Pictures of Sherborne Abbey

a Abbey in the town of Sherborne, in the county of Dorset

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About Sherborne Abbey

Without doubt this magnificent Abbey built centuries ago of creamy Ham stone ranks amongst the finest Abbey churches anywhere in England. In a market town blessed with so many beautiful old buildings, the Abbey dating mainly from the 15th century is a showpiece supreme.

The Abbey possesses many historic treasures from its noble past. Amongst these, are several fine monuments including effigies of 13th century abbots. Of the memorials, the most noted is the 17th century memorial to the Earl of Bristol by John Nost. There are fine misericords of the 15th century, magnificent fan vaulting, Purbeck marble columns, superb statues, and there are Saxon doorways and some fine Norman arcading. Just as the majestic exterior glows in the warmth of the sun, its dazzling rays stream through magnificent windows, illuminating intricate woodcarving and showing to best advantage the art of the medieval monks, and craftsmen who worked tirelessly to make this hallowed place the fine Abbey church we see today.

Sherborne was the seat of Saxon Bishops, and there was almost certainly a Saxon church here for several hundred years. In the 10th century a Benedictine monastery was established, but it was not until early in the 12th century that full abbey status was granted. The religious community lived and worked peacefully here for a further 300 years, until the time of the Dissolution in 1539 when it was taken over by the Crown. At a later date the people of the town banded together to purchase the magnificent building back.

If the abbey is impressive, then it is also evocative. As the evening shadows lengthen and the great bell tolls, it has an overwhelming haunting effect when you can almost see and feel the presence of the tiny community who founded this beautiful historic church so many centuries ago. Sherborne Abbey is indeed an experience not to be missed.
Please see below for other recommended attractions and towns to visit near Sherborne Abbey.

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Distances and directions shown below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Sherborne Abbey

Sherborne Castle	(0.4 miles, 0.7 km)	Pictures
Fleet Air Arm Museum	(7.7 miles, 12.4 km, direction NW)	Pictures
The Cerne Giant	(8.7 miles, 14.1 km, direction S)	Pictures
Montacute House	(9.1 miles, 14.6 km, direction W)	Pictures
Ham Hill Country Park	(10.1 miles, 16.2 km, direction W)	Pictures
Stourhead	(14.1 miles, 22.7 km, direction NE)	Pictures
Athelhampton House	(15.1 miles, 24.3 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Hardy's Cottage	(15.3 miles, 24.7 km, direction S)	Pictures
Barrington Court	(15.6 miles, 25.1 km, direction W)	Pictures
Roman Town House	(15.7 miles, 25.2 km, direction S)	Pictures

All attractions in Dorset
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Recommended towns near Sherborne Abbey

Sherborne, a Historic Market Town in the county of Dorset (0.7 miles, 1.2 km)
The softly glowing Ham stone of which most of the town properties are built, lends warmth and atmosphere to what is already a unique and attractive place.
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Poyntington, in the county of Dorset (2.8 miles, 4.4 km, direction N)
This is a delightful small village situated in the picturesque Blackmore Vale where the Dorset and Somerset boundary meets.
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Melbury Osmond, in the county of Dorset (6.6 miles, 10.5 km, direction SW)
A long, winding lane, flanked by grassy banks covered in fern and wild flowers, leads to the picture postcard village of Melbury Osmond
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Minterne Magna, in the county of Dorset (7.2 miles, 11.5 km, direction S)
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Cerne Abbas, in the county of Dorset (9.2 miles, 14.8 km, direction S)
Famous for its huge chalk 'rude' giant, Cerne Abbas is a lovely ancient village in Dorset.
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Sydling St Nicholas, in the county of Dorset (10.3 miles, 16.5 km, direction S)
This is a particularly scenic village lying deep in a chalk-stream valley between open downs. Every approach to it is beautiful, whether crossing the hills from Cerne Abbas or Maiden Newton, or coming up the waters of the River Cerne between meadows flooded with spring lambs and ponies.
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Martock, in the county of Somerset (11.6 miles, 18.6 km, direction W)
The interior of Martock's Ham-stone church is perhaps the grandest in all Somerset, the startling effect of the golden stone against the most lavishly decorated of the county's great tie-beam roofs is simply overwhelming.
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Gillingham, a Historic Market Town in the county of Dorset (12.0 miles, 19.4 km, direction NE)
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Milton Abbas, a Picturesque Village in the county of Dorset (13.3 miles, 21.4 km, direction SE)
Milton Abbas is a superb thatched village which has the distinction of being the first planned village of its kind in England.
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Shroton, in the county of Dorset (13.4 miles, 21.6 km, direction E)
Interestingly, this enchanting village was the scene of warfare as General Wolfe trained his troops before his assult on Quebec in the mid 18th-century.
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All towns in Dorset
Complete A to Z of towns in England

Nearby travel help

Sherborne Station	(0.5 miles, 0.9 km)
Thornford Station	(3.8 miles, 6.1 km, direction SW)
M5 Junction 24	(24.1 miles, 38.8 km, direction NW)
M5 Junction 25	(24.9 miles, 40.1 km, direction W)
Bournemouth Airport	(31.5 miles, 50.7 km, direction E)
Bristol International Airport	(32.1 miles, 51.6 km, direction N)
Sherborne Abbey to London	(110.5 miles, 177.8 km, direction E)

Accommodation & Hotels near Sherborne Abbey

Hotel Name
Eastbury Hotel	(0.6 miles, 1.0 km)
Sherborne Hotel	(1.1 miles, 1.7 km)
The Queens Arms	(4.3 miles, 7.0 km, direction N)
The Alex Lodge	(5.2 miles, 8.4 km, direction W)
Globetrotters Lodge	(5.5 miles, 8.9 km, direction W)
The Half Moon Inn	(5.6 miles, 9.0 km, direction NE)
Greystones Court Guest House	(6.0 miles, 9.6 km, direction W)
Preston Hotel	(6.2 miles, 10.0 km, direction W)
Sparkford Inn	(6.9 miles, 11.1 km, direction N)
The Walnut Tree	(7.1 miles, 11.5 km, direction NW)
All of our hotels are available to book online & with special discounts