After passing through Sherborne on the way to Plymouth Sir Walter Raleigh fell in love with the Castle and Queen Elizabeth relinquished the estate, leasing it to Raleigh in 1592. Sherborne Old Castle is the ruin of a 12th century Castle in the grounds of the mansion. The old Castle was built as the fortified palace of Roger de Caen, Bishop of Salisbury and Chancellor of England and still belonged to the Church in the late 16th century.

English Castles