A MAP of Sherborne dating back almost 200 years is set to be preserved for the public.

The document, compiled by cartographer Thomas Percy and dated from 1834, has been gifted to the Dorset History Centre.

It was previously kept in the boardroom at the Sherborne offices of law firm, Porter Dodson.

However then the company relocated in March, it found there was insufficient space in the new Digby Road offices for the map, which measures two metres wide and 1.3 metres tall.

Originally commissioned by the Wingfield-Digby family of Sherborne Castle, as well as being an eye-catching map in its own right, the document also comes with a book detailing the use and ownership of numbered plots.

“Staff have always known the importance of the ancient map and the local community were extremely fond of it, so to preserve this for the future feels very special,” a Porter Dodson spokesperson said.

The quality of the workmanship is still very evident nearly 200 years later, they added, making the map a vital resource for anyone interested in the history of Sherborne.

The map was compiled by cartographer Thomas Percy and dated from 1834. Picture: Porter Dodson

Sarah Stone, a partner based at the Porter Dodson Sherborne office, said: “Porter Dodson can trace roots in Melmoth House back to 1899 and so Sherborne and its history is so important, and we are extremely happy to gift the map knowing it will be preserved and enjoyed by the public at large for generations to come.”

The map is now safely housed at the history centre, the county’s archive service in Dorchester, where it will be carefully conserved and digitised.

County archivist, Sam Johnston, said: “We are extremely grateful to Porter Dodson for this generous gift and are delighted to be adding such a fantastic item to the public collection.”