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
The Te Deum stained glass window in the south transept of Sherborne Abbey was designed by Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin (1812-52) and made in 1851-2 by John Hardman & Co.[1] The window was one of a number commissioned from Hardman & Co. by the architect Richard Cromwell Carpenter (1812-1855) for his restoration of the Abbey. … Read more
Mary Hudson was born in Londonderry, Northern Ireland in 1745. Her mother Susannah Hudson (c.1720-1778) remarried in 1765 at St Andrew, Holborn, to Thomas Kirby, who died in January 1773 in Sherborne. Mary was married on 14 February 1767/8 at the church of St Bartholomew the Less in London, to William Willmott (1741-1787), a silk … Read more
In 1657, Mary Whetcombe gave to Sherborne Abbey a candelabra in memory of her husband John Whetcombe, a former churchwarden. The candelabra, which was probably made in Holland or by London silversmiths to a Dutch design, is the earliest dated example of its type in England. Made of brass, the candelabra is topped by a … Read more
According to her legend, Juthware, or Juthwara (Judith), was a Saxon woman who lived sometime between the 6th and 8th centuries in Halstock, Dorset. Juthware was very religious and known to pray and fast and to give alms to the poor. After her mother’s death, Juthware’s father remarried but when he too died Juthware began … 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
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
Rachel Bosher was born in about 1721, the daughter of Charles Bosher, a Bristol merchant tailor, and his wife Rachel. On 4 February 1748 Rachel Bosher was married at St Mary’s church, Bathwick, to Robert Goadby (1720–1778), formerly a Bath bookseller who in 1744 became proprietor of the Western Flying Post, or Yeovil Mercury. Robert and … Read more
Ann Hosey was born at Sherborne on 8 November 1721, the youngest child of Elias Hosey (1670-1762), an attorney, and Gertrude (née Goare) (1684-1755). On 30 April 1753 Ann was married in Sherborne Abbey to the Rev. Edward Cotes (1724-1780), son of the Rev. Digby Cotes (1683-1744) of Coleshill, Warwickshire, and grandson of the Hon. … Read more