VISIT SHERBORNE OLD CASTLE WITH ENGLISH HERITAGE MEMBERSHIP
- Up to 6 Kids go free
- Free Parking at English Heritage
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TICKETS & PRICES
Adults: £7.60
Children 5-17 Years: £4.60
Families (2 adults, up to 3 Children): £19.80
Families (1 adult, up to 3 Children): £12.20
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The awe-inspiring ruins of this enclosure castle include a gatehouse and a once-covered passageway to the Watergate. There is a small shop for souvenirs, a vending machine with light refreshments, and visitors are welcome to picnic within the ruins.
If visiting during July and August, be on the lookout for "Lady Betty's Pinks"--named after Sir Raleigh's wife--flowering throughout the site.
Visiting Sherborne Old Castle
Parking
A dedicated car park with 20 spaces is available about 200 metres (656.17 feet) from the castle entrance.
Parking is free for English Heritage members - charges apply for non-members.
Free roadside parking is available along Castleton Road.
There is no coach access to the site - passenger set-down/pick-up point by Castleton Road on the A30.
Price
Adult entry w/ donation - £6.50, w/o donation - £5.90
Child (5-17 years) w/ donation - £3.90, w/o donation - £3.50
Concession and Family pricing available on official website
Free entry for English Heritage Members
Opening
The site is open from 10 am-5 pm, Tuesdays thru Sundays, from March through October
Advanced booking is now required - Read the English Heritage ticketing FAQ before booking
Location & Access
From the B3145, half a mile east of Sherborne, off the A30
Castleton, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 3SA
Note: Signage for New Sherborne is also posted in the town centre - read carefully when approaching the site to avoid confusion.
Know Before You Go
- Castle grounds are open - all indoor areas remain closed INCLUDING TOILETS - public toilets available on New Road (10-minute walk from site)
- Safety measures in place and the number of guests are limited - visits must be booked in advance
- Dogs on leads are welcome
- English Heritage does not allow drone flying on any of its sites without explicit permission
History of Sherborne Old Castle
The diocese where Sherborne Old Castle was built was established approximately 400 years prior to its construction, and the site's earliest identified deposits include the remains of a 9th-century Christian cemetery.
(Time Line)
-1120s (Castle Built)
Roger de Caen, Bishop of Salisbury, commenced construction of Sherborne Castle to protect the area's thriving episcopal estate. Conflicting records note 1120 and 1122 as starting dates, with some suggesting his fortified palace was built "at some point" after 1107 when his bishopric was consecrated. Regardless, the building took 15 years to complete and appears to have been finished by 1135.
Notably, Roger also served as a principal advisor to King Henry I and as the Abbot of Sherborne; he relinquished in abbacy in 1122 but retained the castle and the surrounding episcopal estate.
-1139 (Castle Surrendered)
Following the death of King Henry in 1135, Roger rapidly lost royal favour. King Stephen, who desired control of Roger's castles, had Roger arrested and starved until he surrendered his properties.
-1143
King Stephen lost control of Sherborne, taken by one of King Henry's illegitimate sons, the Earl of Gloucester.
-1183
Under King Henry II, Empress Matilda's son, the castle reverted to the Crown, and improvements were soon carried out.
-1215 (Enhanced Fortifications)
King John ordered upgrades to the castle's defences due to the uprisings of his barons.
-1261 (Survey)
A survey described Sherborne as "in a ruinous state."
-1267 (Repairs)
Edmund, Earl of Lancaster, was appointed the castle's governor and started making repairs.
-1290's
King Edward I (Edmund's brother) visited the castle often. During his campaigns against the Welsh, he had ten hostages imprisoned there.
-1330
William Montagu, Earl of Salisbury, had the castle granted to him by King Edward III.
-1337 (Licence to Crenellate #1)
Bishop Robert Wyvil was granted a licence to crenellate Sherborne, though he struggled to take possession from the Earl of Salisbury.
-1354/1355 (Castle Reverted to Bishop)
Determined to finally recover the castle, Bishop Wyvil opted for a trial of combat to settle the matter. However, being a clergyman prohibited him from fighting, and the Earl was not up to the task, so both men chose a champion to fight on their behalf. In the end, the issue was settled in secret, with Wyvil agreeing to pay the Earl 2,500 marks and the King 500 marks for the return of the castle.
Wyvil reused the castle for residential and administrative bishopric purposes. Due to the hefty sum paid for it, funding for the castle's maintenance was lessened, eventually leading to fewer internal buildings being utilised and an overall reduction to the castle's size.
-1357
The Bishop entertained the Black Prince, King Edward III's eldest son, at the castle.
-1377 (Licence to Crenellate #2)
Bishop Ralph Egham was granted a licence to crenellate by Richard II.
-1450 (Castle Raided)
Dissatisfied with King Henry VI, local inhabitants plundered the castle.
-1485–87 (Castle Modernized)
Bishop Thomas Langton took up residence at the castle. He demolished many of the original buildings and replaced them with more comfortable and fashionable dwellings.
