Monument record MDO19800 - Newland medieval borough, Sherborne

A charter dated 1227-8 records the creation of the new borough of Newland, a 13th century suburb of Sherborne, by Bishop Richard le Poure. This coincides with the street called Newland running from the top of Cheap Street towards Sherborne Old Castle.

A charter dated 1227-8 records the creation of the new borough of Newland, a 13th century suburb of Sherborne, by Bishop Richard le Poure. This coincides with the street called Newland running from the top of Cheap Street towards Sherborne Old Castle. The newly created borough was planned with burgage plots of approximately half and acre on the north and south sides of the Newland road. A third area extended from the chapel of St. Thomas on the Green to the bishop's barn and only had small burgage plots (2 perches x 2 perches or one fourtieth of an acre). [1] The location of this third area is not clear. The Abbey Grange lay on Hospital Lane which runs from the Green to the north gate of the Abbey. However, an early 16th century barn also survives to the rear of Newell House at Barton Cross [2]. This may have been the location of the bishop's barn as distinct from the monk's barn. This would imply that the third part of Newland lay along Green Hill (A30) between the Green and Newell.

The new borough was progressive in that the burgess held his land by a fixed money rent rather than in lieu of service. The burgess was able to sell or mortgage his plot. The borough also held its own court at which the burgesses were their own jurors.

The creation of the borough appears to have been a speculative attempt by Bishop Richard le Poure to develop a piece of real estate in Sherborne.

A court roll dated 1383-4 mentions that there was a cross at the centre of Newland where the borough court was held in the open air. By the 17th century this cross had become a stone. It is possible that this cross had existed prior to the creation of the borough, on the site of St. Swithin's fair. [1]

Laurence Keen conducted an archaeological desk top assessment of Melrose, 43 Hound Street during 2001 prior to the granting of planning permission for two small extensions. He noted that the new borough of Newland, Sherborne was created by Richard Bishop of Salisbury in 1227-8. <4>

<1> Fowler, J, 1951, Mediaeval Sherborne, 146-159 (Monograph). SDO10392.

<2> Barker, K, 1990, Sherborne Camera, no. 46 (Monograph). SDO10580.

<3> Beresford, J, and Finberg, H P R, 1973, English medieval boroughs: a hand-list, 104 (Bibliographic reference). SWX1175.

<4> Keen, L, 2001, Melrose, Hound Street, Sherborne. Appendix 'B', Archaeological Assessment (Unpublished document). SDO10414.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 660777 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 23 2024 1:08PM