Listed Building record MDO14807 - Abbey and parish church of St Mary, Abbey Close, Sherborne

The Abbey Church is predominantly Perpendicular but components of the original Saxon church, and those of the Norman church which replaced it are still evident

The Abbey Church is predominantly Perpendicular but components of the original Saxon church, and those of the Norman church which replaced it are still evident. Surviving parts of the Saxon church include the west wall below the clerestory, foundations of a tower and some west facing transepts. The central tower has a Saxon-Norman base and walls of the Norman church are included in the north transept and the Wykeham Chapel. The south front of the Abbey dates from the Norman rebuilding in the 12th century, as does the porch and parts of the north aisle, the south aisle, the south transcept and St. Katharine's Chapel. Additional work in the 13th century included the building of Bishop Roger's Chapel. Work continued on St Katherine's Chapel in the 13th and 14th centuries. One bay in Lady Chapel also dates to the 14th century as does a rebuilding of the Chapel of Holy Sepulchre. The early 15th century saw the beginning of the Perpendicular additions and alterations. The Church of All Hallows was built against the west wall and the central tower was rebuilt. Additions were made to the south front, the vault, north and south choir aisles, the south transept, the Chapel of St Mary le Bow and the Chapel of Holy Sepulchre. The fan vaulting and lierne vaults of the nave, nave aisles and chapels are said to date to the late 15th century. The main changes of the 16th century were brought about by the alterations to turn part of Lady Chapel, the Chapel of Mary le Bow and the vestry block into a headmaster's house in 1560. There were restoration works by R H Carpenter and W Slater from 1849 to 1858 and then again in 1884 by Slater and R C Carpenter. The east end of Lady Chapel was built as a war memorial in 1921. (2, 3) A plain coffin of Purbeck marble, believed to be that of King Aethelberht, d.865, was discovered circa 1840 below the floring of the ambulatory at the east end. Analysis of the stone suggests that this is more likely to be post-Conquest rather than Early Mediaeval. The source of the stone is the Green Marble? Upper Cypris Clays and Shales, Peveril Point Member, Durlston Formation, Purbeck Group, Lower Cretaceous. (4)

Record last edited

Jul 8 2024 8:17PM