-1500s
Extensive changes to the diocesan boundary were made during the 16th century, contributing to a change in the castle's ownership.
-1592 (Sir Walter Raleigh’s Ownership)
Sir Walter Raleigh obtained possession of the castle and began remodelling; however, the cost of repairs proved too high. He soon abandoned his work to upgrade the former hunting lodge as his home instead.
-1603
Raleigh was arrested for treason, though his wife, Bess, was allowed to keep the castle.
-1608
King James purchased Sherborne for the Earl of Somerset. It was later given to his son, Henry, Prince of Wales.
-1617 (Sold to Digby Family)
King James sold the castle to his ambassador to Spain, Sir John Digby, for £10,000, though this sum was later waived. Digby retired at Sherbourne soon after.
-1642 (Civil War Attacks)
In anticipation of an attack during the Civil War, King Charles I had the castle garrisoned and its defences repaired. It underwent a two-week siege by Parliamentary forces that ultimately ended with the Royalist garrison surrendering and the Parliamentary troops occupying the castle. Although, they were evicted within four months by a small Royalist force.
-1645 (Castle Slighted)
Sir Thomas Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell led another two-week siege. Once again, the castle's garrison was eventually forced to surrender. Soon after, Sherbourne's fortifications were slighted to prevent Parliament from holding it in the future.
The castle remained unoccupied from this point on.
-1700s
The castle ruins were included as a feature of the remodelled lodge's landscaped gardens and park. Today, the site is in the Secretary of State's care and is a Listed Building Grade I.
Sherborne Old Castle Occupants
Initially built for Roger de Caen, the castle served as his residence for a couple of decades before the Crown seized control. The castle was returned to the Bishop of Salisbury in 1355 and was occupied by the Bishops until the 16th century. After Sir Walter Raleigh's lease of the castle in 1592 and its confiscation in 1617, Sherborne has served as a manor for the family Digby.
Images of Sherborne Old Castle
Images Supplied and licensed from Shutterstock Standard Licence Package
Sherborne Old Castle Q&A
What Type of Castle Was Sherborne Old Castle?
Sherborne Old Castle is noted as a certain Masonry Castle and a certain Palace.
When Was Sherborne Old Castle First Built?
There is some discrepancy as to when Sherborne Old Castle was first built, though, with certainty, it dates to the early 12th century during Roger de Caen's time as Bishop of Salisbury, beginning in 1107.
Some records note the start of construction circa 1120, yet it appears as though these are best guesses based on interpretations of other events that occurred in those years pertaining to the castle's creation or Robert's career.
How Big Was Sherborne Old Castle?
At its peak, Sherborne comprised a central courtyard surrounded by two-storey ranges and a keep-tower. Beyond this, there was an abnormally large bailey that contained several rooms, including kitchens. An octagonal layout of high curtain walls surrounding everything and incorporated two towers and three gatehouses.
The castle's design is unusual and compares to that of a cloister, perhaps reflecting Roger de Caen's religious background.
What Was the Main Use of Sherborne Old Castle?
The castle was built to serve as a military base to protect the surrounding church property as well as Roger de Caen's residence. It was a retreat for the Bishops of Salisbury into the 16th century with a 200-year intermission of being at the mercy of the monarch.
Does Any of Sherborne Old Castle Still Exist?
Whilst most of the above-ground level is gone, the north range, portions of the Great Tower, and the high curtain wall along with its three-storey gatehouse are still standing. The surviving ruins are one of the best examples of English architecture of the 12th century and one of just two enclosure castles in all of Dorset county.
Is Sherborne Old Castle Haunted?
During Edward III's reign, following the dispute between the Bishop and the Earl of Salisbury, it is said that Saint Osmund laid a curse upon the castle grounds claiming anyone attempting to take the land from the Church would soon meet their end.
The curse appeared to have affected its residents, most notably Sir Walter Raleigh, who suffered a series of unfortunate events before his eventual beheading, which took two axe swings to accomplish.
It is said that his ghost comes out on Saint Michael's eve to roam the grounds before disappearing behind an Oak tree of his namesake. Indeed, it was known that his happiest days were spent at the castle, his most beloved residence.
How Is New Sherborne Castle Related to Sherborne Old Castle?
New Sherborne Castle is the former lodge of Sherborne Old Castle, which Sir Walter Raleigh built as his new residence in 1592.
The new, four-storey house, located just 300 metres (984.25 feet) from the old castle, was finished in 1954 and was occupied by Raleigh and his wife until he was executed for treason in 1618. King James confiscated his estates, and Sherborne Old Castle remained in the Crown's hands until the Civil War when it was fortified, captured, slighted, and left for ruin.
Today, New Sherborne's stately grandeur is a sharp contrast to the old castle's crumbling remains and serves as a residence for the Wingfield Digby's.
Location of Sherborne Old Castle
The castle ruins are located in the town of Sherborne within a 15,000 acre (6,070.28 hectares) estate comprising formal gardens, woodland, and a lake.