Listed Building record MDO19879 - Sherborne School, Abbey Road, Sherborne

Sherborne School was incorporated in AD1550, although it is possible that school already existed at this point, attached to the monastery. Immediately following the dissolution the school appears to have been located adjacent to the north transept of the church, perhaps within the former monastic east range. Towards the end of the 17th century the box building was constructed as an infirmary for the school and The Slype was incorporated as the school laundry. A Fives court existed to the north of The Slype, to the west of the box building and The Bell Court to the east. The bell buildings were added in 1835. The school expanded in 1851 follwing the donation of the remaining claustral buildings and further land to the north. These included the present library and chapel which were renovated by 1855. the box building was demolished at the same time and the area of the ball and bell courts converted to gardens attached to the headmaster's house. A new great court to the north was created to the north and the main scholl buildings of the present day added in the subsequent decades.

Sherborne School was incorporated by letters patent of Edward VI dated AD 1550. However, the medieval building beneath the old schoolhouse may itself have been a school building. It is possible that a pre-existing school was attached to the monastery. Immediately following the dissolution the school appears to have been located adjacent to the north transept of the church, perhaps within the former monastic east range. Towards the end of the 17th century the box building was constructed as an infirmary for the school and The Slype was incorporated as the school laundry. A Fives court existed to the north of The Slype, to the west of the box building and The Bell Court to the east. The bell buildings were added in 1835. The school expanded in 1851 follwing the donation of the remaining claustral buildings and further land to the north. These included the present library and chapel which were renovated by 1855. the box building was demolished at the same time and the area of the ball and bell courts converted to gardens attached to the headmaster's house. A new great court to the north was created to the north and the main school buildings of the present day added in the subsequent decades. (1)

<1> Keen, L, and Ellis, P, 2005, Sherborne Abbey and School, pp.6-7 (Monograph). SDO10263.

<2> National Record of the Historic Environment, 199461 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 23 2024 1:08PM