Experience quintessential village life at Phelips Court

Unlock the key to modern living and live your best life at Phelips Court, a newly acquired Strongvox development in the desirable South Somerset village of Stoke-sub-Hamdon.

With all essential amenities available on the doorstep, plus very easy access to the A303, local market towns, historic stately homes and a 45-minute drive to the Jurassic Coast, this charming 16 home development is the perfect place from which to experience the best of Somerset, Dorset and Devon.

Phelips Court

Located close to the Somerset/Dorset border and five miles west of the bustling market town of Yeovil, Phelips Court is a select collection of 16 two-, three-, and four-bedroom homes complements this charming village’s local heritage. Each thoughtfully designed home offers architecturally distinct features with the bonus of private parking, garage and gardens. Small-scale and neighbourly, Phelips Court occupies a peaceful corner of the village, just off Great Field Lane.

A Welcoming Community

All essential amenities are available in Stoke-sub-Hamdon including a Co-operative convenience store, two local schools (primary and secondary), a church, village hall, medical centre, dentist and pharmacy. Pop in to the community shop and Post Office; meet up with friends in the village’s three quaint pubs, or the coffee shop; and take advantage of the facilities on offer at the sports and recreation field with sports pavilion, skateboard park and BMX track. A friendly community vibe makes it easy to get to know people in the village, where a range of well-supported groups caters for all ages. Get involved with the youth clubs or Hamdon Community Arts Project; volunteer in the Stoke Community Shop; help organise the village’s May Fayre; or support the Gardening Club’s annual Flower, Produce and Craft Show.

Stone Age Origins

Steeped in history, Stoke-sub-Hamdon sits at the foot of Ham Hill, which dominates the local skyline. Originally settled in the Stone Age and later established as an Iron Age hill fort, the site was also occupied by the Romans and today is the centrepiece of the 390-acre Ham Hill Country Park.  A haven for wildlife, with far-reaching views across Somerset, it’s a popular spot for scenic dog walks, nature lovers and families and even has its own pub, the Prince of Wales, where visitors can relax in comfort and enjoy the views.

The village is characterised by distinctive honey-hued ham stone, quarried from Ham Hill over the centuries. Noteworthy historical sites are the Stoke-sub-Hamdon Priory, a National Trust collection of 14th/15th century farm buildings, formerly a priest’s residence right in the heart of the village, and the church of St Mary the Virgin, which dates from the 14th century.

Stately Pleasures

Phelips Court takes its name from Sir Edward Phelips, the visionary force behind Montacute House, situated two miles away. Completed in 1601, this National Trust stately home is a must-see. Described as a “masterpiece of Elizabethan Renaissance architecture and design, with towering walls of glass and glowing ham stone”, its grandeur will take your breath away and the house is surrounded by beautifully kept gardens and parkland, well worth a wander.

A little further afield, set on the banks of the River Axe close to where Somerset, Dorset and Devon’s borders intersect, is the glorious Forde Abbey and Gardens. Privately owned, this former Cistercian monastery has been continuously occupied since the 12th century and is one of the oldest inhabited houses in England that is open to the public. The garden is home to the highest powered fountain in the country (reaching a height of 48m!) and delights visitors with topiary lined vistas, a walled garden, colourful herbaceous borders and an arboretum.

Retail Therapy

The Strongvox Phelips Court development is only five miles from Yeovil, South Somerset’s centre for shopping and entertainment. All the major supermarkets are here and you’ll find high street brands and ample parking at the Quedam Shopping Centre. The small independents have added their colour and individuality to the mix and are well worth investigating. Check out the Cake Box Bakery for delicious cup cakes and more and Cow and Apple, serving burgers and cider. Venture over to Castle Cary and Somerton to browse around these pretty market towns with thriving traditional street markets. Clarks Village at Street (a 30-minute drive) has over 90 designer and high street brands at its outlet shopping village.

Coastline, Culture and Cuisine

For a complete change of scene and pace, discover a plethora of options: rugged coastlines, beaches, culture and cuisine. Lyme Regis, known as ‘the pearl of Dorset’ and gateway to the untamed Jurassic Coast is an easy 45-minute drive from Phelips Court. Featured in the Domesday Book, this ancient town has a bustling harbour, is a centre for watersports, walking and – as any budding dinosaur fan will tell you – fossil hunting! There are no less than four beaches to explore and foodies will love the Lyme Regis gastro tour.

If you are looking for a dash of culture and cuisine, head over to Bruton (a 30- minute drive), where you’ll find contemporary art all year-round at the Hauser & Wirth gallery and delicious cuisine at numerous artisan and gourmet restaurants, cafes and shops.

For all things relating to planes and automobiles, there are two top-rated attractions both within a 15-minute drive from Phelips Court. A trip to the huge Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton makes a fascinating day out, with four museum halls and galleries covering 250 years of naval aviation history. Get close up to more than 90 aircraft including the first British Concorde, which you can go on board. The multi-award winning Haynes International Motor Museum, located at Sparkford provides a fun and informative outing for all ages. Activities include Paint a Mini and a Top Trumps Trail and don’t miss the extensive classic car collection.

For bookworms and theatre-lovers, Yeovil’s Literary Festival hosts various events, and the award-winning Octagon Theatre https://www.octagon-theatre.co.uk/ and smaller Swan Theatre have a wide variety of productions to suit all tastes. Strode Theatre in Street is the place for arthouse films, ballet and exhibitions. Further afield, there’s the Marine Theatre in Lyme Regis and Exeter’s Northcott Theatre, both providing plenty of dates for the diary. Catch all the latest box office hits at Yeovil’s 10-screen Cineworld movie theatre.

Easy Road, Rail and Air Links

A convenient transport network makes travel simple across the West Country and further afield. One mile from Phelips Court, the A303 connects you to London, Devon and Cornwall. Nearby Yeovil has two train stations – Yeovil Junction and Yeovil Pen Mill – which collectively offer direct services to Exeter, Bristol and London. For domestic and international air travel, Exeter Airport is less than 40 miles away and offers flights to UK and European destinations.

Want to find out more about Phelips Court? Register your interest today 

Hopefully we’ve given you a few highlights of this beautiful part of the southwest – there are many more – we’d love you to share your own favourites and hidden gems with us too! Use #strongvoxdoorsteps @strongvoxhomes to tag us in your posts.

We’ll have more information soon on this new development ‘Phelips Court’ in Stoke-sub-Hamdon, South Somerset…

Photo credits:
Great British Gardens – Forde Abbey