Abbey Church of St Mary
Abbey Church of St Mary, Abbey Close
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1110824
- Date first listed:
- 28-Nov-1950
- List Entry Name:
- Abbey Church of St Mary
- Statutory Address:
- Abbey Church of St Mary, Abbey Close
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2003-04-17
- Reference:
- IOE01/07148/27
- Rights:
- © Mrs Judy Nash. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1110824
- Date first listed:
- 28-Nov-1950
- List Entry Name:
- Abbey Church of St Mary
- Statutory Address 1:
- Abbey Church of St Mary, Abbey Close
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- Abbey Church of St Mary, Abbey Close
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Dorset (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Sherborne
- National Grid Reference:
- ST 63792 16489
Details
This List entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 01/12/2017
ST 6316
689/1/1
ABBEY CLOSE,
Abbey Church of St Mary
28.11.50.
GV
I
Saxon west wall below clerestory with foundations of Saxon tower and transepts facing west. C15 Church of All Hallows built against this wall; lower part of north-aisle wall remains as a boundary wall between Sherborne School and Abbey Close. South front of Abbey early C12 (work of Roger of Caen) and C15. Central Tower with Saxon-Norman base and C15 work above.
Nave: five irregular bays; piers with C15 casing to a Saxon core. Late C15 fan vaulting. North aisle: C12 and late C15; lierne vault. North transept: Norman walls.
Wykeham Chapel: Norman walls and C15 vault. Choir of three bays and north and south choir aisles: C15. Reredos: C17 to design of R.H Carpenter. Bishop Roger's Chapel: C13. Vestry: C16, part of former headmaster's house [1560] which extended across the whole of the width of the east end of the Abbey. Lady Chapel: one bay of C14 work and one bay further east of C20 work, 1921, to design of W.D Caröe. Chapel of St Mary le Bow: C15 and C16; east wall and south windows built 1560 as part of Headmaster's House [See Vestry]. Chapel of Holy Sepulchre: C14 and C15 rebuildings. South transept: early C12 and C15 work; Digby Memorial. St Katharine's Chapel: C12, and C13 and C14. South Aisle: early C12 and C15. Porch: early C12, restored 1849-58. 1849-58: restoration of transepts, choir and Norman porch by R.C Carpenter and W Slater. 1884: restoration of tower by R.H Carpenter.
All the listed buildings in Abbey Close form a group with the east end of No. 1 Finger Lane.
Listing NGR: ST6380416492
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 103812
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Inventory of Dorset, (1952)
Fowler, J, Medieval Sherborne, ()
Gibb, J H P, Sherborne Abbey, ()
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 08-Jun-2026 at 06:44:51.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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