Your Hampshire and Dorset Wedding - November/December 2024 (Issue 107)

Fall in love with these stunning properties in Dorset LOCAL THE SHERBORNE 01935 313 000 | https://thesherborne.uk The Sherborne is a heritage landmark situated in the thriving Dorset town of Sherborne. It has been reborn as a leading destination for arts, events, and the community. Home to the nationally significant Thornhill Mural, this Grade I-listed Georgian house reopened in spring 2024 after extensive restoration by heritage architects and craftspeople, led by Stefan Pitman of SPASE design, after more than 30 years of unsuccessful revival attempts. Visitors can now enjoy beautiful sculpture gardens, various exhibitions, versatile art-filled spaces for events and Macready’s restaurant and bar championing a locally sourced menu. The Sherborne has been reborn thanks to Michael Cannon’s extraordinary generosity and drive. His vision for the Sherborne was realised in the spring of 2024 and continues to be built upon. Sherborne has a rich and colourful history, from its origins as a residence built to impress the young wife of the octogenarian landowner to being the country retreat of a renowned Shakespearean actor who held literary events with guests such as Charles Dickens. In the 20th century, it housed a girls’ school and then went on to become a home for a prestigious art programme. Positioned on the edge of the beautiful town of Sherborne, this stunning building had long offered huge potential for rebirth since it closed its doors. The building, which encompasses a Georgian house, Tudor wing, and coach house, has been reimagined and restored to its former glory, blending historic interiors with the finest contemporary hospitality spaces. It’s home to an exquisite 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 recently meticulously restored to its former glory by Elsa Guerreiro, Director & Head Curator at International Fine Art Conservation Studios, who worked on the initial restoration in 2012, as well as its most recent one 20 years later. This beautiful mural is now freely accessible to visitors. Dorset Visual Arts is the resident art organisation for The Sherborne, and it is developing a world-class program that includes exhibitions, residencies, and opportunities for Dorset’s artistic community. Going 15 LOCAL VENUES

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