John Britton (1771-1857) the antiquarian and editor, is most famous for his work The Beauties of England and Wales, which he wrote in collaboration with his friend Edward Wedlake Brayley (1773-1854). Their first work was published in Salisbury in 1801, when they were commissioned to work on an account of the County of Wiltshire. This became the start of the Beauties series – or Original Delineations, Topographical, Historical and Descriptive of Each County.… Read the rest
Month: January 2022
In the late C10th, a Benedictine monastery was founded by St Wulfstan, beside the Abbey Church of St Mary the Virgin in Sherborne. These monastic lands were sold during the Dissolution and re-used in the founding of King Edward’s School in 1550 by Edward VI, as a free grammar school for local boys.
This antique print shows the Abbey building comprising a central structure with two wings.… Read the rest
Cerne Abbey was founded in the C9th and re-founded in the C10th as St Augustine’s Benedictine monastery. It was rebuilt in the C15th – C16th and the Abbot’s Porch was built by the last Abbot Thomas Salmon in 1509 shortly before the Dissolution.
The Tudor porch of three storeys was once the main access to the Hall buildings and the fine two storey oriel window (projecting bay) is carved with animals and the escutcheons of families from the neighbourhood.… Read the rest