The Sherborne Reborn
A landmark new destination for the arts, freely open to all, accessible and inclusive and an integral part of the community”, that’s the vision the founders of The Sherborne have for this incredible new arts space nestled on the edge of the North Dorset market town that it shares its name with.
The building, originally created by British architect Benjamin Bastard in the early 18th century on the grounds of a Medieval mansion house, reopened earlier this year following an extensive restoration by Dorset-based SPASE design - the architects behind Athelhampton House and Duntish Mill Farm.
Formerly the countryside retreat of William Charles Macready - a famous Shakespearean actor of his time who rubbed shoulders with Charles Dickens - the building was sold to Dorset County Council in the 1930s, under whose ownership it remained until relatively recently (used as a school for most of that time).
Saving The Sherborne
Friends of Sherborne House was established in 1996 shortly after the girls’ school closed to support efforts to conserve the important historic building. In 2018, the Sherborne House Trust was created - spearheaded and funded by the late local millionaire entrepreneur Michael Cannon - with an ambitious vision to restore the building as a destination arts venue.
The Sherborne is home to a stunning Baroque mural by Sir James Thornhill, the renowned artist behind the dome at St Paul’s Cathedral and the Painted Hall at the Old Naval College, Greenwich. The mural was meticulously restored back to its former glory in 2012 and again in 2022 by Elsa Guerreiro, Director & Head Curator at International Fine Art Conservation Studios. This beautiful mural is now freely accessible to visitors.
Dorset Visual Arts (DVA) - which runs various events across the county, including Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch, including Dorset Art Week - is the resident art organisation for The Sherborne, and is already developing a world-class program including exhibitions, residencies, and opportunities for Dorset’s artistic community.
They will use The Sherborne to engage the community and the wider public with a wide range of opportunities for Dorset artists and those from further afield to create a regularly changing exhibition, display and events programme.
More than art
Aside from art, the venue includes sculpture gardens, event spaces, co-working and Macready’s - a restaurant and bar championing a locally-sourced menu, and a shop showcasing artisanal creators and makers. It hosts school visits and has an events programme that includes cinema screenings, live music recitals and literary talks.
Opened fully from April, hundreds of people have already experienced The Sherborne and the team has been blown away by the positive feedback.
“So many people have built a connection with the space over the years and feel such gratitude for its saving,” said Lizzie Watson, Marketing Manager at The Sherborne. “There have been tears of joy and smiles of delight! This meticulous renovation project preserves the past whilst building a legacy for the future. We’re handing a glorious house back to the community, and indeed to Dorset, with a mission to champion the richness of art for everyone.”
From explorer to connector
Lizzie added: “We are dedicated to ensuring inclusivity and accessibility and our charity values reflect this. The Trust and our directors have this at the forefront of every decision. Michael Cannon was a man who believed in these values strongly too.”
Michael was severely dyslexic and very entrepreneurial from a very young age - leaving his comprehensive school in Bristol at 15 years old to travel the world by boat before making his fortune in the pub trade - eventually taking on Dorset-based brewery Eldridge Pope in 2005.
The businessman wanted to honour his late mother’s artistic prowess and give back to the arts community in Dorset, so, in 2018, he purchased Sherborne House and established The Sherborne House Trust, paving the way for the renovation and reincarnation we see today.
Sadly, Michael died in June 2023, aged 84, after a short illness, and The Sherborne was his last great renovation project. He never got to see the building finished and open.
Conservation in action
A lot of hard work goes into restoring and opening a house as historic and grand as The Sherborne. Traditional tradespeople were found to help restore the huge building in keeping with the historic look and feel. Silk specialists Humphries Weaving transformed the entrance lobby and Georgian Rooms. Avena Carpets have been appointed traditional carpet weavers. Bone Black Ltd is the venue’s decorative painter, bringing the glorious façade of the building back to life. And Rose of Jericho has provided historic paint and mortar.
The house is kept running by a growing team of dedicated volunteers, working alongside the small staff team - and there’s always room for more. To find out more about The Sherborne, or maybe even volunteer, see: thesherborne.uk.
