Kingston St Mary

Nestling at the southern end of the Quantocks this pretty village has several buildings of interest. The 15th Century church with sandstone tower is rhe resting place of Bampfylde, rhe creator of the secret landscape garden of Hestercombe. The village hosts a 17th century hosrelry with inglenook fireplaces. In the outlying areas there are good examples of 16th and 17th century farmhouses.

A prehistoric Iron Age site exists at Yarwood near Kingston St Mary datng from 500BC

The site was used for a large Roman Villa in the mid 4th centuary. There is a a mosaic floor that is still largely intact. This Roman Villa is one of the most westerly in Britain with a mosaic floor.

Contributed by: Tom Norman