Sherborne Pageant Stitchers

On 12-16 June 1905 the Sherborne Pageant was performed at Sherborne Old Castle to celebrate the 1200th anniversary of the arrival of Aldhelm in Sherborne. Over 800 performers took part and it is estimated that it was attended by 30,000 spectators. The Pageant was devised by Louis Napoleon Parker (1852-1944), a former music master at Sherborne School … Read more

Barbara Rawson (1893-1953): dedicated her life to serving Sherborne

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

Florence Drewe (1874-1961): costume designer for the 1905 Sherborne Pageant

Florence Grabham was born on 7 March 1874 in Pontefract, Yorkshire, fourth daughter of Dr Charles Grabham (1838-1891), a surgeon and physician, and Eliza Jane (née Leatham) (1840-1922). On 27 October 1898 Florence was married at St Martin’s Church, Bedford, to Alfred John Drewe (1851-1942), manager of the Wiltshire and Dorset Bank in Cheap Street, … Read more