“Though only one of the school’s foot soldiers, I have an abiding memory and appreciation of my years at Sherborne. The bequest of a modest amount in my Will is a token of thanks for those years.

The bequest is also a small contribution towards enabling the School to continue to provide excellence in education for tomorrow’s successors to its original Foundationers”

Julian Oakley (c, 1944-1949)


Like many great institutions, Sherborne School owes much to its past benefactors. Those who have remembered the School in their Wills have bequeathed not only buildings, but also scholarships, academic posts and sporting traditions; all contributing to the continued growth and development of the School.

1550   Refoundation of King’s School, Sherborne, under the auspices of King Edward VI

1851   Lord Digby donated the Library and Chapel buildings to the School

1903   The Art block and Geography rooms were given to Sherborne School by R E Carrington

1923   A donation from A Devitt, led to the creation of Devitt Court including the Fives Courts and the Design and Technology buildings

1925   G O’Hanlon donated Westcott House to Sherborne School

1929   The Green boarding house was given to the School by Sir Edward Iliffe

1943   Rev W J Bensley bequeathed three houses to the School including the Second Master’s house.

1967   In his Will, Alexander Trelawny-Ross left not only Hyle House, but also playing fields to the south of the Chinese Pavilion.

1976   Cutler’s was donated to the School by A B Gourlay

1987   Max Westlake donated his house in King’s Road, Sherborne, to the School.

1988   Charles Bow, Sherborne coal merchant, and his wife Louisa, bequeathed to the School land allowing expansion onto the site which is now the campus of the International College, Sherborne School

1998   The Bow Society was founded to appropriately recognise the unique generosity of those who have remembered Sherborne School with a legacy gift

2002   The generous bequest from Canon D B Eperson was devoted, in part, to the Eperson Mathematics prize

2002   A legacy was left to Sherborne by Miss Alice Hey, supporting a number of School projects in her memory