Lying about five miles southeast of Sherborne is Holnest, which is adjacent to the parishes of Longbarton, Folke, Wootton Glanvile, Minterne Magna, Hermitage, Leigh and Lillington. he church is dedicated to St Mary and there is a mausoleum in the churchyard that was erected to the memory of J. S. W. Sawbridge-erle-Drax whose family owned Holnest Park and they were also the principal owners in the parish. There is a nine foot statue of the above man in the grounds of Holnest Park.

It seems there has never been a post office here and the nearest school was at Longburton, Wootton Glavills or Hilfied. The land is partly in the the area of Blackmore Forest.