Somerton
The Town
If you’re a property buyer contemplating asking your independent buying agents to conduct a property search of a typical Somerset town, Somerton may well fit the bill. Just under 9 miles north west of Yeovil, its population is around 4,697.
Our property buying agent can show you it’s a delightfully walkable location, packed with 17th and 18th-century architecture. Our property search company can point out several attractive landmarks nearby. Tree-lined Broad Street links to the town’s Market Square which is steeped in history. Our buyers agents will be very pleased to present the many old houses that surround it.
In the Church of St Michael and All Angels, our real estate buyers agent may point out the especially notable octagonal tower and beautiful carved ceiling (dating from 1450, if you’re a property buyer who likes to know dates). Your boutique buying agents might also mention Lynch Country House, Grade II listed; other notable local buildings include Somerton Court, now a wedding venue.
In the centre of the town you’ll find Cow Square, with its Edwardian water fountain. Our Recoco property finder may mention the town was once the capital of Wessex – literally “Somerset town”.
Transport
The nearest railway station is in Castle Cary or our real estate buyers agent can outline bus links to Somerton from Taunton. Our Recoco buying agent can outline other options, including local rail services from Bath to Yeovil Pen Mill, and then local buses to Somerton.
To start your property search by road, your buyers agents usually suggest leaving the A303 at the Podimore roundabout; the A372, briefly, and then the B3151, following the signs to Somerton itself.
The closest motorway junction is M5 J23 (Bridgwater), about 17 miles away, and our independent buying agents can confirm the nearest airport is Bristol, about 30 miles away.
History
As our property buying agent can confirm, archaeologists have found evidence of Celtic, Roman, and Anglo-Saxon settlement in the area.
Around 900, it’s very possible that Somerton was the capital of Wessex. Our property search company can tell you it was known to be a royal centre. Somerton Manor was particularly important to King Alfred, later known as the Great (when he wasn’t burning cakes, that is...) Buyers agents will tell you the importance of the town declined following the Norman conquest but Somerton was the county town of Somerset for a short while, around the start of the 1300s.
There has been a weekly market in the town for most of its history, and like many other local towns, cloth was very important to the prosperity of the town in the 1600s and later. Agriculture became the most important industry in the 20th century, as our boutique buying agents can confirm. Ask your Recoco buying agent about the town’s traditional industries, which once included glove making, rope and twine, and mining of gypsum.
Education
King Ina Academy is the town’s combined pre-school, infant and junior school in the town. Our Recoco buying agent might also mention the Church of England Primary School, Charlton Mackrell. Or ask our property search company for details of nearby independent establishments like Westbourne Preparatory School, Ashbrooke House School and Pre-School, Sidcot, and Wells Cathedral School.
Leisure and Events
Various events take place throughout the year, and our property buying agent can tell you they often centre on and around the town hall. Many are family-focused.
Our Recoco property finder can also show you the independent shops on the town’s side streets. If you’d rather spend a little time in nature, ask our boutique buying agents about the viaduct outside town, where you’ll find attractive locations near the River Cary, as well as well-stocked trout fishing lakes.
Foodies’ Corner
There are plenty of food choices for a property buyer to enjoy in Somerton, and the town centre has several cosy and charming tea rooms to mull over your property search, Ask your Recoco property finder about traditional hostelries like The Kingsdon Inn and The White Hart or Tonys Fish and Chips. And our independent buying agents might also suggest the delicious cakes at the Courtyard Cafe or, for a special occasion, 28 Market Place, featured in the Michelin Guide.
Celebrity Connections
Our real estate buyers agent can show you the parts of the town which lend themselves well to the small and large screen, and in the mid 1980s, a BBC costume drama, The Monocled Mutineer, was filmed here.
Fun Fact
The octagonal 1600s Buttercross shelter in the market place was built to protect dairy products from “turning” in the Somerset sun on market days.