Sherborne

including Castleton

Sherborne Abbey circa 1910

Sherborne is a very ancient town situated in the north west of the County, very close to the Somerset border. It was constituted as a cathedral city as early as 705 a.d. Between 1122 and 1139 the abbey was rebuilt, although the church dates from after 1459 when there was a fire. During the Dissolution the abbey was surrendered in 1539 and the church was sold to the inhabitants. It contains many examples of fine architecture and some interesting monuments. During the 19th century there was also a Roman Catholic church and chapels for Union Congregationalist, Wesleyans and Brethren.

A new cemetery was opened in 1856. Sherborne Castle was built by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1594. Sherborne was for many centuries noted for the woollen trade this was followed by silk, lace and button making. Castleton is a parish reconstructed out of the original parish and is now a suburb of Sherborne, all the houses in the parish except 12 were pulled down at the time the railway was constructed, though the church of St Mary Magdalene survived. The population of Sherborne was 5852 in 1861, 6129 in 1871, 5001 in 1891, 7007 in 1931.

Cheap Street in Sherborne circa 1910

The post of Online Parish Clerk (OPC) is currently vacant If you would like to volunteer for the role, please contact the OPC Project Co-ordinator Contributions of additional resource materials for the site are always welcome
Census	Sheila Carr Caryl Parsons Christel Muncaster Terry Smith Caryl Parsons Michael Hanson Terry Smith	Sherborne 1841 Census District 1, District 2, District 3, District 4 Sherborne 1851 Census District 1a, District 1b, District 1c, District 1d, District 1e Sherborne 1861 Census Sherborne 1871 Census District 1, District 2, District 3, District 4 Sherborne 1881 Census District 1, District 2, District 3, District 4 Castleton 1841 Census Castleton 1851 Census Castleton 1861 Census Castleton 1871 Census Castleton 1881 Census
Parish Registers	*Sheila Carr*	Baptisms at the Parish Church 1650-1655, 1700-1710, 1711-1720, 1721-1730, 1731-1739, 1740-1759, 1760-1769, 1770-1779, 1780-1789, 1790-1799, 1800-1809, 1810-1819, 1820-1829, 1830-1839, 1840-1849, 1850-1859 Marriages at the Parish Church 1560-1599, 1600-1619, 1620-1649, 1650-1684, 1685-1709, 1710-1719, 1720-1739, 1740-1749, 1750-1759, 1760-1779, 1780-1799, 1800-1809, 1810-1829, 1830-1849, 1850-1859 Burials at the Parish Church not yet transcribed A Register of Children Baptised at Sherborne 1785–1799 Castleton Baptisms 1715-1750, 1751-1800/a>, 1801-1901 Castleton Marriages 1716-1919 Castleton Burials 1685-1725, 1725-1812
Methodist Registers	*Caryl Parsons*	Transcription of Methodist Baptisms 1785-1837 Sherborne Methodist Circuit
Quaker Records	*Sheila Carr*	Transcriptions of Quaker Burials in Sherborne 1638-1837
Burials	*Brian Webber*	Transcription of Burials 1906-1916, 1917-1926 & 1927-1936 in the Sherborne Cemetery
1870 Information	*Dorinda Miles*	Extracts from Hutchins History of Dorset covering, List of Vicars, List of Headmasters, Extracts from the Register, Monumental Inscriptions in the Abbey and Wills
Postal Directories	Sheila Carr	1823 Directory of Sherborne
Monumental Inscriptions	*Brian Webber*	Brian has transcribed most of the stones in the Civic Burial Ground which dates from 1856. If you have an enquiry, please send it to the MI Co-ordinator [contact page] who will then forward it. Castleton Monumental Inscriptions Sherborne Methodist Monumental Inscriptions
Other Records	Richard Smith Caryl Parsons Sheila Carr Nancy Frey	Town Criers (1871-1915) Notes from Sherborne Almshouse minutes Masters of Sherborne Almshouse 1588 - 1756 Castleton Landtax 1798 Wills of Sherborne residents proved in the PCC Wills of Castleton residents proved in the PCC Will of Catherine Davidge, Widow of Sherborne Dorset 1649
Maps
		For a 1920s map of the north of the county showing the parishes click on the thumbnail on the left [137kb]

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Registers held at the Dorset History Centre PE-SH PE-CAS	Registers Christenings 1538-1973. Marriages 1538-1988. Burials 1538-1977. Banns 1772-1983. Christenings 1715-1992. Marriages 1716-1991. Burials 1715-1992. Transcripts Christenings 1538-1653, 1731-1837. Marriages 1538-1837. Burials 1538-1653, 1813-1837.
Registration District (for the purpose of civil registration births, marriages, deaths & civil partnerships)	1 Jul 1837-31 Mar 1937: Sherborne 1 Apr 1938-31 Mar 1974: Sturminster 1 Apr 1974-17 Oct 2005: North Dorset

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