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This page is about Sherborne Castle in Sherborne, Dorset
Built by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1594, Sherborne Castle has been the home of the Digby family since 1617. The first building on the site was a medieval hunting lodge in the Deer Park belonging to Sherborne Old Castle. Sir Walter Raleigh fell in love with the Castle when he was travelling to Plymouth and petitioned Queen Elizabeth to persuade the Church, who owned it, to relinquish the estate to the Crown. The lease of 99 years was transferred to Raleigh and he tried to modernise the 12th century Old Castle but decided to build a new home on the site of the hunting lodge in the deer park.
The four wings were added in the 1620's in a similar style. During the Civil War the old castle was reduced to a ruin by the Parliamentary forces and the name "Sherborne Castle" came to be applied to the new building. Prince William of Orange was entertained here in November 1688 by the Digby Family. In 1724 the poet Alexander Pope visited the gardens laid out by Robert Digby
Sir Walter Raleigh erected his new house in 1594, which he called "Sherborne Lodge" to distinguish it from the Old Castle. A stained glass window bearing his initials and coat of arms and the date 1594 survived in the Tudor building until the last century. The rectangular, four storey house with its hexagonal corner turrets, forms the core of the current castle. Sir Walter Raleigh died on the block accused of treason and his estates were forfeited to the crown. Sir Walter lived in the house for little more than ten years. King James I allowed Sir John Digby to purchase Sherborne Castle in 1617 and his family has lived here ever since
Lancelot "Capability" Brown was called in to create the lake in 1753. The work took two years and gave Sherborne the very latest in landscape gardening. George III visited in 1789 and the following year honoured Henry by creating him Earl Digby. In the 19th century the last Earl Digby died without heirs and Sherborne Castle was left to his Wingfield Digby nephew. It is still in the care of Wingfield Digby Family today.
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Contact details
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Opening Times
1 April - 1 November.
open every day except Mondays and Fridays (but open on Bank Holiday Mondays) from 11:00am with last admission at 4:30pm. The Castle interior will open later on Saturdays from 2:00pm
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Weather
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Prices
Adult / Senior: £4.50
Child: Free
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