The Dorset Historic Towns Project report on Sherborne.
The historic urban character of Sherborne is closely bound up with its distinctive landscape setting and the quality of its historic fabric, as well as its richly-documented history. The late Saxon and medieval town plan survives almost complete, and the associated post-medieval streetscapes are largely intact. The location of the Abbey and historic town centre are also significant in terms of landscape setting, sitting as they do, just above the open meadows of the Yeo floodplain.
Good survival of the historic town structure is complemented by many historic buildings. The survival in the historic core of many unbroken groups of buildings, with little disruption from modern development, is a major factor which highlights the contribution made by historic elements to Sherborne's urban character. The harmonious use of local building materials helps underscore its local setting and emphasises the linkage with the surrounding landscape.
Summary report
Here is a summary of the report (February 2011).
Detailed sections of the report
We have broken down the full report into individual sections, please select one of the parts to read:
- Part 1 and 2 Introduction and overview
- Part 3 and 4 Context and sources
- Part 5.1 Historical development - Saxon
- Part 5.2 Historical development - Norman
- Part 5.3 Historical development - Medieval
- Part 5.4 Historical development - Post-medieval
- Part 5.5 Historical development - Late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries
- Part 5.6 Historical development - Early twentieth century
- Part 5.7 Historical development - Later twentieth century
- Part 6 Character appraisal
- Part 6 Historic Urban Character Area 1 Historic Core
- Part 6 Historic Urban Character Area 2 Newland, Hound Street and Long Street
- Part 6 Historic Urban Character Area 3 Coldharbour
- Part 6 Historic Urban Character Area 4 Castleton
- Part 6 Historic Urban Character Area 5 Westbury
- Part 6 Historic Urban Character Area 6 Horsecastles and Barton
- Part 6 Historic Urban Character Area 7 Lenthay
- Part 6 Historic Urban Character Area 8 Nethercombe and Clatcombe
- Part 6 Historic Urban Character Area 9 North East Sherborne Housing Estates
- Part 6 Historic Urban Character Area 10 Riverside Industrial and Commercial Area
- Part 7 Research and appendices