Including the work of C. E. Bean and the specialist contributions of Marion M. Archibald, Lorraine Mepham and Jeffrey K. West.
Roger, Bishop of Salisbury (1102–39, built Sherborne Old Castle within his episcopal estate at Sherborne, in north-west Dorset, in about 1122–35. The fortified palace was one of several major building projects undertaken by Bishop Roger; among the others were the rebuilding of Old Sarum cathedral and castles at Devizes and Malmesbury. Although Sherborne Old Castle was altered over the next four centuries, most of its original structural elements were retained until the buildings were slighted in 1645.
This report describes and analyses the information obtained from all the archaeological investigations undertaken at the castle since the early twentieth century, including those of A. E. Rawlence (1932), C. E. Bean (1932 to 1954), and the authors of this report, Peter White, then Inspector of Ancient Monuments, between 1968 and 1980and the late Alan Cook (1980–95). An analysis of the results, together with continuing historical research, have revealed much more about the major periods of the castle’s construction and use. It is now possible to describe and source more exactly the sophisticated design of Roger’s castle and the high quality of the craftsmanship employed in its construction and decoration; the later phases of development during the medieval period including the improvements to the castle’s defences and accommodation when held by the Crown between 1183 and 1354; the post-1357 alterations after the castle had been regained by Bishop Wyvil of Salisbury, and the important fifteenth-century building programme carried out by Bishop Thomas Langton. A much clearer assessment has been made of the impact of the works undertaken by Sir Walter Ralegh in his abortive attempt to remodel the castle as his country seat after he obtained the estate in 1592. Finally, although much of the fabric of the castle was destroyed following its surrender to a Parliamentary army in 1645, new documentary evidence and structural analysis has revealed how, during the eighteenth century, the Digby family developed and maintained the ruins as a romantic feature on the northern boundary of their landscaped park.
Author(s): Peter White, Alan Cook
Series: Reports of the Research Committee of the Society of Antiquaries of London, 78
Publisher: The Society of Antiquaries of London
Year: 2015
Language: English
Pages: XVIII+200
List of figures viii
Preface and acknowledgements x
Summary and note on the names of buildings xiv
1. Introduction 1
1.1 The purpose, content and form of the report 1
1.2 The historical and architectural importance of the castle 2
2. The site and its setting 4
2.1 Topography and geology 4
2.2 The surviving remains 10
3. The historical record 13
3.1 Before the castle 13
3.2 Bishop Roger and his buildings 1102–39 14
3.3 The castle during the Anarchy and up to 1183 19
3.4 The king’s castle 1183–1354 20
3.5 The castle repossessed by the bishops of Salisbury 1355–1592 23
3.6 Sir Walter Ralegh and the castle 1592–1603 26
3.7 The castle after Ralegh and during the Civil War 1609–45 28
3.8 The ruins of the castle and the Digbys of Sherborne 1645–1954 30
3.9 The castle in guardianship from 1956 33
4. Antiquarian interest in the castle to 1952 34
5. The sequence of investigation 1932–95 43
5.1 Col. E. A. Rawlence: 1932 43
5.2 C. E. Bean: 1932–40 and 1946–54 43
5.3 P. R. White: 1967–80 45
5.4 A. M. Cook: since 1980 45
5.5 The finds and records of the investigations 45
6. Pre-castle occupation of the castle site 47
6.1 Iron Age and Roman finds 47
6.2 Period 1: the Saxon cemetery 47
6.3 Period 2: the ditched enclosure 49
7. The development of the castle 1122–1645 50
7.1 The phases of development 50
7.2 Phase I: Bishop Roger’s works 1122–39 50
7.3 Phase II: baronial and early royal works 1140–99 53
7.4 Phase III: later royal works 1200–1355 53
7.5 Phase IV: early episcopal works 1356–1480 54
7.6 Phase V: Bishop Langton’s works 1485–93 55
7.7 Phase VI: Sir Walter Ralegh’s works 1592–1603 55
7.8 Phase VII: the Civil War 1640–5 56
8. The structural remains: the bailey and its defences 57
8.1 The bailey 57
8.2 The outer ditch and bank 58
8.3 The curtain wall 58
8.4 The south-west gatehouse tower and bridge 60
8.5 The north-east gatehouse tower and bridge 71
8.6 The north-west mural tower 73
8.7 The south-east mural tower 74
8.8 The north gate barbican and causeway 75
9. The structural remains: the central building complex 82
9.1 The great tower and the attached small tower 83
9.2 The inner court 94
9.3 The west range and the latrine turret 95
9.4 The north (chapel) range 97
9.5 The east range 104
9.6 The south (great hall) range 104
9.7 The west courtyard 105
9.8 The structures to the south of the west courtyard and the small tower 106
9.9 The south courtyard 107
9.10 The kitchen and service yard 108
9.11 The round house or horse gin 112
10. Other structural remains 114
10.1 Buildings within the bailey 114
10.2 Buildings outside the bailey 114
11. Discussion and appraisal 123
11.1 Issues of interpretation 123
11.2 The earlier occupation of the site 123
11.3 Bishop Roger’s castle: its design, how it was defended and how it functioned 124
11.4 The secular use of the castle 128
11.5 The form and character of the additions for Bishop Langton 128
11.6 The nature of the alterations for Sir Walter Ralegh 129
11.7 The perception of the ruined castle as a monument 129
Appendices:
1 The carved and worked stones, by Jeffrey K. West, FSA 131
2 The coin hoard, by Marion M. Archibald, FSA 144
3 The pottery, by Lorraine Mepham, FSA 158
Notes 186
Abbreviations and general bibliography 193
Index 197
