Pictures of Sherborne

About Sherborne

Not too far distant from Burford is the picturesque village of Sherborne.The village lies amid beautiful open countryside close to the enchanting River Windrush. It is a quietly contented village of beautiful old stone cottages fronted by gardens that in summer are a riot of colourful country flowers, cornflower, foxglove and sweetpea, to name but a few.

Sherborne House has dominated this small village for centuries and to this day, although now owned by the national trust, remains very much at the heart of the community. A chapel was built on this site by monks from Winchcombe Abbey in AD 811 and a monastry was founded at a later date. Thomas Dutton bought the lands and made his home here where he entertained lavishly. Queen Elizabeth I was a noted visitor to the great mansion and no expense was spared for her visit. Lewis Wyatt, architect, was retained by the 2nd Lord Sherborne to make considerable alterations to the house but the original graceful facade with classical columns and mullioned windows was kept. This is a magnificent place with grounds that sweep down to the enticing Windrush. The house and Lodge Park remained in the hands of the Dutton family until 1982 when Charles Dutton, 7th Lord Sherborne bequeathed the estate to the National Trust.

The church of St.Mary Magdalene remains attached to Sherborne House and can still be visited. The church is quite magnificent and has amazing treasures and monuments to the Dutton family including a large marble carving of Sir John Dutton by Rysbrack dated 1749.

This village has all the classic ingredients of a typical English village; a romantic mansion where a great Queen was entertained, a splendid church and a quaint mix match of wisteria clad houses and cottages. For a quiet walk with history in a magnificent country setting, the village of Sherborne is hard to beat.

Nearby are the attractive villages of Northleach, Burford and Bibury which show many splendid glowing cotswold stone properties and churches.