Monument record MDO19872 - Sherborne Abbey, Sherborne; infirmary

Evidence for the monastic infirmary of Sherborne Abbey was recorded in observations made during construction of the Medlycott building in 1955. This comprised a wall foundation [F145] and an associated foundation at right angles to it [F591]. No clear dating evidence was recovered but a date of c. 1120-1240 is suggested on the style of architectural fragments.

Evidence for the monastic infirmary of Sherborne Abbey was recorded by C.E. Bean whilst observing the construction of Sherborne School’s Medlycott building 40m to the north of the Abbey Church in 1955. (1) This comprised an E-W aligned wall 1.07m wide and traceable for 12.80m or more including robber trenches. It seems to represent a building approximately 10.67m wide, as surmised from parch marks visible on air photographs. Only the NW corner and parts of the north and west walls were seen in the excavations, however. Ham stone chamfered buttresses were seen on the north wall and at the NW corner, an entrance was recorded in the north wall with an external staircase next to it. The foundations, 2.1m below the surface rested on white tufa, possibly suggesting the existence of a spring nearby. The foundations had cut through a number of W-E aligned burials (1). These burials have subsequently been dated to the 7th-11th centuries. These remains have been interpreted as the 12th-13th century monastic infirmary. Post-medieval drains and buildings were also recorded in the watching brief and further walls were recorded, cut from recent levels (2).

Record last edited

Oct 4 2007 3:44AM