Walter Raleigh and Raleigh's Seat white plaque

This white commemorative plaque records: Raleigh's Seat Sir Walter Raleigh built this stone seat into the wall beside the road so he could sit here and look over his gardens, while at the same time keeping an eye on the traffic. The road was the main route to Dorchester until 1856 when the present New Road was built. Raleigh learnt how to smoke tobacco from the Red Indians and there is a story that Sir Walter was sitting here enjoying his pipe, when a servant approached with a jug of ale. Thinking his master was on fire he threw the ale over him! Recorded plaque organisation: Sherborne Castle.

Sir Walter Raleigh was an English statesman, writer, and explorer who popularized tobacco in England and led expeditions to the Americas. He is remembered for his role in English maritime history and his influence on Elizabethan literature and culture.