St Mary's Cottage, Pilton, Somerset

This characterful 16th-century cottage lies in Pilton, Somerset. Grade II-listed, it has been thoughtfully updated for modern living; both the cottage and its two-storey annexe are fitted with air-source heat pumps and bespoke Phos lighting throughout. On the ground floor, two versatile sitting areas are divided by a timber sliding door, while two serene double bedrooms lie on the first floor. A sweet chesnut-clad annexe provides further accommodation, as well as a light-filled studio on its ground floor. A pretty tiered garden sits to the rear, and is home to a bandstand with views towards the village church. Some of Somerset’s finest shops, restaurants and attractions are within easy reach of the cottage.



Setting the Scene



The village of Pilton sits on the edge of the Somerset Levels, and was once owned by nearby Glastonbury Abbey. This stone-built cottage has its roots in the 16th century, and is one of the oldest houses in the village. It was once two cottages, and has also served as a pub called The Hole in the Wall; alcohol was served from the cellar through the lower window in the west wall, when the road level was much lower.



The house and its annexe are peppered with period details, including casement windows with stone surrounds, exposed timber beams and an original 16th-century door.



The Grand Tour



A glass-panelled front door opens onto a vast kitchen, its ceiling bisected by an original timber beam. The floor is lined with hand-cut Andalusian tiles, and there is underfloor heating. The deVol kitchen has a butler sink with brass fittings, placed beneath a casement window with views of the leafy garden beyond. Appliances include Miele integrated oven, dishwasher and induction hob with vapour extraction, and a Perrin & Rowe hot water tap. To one side, there is a large pantry and a guest WC with Drummonds loo and Burlington wash basin.



A short flight of steps descends to the first of two serene living spaces. A log burner sits within a fireplace alcove, next to a set of fitted bookshelves, and a glazed door opens onto the garden. Here there is natural oak flooring by Lawsons Yard which extends throughout the rest of the house.



An archway framed by original timber beams leads to a second sitting room; the two spaces can be divided with a top-mounted sliding door. Light pours into the space through a pretty casement window set into a moulded stone frame. A trap door leads down to a handy cellar.



An open-tread staircase rises to the first floor. It is home to two double bedrooms, each with exposed timber beams and a pitched ceiling. The principal has a pretty window seat, set beneath casement windows with stone surrounds. The second bedroom has an en suite shower room illuminated by recessed skylights and finished with micro cement floor-to-ceiling and Burlington fixtures. On this floor, there is also a large shared bathroom, with floor-to-ceiling Moroccan Zellige tiles from Otto Tiles in Hackney and suite by Drummonds, including a roll-top bathtub and large walk-in shower.



A separate two-storey annexe has a versatile space on the ground floor. Currently used as an artist’s studio, it is filled with light from bifold doors across its length. On this floor, there is also a wet room, finished with white micro cement floor-to-ceiling and Burlington loo, shower and wash basin. A utility room completes the ground floor plan with Andalusian hand-cut floor tiles and a stable door leading outside. This is fitted with deVol cabinetry, butler sink, integrated Miele fridge, and Perrin & Rowe hot water tap, and could easily be converted into a full kitchen.



On the first floor, an original 16th-century door opens to reveal an expansive double bedroom with a pitched ceiling and timber roof trusses.



The Great Outdoors



An exquisite four-tiered garden extends to the rear of the cottage. Lawned and shingled areas are perfect for sitting out, and a timber bandstand looks out across the trees towards the village church.



A pergola covers a decked area with a log store, and there is a stone-built shed. At the front of the house, a driveway with electric gates provides parking for several cars.



Out and About



Pilton is ideally located between Wells, Castle Cary and Bruton; an area of Somerset well-loved for its beautiful open countryside. Home to the world-renowned Glastonbury Festival, Pilton residents are offered free tickets for the entire festival each year. The village has a popular pub, The Crown, and there is an excellent provision of local producers selling fresh vegetables, fruit and farm produce nearby. The independent shops and cafes in Bruton are easily reached for daily amenities, with a broader selection in Wells (a 15-minute drive away), a city home to an annual food and a literary festival.



The local area is well-renowned for its cultural and culinary highlights, including The Newt, Babington House, Hauser and Wirth, Roth Bar and Grill, Osip, The Old Pharmacy, At The Chapel, and Margot Henderson’s The Three Horseshoes in nearby Batcombe, which adds to the excellent food offerings.



North Somerset is well-renowned for independent food producers and growers. Westcombe Dairy is easily reached for award-winning cheese and charcuterie, and an outpost of Landrace Bakery is conveniently on-site, offering sourdough bread made from stoneground UK grains milled at the Landrace Mill. A good selection of farm shops for organic produce, a local distillery, Somerset Spirit Co, and for field-grown flowers and herbs, Lunaria and Re-Rooting are also nearby.



There is an excellent choice of schools locally, including Millfield, Hazelgrove, Wells Cathedral School, and the Blue School Wells, Downside, Sherborne and the King's School, Bruton, all within easy driving distance.



Despite its rural location, rail connections are very good. The mainline station at Castle Cary is a 15-minute drive away, where direct services run regularly to London Paddington in around an hour and a half.



Council Tax Band: E