The Digby Tap -
Sherborne's Only Free House
A brief history of the Digby Tap. Not much is known about the history of the building. The oldest part, furthest from the lane, is believed to date from the mid 16th century. There is a large fireplace and mullioned window in the back bar. There are later additions and the end wall by the lane is believed to have been built when the lane was constructed. The building itself was originally a private dwelling but in1749 it became a Parish Workhouse and it is still marked as the same on the 1802 plan of Sherborne. In 1869 the 'Digby Hotel' was constructed and according to the cash books of George Wingfield Digby, owner of Sherborne Castle from 1856 - 1883, alterations were started on the building ('Digby Tap') as follows: Fol 50 23'd February 1870 Caines and Croad work done converting a house to a'Tap' on account of Digby Hotel £l50.0s:Od. Fol 226 11th April 1870 Mr Quinton bell hanging to Hotel Tap £7.19s.3d. Fol 52 31st December 1870 W. Farrell for Hotel Tap £11.16s.7d. The School took on the ‘Digby Hotel’ in 1964 but fortunately the `Tap' has remained. Grateful thanks to Sherborne Castle Estates and Gerald Pitman for the information.
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