SHERBORNE ABBEY

We set off for Sherborne Abbey through rolling countryside , checkered  in greens and the  bright yellow of the rape crop in flower. The road is lined with cow parsley everywhere we go. We passed through some pretty little villages on the way and soon found Sherborne.

 

 

There was a cold wind blowing and it was morning tea time so we found a lovely pub called the Half Moon where we had a hot chocolate and a cappacino for the small sum of 4 pound – about half the price of the same thing in Oz. 

 

 

We returned to the abbey to explore this lovely old building whose history goes back to the 700s. It is a very large, grand building with a spectacular roof and lovely windows.

 

 

 

 

 

The abbey is apparently known for its music and choir performances and after an invitation we sat in on the beginning of a free program which featured a girls’ school choir. These buildings certainly have great acoustics. 

Lunch was back at the Half  Moon after walking around the town a little more then we returned to the car and set off for Sherborne Castle ( old and new ).

The old castle is a ruin courtesy of Oliver Cromwell but the new castle, first built by Sir Walter Raleigh, is lovely and we toured inside where many rooms are fairly well preserved and furnished.

 

The castle is still owned by the Digby family who acquired it after Raleigh was beheaded and his property confiscated by the King  ( James I ). The grounds are lovely and were designed by Capability Brown whose talents we always admire.

 

On the way home we managed to find the Cerne Giant, a huge drawing of a man drawn in chalk on the hillside near the town of Cerne Abbas.


 
It’s origin is unknown  so it could be really ancient or just 400 years old !
Either way it is really something.