Sherborne Castle

In 1969, Sherborne Castle opened its doors to the general public. 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 Capabiltity Brown's landscape. Sherborne Castle remains the family home of the Wingfield Digby Family.

Sherborne 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. 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.

Sir Walter Raleigh acquired the Old Castle in 1592. At first he tried to modernize 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 stories high, with large square-headed windows filled with diamond pane glass. 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.