Sherborne local historians Barry Brock and Tony White recently took ladder and torch to examine the roof of the original almshouse building.
Amongst a number of surprises revealed, they discovered that that the roof space was at one point adapted for use as living accommodation, apparently to cope with rising demand for places in the Almshouse – a demand that was only properly satisfied with the 1860s extension to create the building we know today.
Also it is significant that the Almshouse roof is one of a family of roofs with distinctive curved upper struts built by the carpenters of Sherborne Monastery (who should perhaps be more properly described as carpenters of the Salisbury diocese). This and the use of jointed crucks rather than the arch-braced collar beam trusses used in two earlier Sherborne buildings will be of particular interest to the architectural historian.
Barry Brock added, “This was a fascinating project and we are grateful that the Trustees gave permission for us to explore. There are so many interesting features. We were intrigued, for example, to find evidence of an earlier blue colour scheme, possibly Georgian; and by the initials left by the Victorian carpenter, proud of his ability to replicate the pendant finial constructed by his predecessor during the reign of Henry VI.”
The findings are published, along with a number of illustrations and photographs, in a new booklet, copies of which can be purchased from the Sherborne Antiques Market or by post from the publisher (email: threepigeonspress@gmail.com), rice £8.00.