The house from a 1904 postcard
Madame du Barry by Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun, 1782. In the collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington. This image is in the public domain. Henry Seymour of Sherborne had an affair with Madame du Barry in the early 1780s.
Earlier Houses: There were probably a number of earlier houses on the site of the current house, including a Medieval manor house.
Built / Designed For: Henry Seymour Portman
House & Family History: Sherborne House is noted for its important murals created by James Thornhill, a Dorset native famous for his work on the inside of the dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral, London. The Sherborne murals, which feature the Greek mythological characters Meleager and Atalanta, are similar to murals by Thorhnill at Charborough Park. Henry Seymour of Sherborne, who moved to Paris in 1778, was the lover of Madame du Barry between 1780 and 1781 (he lost his French properties during the French Revolution and returned to England). In 1854 Charles Dickens came to stay at Sherborne as the guest of his friend William Charles Macready. During his visit Dickens gave a reading from “A Christmas Carol” to raise money for the Sherborne Literary and Scientific Institution. Between 1932 and 1992 Sherborne House was home to Lord Digby's School for Girls, operated by Dorset County Council.
Architect: James Thornhill
Date: Circa 1720Architect: Bastard Family
Date: Circa 1720Architect: George Wightwick
Date: 1850s
Title: Country Houses of Dorset
Author: Oswald, Arthur
Year Published: 1935
Reference: pg. 76
Publisher: London: Country Life Ltd.
ISBN: NA
Book Type: Hardback
House Listed: Grade I
Park Listed: No Park
Past Seat / Home of: SEATED AT EARLIER HOUSES: Bishop Roger Le Poore, 13th century. SEATED AT CURRENT HOUSE: Henry Seymour Portman, 1720-28. Francis Seymour, MP, 1728-61; Henry Seymour, 1761-99. James Toogood, 1799-1816. Edward Digby, 2nd Earl Digby, 1816-56. Samuel Pretor, 1824-49 (as tenant). William Charles Macready, 1850-61 (as tenant). Robert Willmott, 19th century (as tenant).
Current Ownership Type: Charity / Nonprofit
Primary Current Ownership Use: Mixed Use
Ownership Details: Since 2018 owned by Sherborne House Trust, who plan to develop the house into an arts center and restaurant.
House Open to Public: No
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.sherbornehousedorset.org.uk/
Historic Houses Member: No