Sherborne is easily among the most interesting towns in the county of Dorset. For one, nearly half the town is retired. Lest you think that this makes Sherborne a dull place full of tired people, remember that the county of Dorset is home to some of the most incredible natural scenery on the face of the Earth. From the stunning Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site to the sweeping hills full of lush wildflowers, Dorset is a wet dream for anybody with working eyes (which may be a slap in the face to the many retirees of Sherborne). Sherborne itself is loaded to the brim with beauty too, though, and the age of the town lends itself to this. Many old and historic buildings can be seen when walking throughout Sherborne and quite a lot of them are unique in that they are made from the ochre ham stone that is found in the area. This gives many of these buildings a gorgeous brown and yellow outside that just screams antiquity.
Sherborne has its roots in the days of the Saxon Empire. This is par for the course for most towns in this area of England and Sherborne was no different. As a matter of fact the town is one of the most decidedly Saxon in heritage for miles around and was in fact the capital of Wessex, one of the largest Saxon kingdoms at the time. The Sherborne Abbey, made of that gorgeous ochre ham stone, was the centerpiece of the town at the time and one can still see it to this day in its antiquated splendor. Sadly, the church was burned down in the 1400s but it was quickly rebuilt. By this time, however, Norman influence began to take the town over so the rebuilt church has quite a bit of Norman architecture. Sherborne Castle is another phenomenal landmark within the town. Built in 1594 by the famed Sir Walter Raleigh, this Elizabethan masterpiece is another big attraction for the city and people flock from all around to get a gander at this lovely creation.
There was another impressive castle that once stood in Sherborne but sadly it fell into ruin. This 1100s palace was constructed by the then Bishop of Salisbury and it was later destroyed in the 17th century by the marauding General Fairfax. Though this palace no longer stands, its ruins are still visible and are kept up by the English Heritage society. Sherborne School is yet another masterpiece of architecture and it too has been around since the days of Saxon rule and is similarly built in the ham stone style. This school is one of the most esteemed and respected in all of England and for good reason: King Alfred was educated there centuries ago! Nearly everywhere you look you'll see a treasure trove of wonder all throughout Sherborne and its surrounding area. Anybody interested in history, architecture, or just beauty would do well to take a look at this little slice of paradise in the county of Dorset.
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