Hidden Britain AtlasOpen the map
All places › Castles & abbeys
Castle or abbey

Sherborne Old Castle

Sherborne, Dorset

Sir Walter Raleigh's castle, which Cromwell called 'malicious and mischievous'.

Bishop Roger of Salisbury built this castle in the 1120s. In 1592 Queen Elizabeth gave it to Sir Walter Raleigh, who found it too old-fashioned and built a new house, Sherborne Castle, across the lake.

Read the full story, see it on the map, get directions and find what else is nearby in the free Hidden Britain Atlas map.

Open Sherborne Old Castle on the mapReport a sighting here
When
Built 1120s, ruined 1645
Where
50.9470, -2.5030
Group
Castles & abbeys

Visiting

English Heritage, open in season. Raleigh's Sherborne Castle and gardens are next door.

Nearby mysteries