parliamentarian army systematically demolished the Old Castle. Thus the name ‘Sherborne Castle’ came to be applied to the new house in the park.

1645
1688

William of Orange visits the Castle during the Glorious Revolution and issues a proclamation here declaring himself King of England.

1688
Eighteenth Century

In the eighteenth century later generations of the Digby family modernised the Tudor house, adding Georgian sash windows, panelled doors and white marble fireplaces and filling the house with fine furniture.

Eighteenth Century
1753
Capability Brown commissioned to install a lake.
1753
1776-1778

Capability Brown returns to landscape the grounds.

1776-1778
1787-1789

In 1787 an extension was added to the west side of the house which provided more bedrooms and improved staff accommodation and kitchens.

1787-1789
1789
George III visited the castle with the Queen and three Princesses. They rode round the Park and dined with Lord and Lady Digby.
1789
1856
George Wingfield inherited the castle from his bachelor uncle, the last Earl Digby. George took the name and arms of Digby by royal licence and was the first Wingfield Digby owner.
1856
1856-1859
Philip Hardwick the architect updates the Castle.
1856-1859
1914
The castle was used as a Red Cross VAD Hospital for wounded soldiers. There were 27 beds, and 192 patients were treated.
1914
1942-1943
The Commandos were based at the Castle.
1942-1943
1969

In 1969, Sherborne Castle opened its doors to the general public.

1969
2017
Fossil house built to celebrate 400 years of ownership by the Digby Family.
2017

Opening Times

Gardens: 3rd April 2025
Castle: 2nd May 2025

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* Castle and Gardens tickets need to be purchased 48 hours before entry to qualify for the 10% discount, after that normal price.

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  • Sherborne Castle and Gardens, New Road, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 5NR Tel 01935 813182
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