In January 1881 four days of extremely severe weather brought large areas of England to a standstill, with southern England particularly badly effected. From the 17th to 20th January 1881 a heavy fall of snow accompanied by very strong winds created deep snow drifts that blocked homes, roads and the rail network. Telegraph wires were … Read more
Mrs Effield Bogle breathed her last at the Old Bank House, Long Street, Sherborne, on 28 May 1905. A few days later the following obituary appeared in the Western Chronicle: ‘The death is recorded of Mrs Bogle, widow of the late Major Bogle, V.C., a very old resident of the town, who passed away at … Read more
In 1899, Charlotte and her husband John Kenelm Wingfield Digby founded Sherborne School for Girls. The school opened on 20 September 1899 at Ramsam House on Greenhill with just 14 pupils, including five little boys. Charlotte was also a founder and governor of Headington School for Girls in Oxford, a governor of Foster’s and Lord Digby’s Schools in Sherborne, and … Read more
Barbara Helen Rawson was born on 2 March 1893 at Brand Hall, Norton in Hales, Shropshire, the eldest child and only daughter of Philip Heathcote Rawson (1864-1917) and Lillie Campbell Rawson (née Clarke-Preston) (1867-1927). A second child, Philip Colin Rawson (1896-1915), was born at Brand Hall on 1 June 1896. By 1904, the Rawson family … Read more
Vera Gwendolen Pragnell was born on 23 September 1896 at 10, West Chislehurst Park in Eltham, London, the daughter of Sir George Pragnell (1863-1916) and Leonora Caroline Louise Jenkins (1872-1950). Vera’s father was a self-made man, born in Sherborne, Dorset, his father William George Pragnell (1837-1898) was head gardener to the Wingfield Digby family at … Read more
The church of All Hallows was built in the 14th-century against the west end of Sherborne Abbey and, from 1437 until 1539, it served as the town’s parish church. All Hallows was demolished in about 1540 after the town acquired the adjoining Abbey church for its parish church, although the remains of the north wall … Read more
Mary Kilsbey (also known as Kelsbey, Kelsby or Kilsby) of Sherborne was from the age of five brought up by her relative John Derbie of Sherborne, a wealthy mercer. ‘By a great pain in the head’ Mary lost her sight when she was nine-years-old. In his will, John Derbie (died 1 May 1713) left to … Read more
Princess Amrit Kaur was born in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India, in 1889, the daughter of Prince Harnam Singh, son of Sikh Maharajah of Kapurthala. In September 1902, Amrit’s father sent her to Sherborne School for Girls where she was a member of Headmistress Beatrice Mulliner’s house. Amrit remained at Sherborne Girls’ until July 1905, becoming Head Girl … Read more
Dame Margaret Gough, also spelt Gogh and Goffe, was the daughter of Sir Stephen Derby and his wife Avice Gulden (c.1348-1420). Sir Stephen was member of Parliament for Dorset 1379-1386, and also served as Receiver of the Clare estates in Wales and the marches 1360-c.1368, Steward of the estates of Lionel, duke of Clarence, 1365-1368, … Read more
On the 12 July 1637 Dorothy Parsons (c.1612-1686) was married in Wells, Somerset, to John Eastmont (d.1668), a rich clothier. After their marriage Dorothy and John lived at Greenhill House (now The Green boarding house) in Sherborne, which had been built in the 17th century by the Eastmonts and is now regarded as the best … Read more
On 22 May 1686, Lady Jane Noel (1664-1733), daughter of Edward Noel, 1st Earl of Gainsborough (1641-1689) and Lady Elizabeth Wriothesley (d.1680), married William Digby, 5th Baron Digby (1661-1752), commonly called ‘the good Lord Digby’. They had four sons and eight daughters. Lady Jane died at Sherborne on 10 September 1733, aged 69, and was … Read more
Louisa Barnes was born at 8 Garden Terrace, Harlow, Essex on 16 August 1905, the eldest daughter of John William Barnes (b.1875) and Mary Ann Barnes (née Fielder) (1879-1942). By April 1911 the family were living at Lower Zeals in Wiltshire, where John Barnes was employed as a groom. Their second daughter Olga Mary Barnes … Read more
Georgina Binnie-Clark was born at the Digby Hotel in Sherborne on 24 April 1871, one of seven children born to Arthur Walter Binnie Clark (1834-1913), manager of the Digby Hotel and former valet to George Wingfield Digby (1797-1883), and Maria Louise Clark (née Letheby) (1837-1908). Georgina’s parents were married by licence at Taunton in Somerset … Read more
Above the south-west door of the church of St Mary Magdalene at Castleton a stone plaque records the long service of Margaret Barnard to the Earls of Digby, and also her gift of £20 towards the building of the church: ‘Here lieth the Body of MARGARET BARNARD An old faithful servant to ye Earls of … Read more