SHERBORNE

 With its abundance of medieval buildings, superb Abbey, world famous Schools, picturesque Alms houses and two Castles, Sherborne has much to offer visitors. Ideally located on the Dorset and Somerset border, it was once the capital of the kingdom of Wessex.

Founded by St. Aldhelm in AD 705, Sherborne Abbey has developed from Saxon cathedral to the worshipping heart of a Benedictine monastic community and, finally, to one England’s most beautiful parish churches. For many, it is still the ‘cathedral of Dorset’ and the Benedictine heritage lives on in the daily offering of prayer and praise.

The 15th. century alms houses, which stand just to the left of the Abbey building, with the roofed conduit house, where the monks washed before entering the church.