Pavyotts Mill House, East Coker, Somerset

This striking Grade II*-listed house lies in the characterful village of East Coker, Somerset, a short distance north of the Dorset National Landscape. Built around 1600, it spans some 4,300 sq ft, with four atmospheric bedrooms. Outside, grounds of over half an acre surround the house, with plenty of mature trees, a pond, a peaceful summerhouse and expansive countryside views.



Setting the Scene



East Coker is a historic southern Somerset village with handsome historic buildings. TS Eliot named one of the poems comprising his work ‘Four Quartets’ after the village and is buried at the local St Michael and All Angels’ Church, a Grade II*-listed building with origins in the 12th century.



The building once served as a mill before its conversion in the early 20th century. It was constructed using local Hamstone, a honey-coloured Jurassic limestone described in Simon Jenkins’ ‘England's Thousand Best Churches’ as “the loveliest building material” in the country.



The Grand Tour



A private gated driveway leads to Pavyotts Mill House, amplifying its sense of privacy. There is plenty of space to park here and in an adjoining carport.



Tall and traditional, the home’s silhouette is exceptionally beautiful. Ovolo-moulded, mullioned and transomed windows with small diamond leaded panes remain on each of its sides, hinting at the brightness that permeates within. Entry is through a large timber door to a spacious hallway, where a second door leads through to the drawing room.



An expansive space, the drawing room’s generous proportions are amplified by high levels of natural light from triple-aspect windows. There is a window seat here, a fantastic 16th-century salt cupboard, and a marvellous Hamstone-carved fireplace, with open fire and wood-burner, that acts as a warming focal point on cool winter evenings.



From here is the dining room, which has flagstones underfoot and a door to the garden. Next door is the kitchen, with traditional timber units and a window to the garden. An opening sets the room in conversation with an adjoining skylight-studded snug. An arresting painted cupboard is slotted into a niche on one side. Beyond is the utility room, with doors to a WC and the garden.



An impressive staircase from the entrance hall ascends to the home’s upper levels, where there are four bright, characterful bedrooms set across the second and third storeys, along with two spacious bathrooms. The uppermost floor is home to a wonderful studio framed by exposed beams and stonework. Another bathroom adjoins.



Substantial storage space lies in the cellar, accessed via steps outside the house.



The Great Outdoors



Grounds of approximately 0.68 acres surround the house, with a large patio that gives way to a formal south-west facing garden, where deep borders and laurel hedges embrace a large lawn, perfect for summertime kickabouts. Mature trees, including copper beech, tulip, ginkgo, flowering cherries, apple, plum, pear, damson and morello cherry, punctuate the gardens, and views extend over neighbouring fields.



An ornamental pond with a wooden bridge and a small island lies beyond, and there is a summerhouse that makes for an idyllic reading nook. Two sheds provide plenty of storage for garden tools and the like.



Out and About



A picturesque spot in south Somerset, East Coker is a small but perfectly formed village, with a pub, the Heylar Arms, and a primary school. Just north of the Dorset National Landscape and east of the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it is brilliantly positioned between some of the South West's most coveted towns and delightful stretches of countryside, making it a fantastic foothold for discovering all that Somerset, Devon and Dorset have to offer.



In Yeovil, branches of nearly every major supermarket can be found. Only slightly further afield is Sherborne, a pretty historic market town. A stellar offering of shops can be found here, along with a monthly farmers' market and a Waitrose. There are some excellent food spots, too: The Cross Keys is an atmospheric pub that serves locally sourced food and drink, and The Green has a Michelin Bib Gourmand award as well as a pretty terrace garden.



There are several National Trust properties within easy reach, including Barrington Court, Tintinhull Garden and Montacute House. Only slightly further afield, to the north and north-east respectively, are Glastonbury Tor and Stourhead. The Jurassic Coast - a 96-mile-long UNESCO World Heritage Site - is also easily reached by car, along with the South West Coast Path.



There are plenty of schools within easy reach of the house, in both the state and private sectors. Yeovil Junction station runs services both east and west, to London Waterloo in two hours and 20 minutes, or to Exeter St David's in a little over an hour. The A37 is also a short drive away.



Council Tax Band: G