Kingston St Mary is a small village situated at the southern end of the Quantock Hills, four miles north of Taunton. Long ago, the Parish belonged to the Kings of the West Saxons resulting in the name which means “the kings settlement”. The Blessed Virgin Mary Church is in Kingston St Mary and is one of the four churches that makes up The South Quantock Benefice.

The war memorials put in place to commemorate the men from Kingston who died during the war from 1914 to 1919, are the most intriguing historical features. The scout memorial, a lantern hanging over the church gate, commemorates the two former scout members, Geoffrey Arnold and Frederick Sloley, who died in the war. The war memorial was erected in 1921 in memory of the fallen to ensure that their sacrifices are not forgotten in Kingston St Mary.

The village hall, despite not being a clear memorial, was built due to the lack of space given to the women who sent Christmas packages to the soldiers and sailors fighting during the war. The women raised £355 towards the cost and this useful building was erected in 1923.

Nowadays, the increase in population has meant that the village hall has been used a lot more to accommodate the number of events and activities taking place in the village. According to the most recent census in 2011, the population of Kingston St Mary is only 921 residents, with 54% being female and 46% male.

Grab a bite

In the neighbouring village of Broomfield, a beautiful café is nestled into the Quantock Hills, The Pines café. Serving breakfast, lunch and cream teas, The Pines café serves home cooked food using fresh and local ingredients. During October to March, The Pines serves a delicious Sunday Roast accompanied by a range of homemade puddings. Parties and celebrations can also be held here with seating for 45 indoors and the options for a marquee placed outside.

Sit down meal

The Swan in Kingston St Mary is a family owned and family run pub, that produces delicious home cooked food that is locally produced and sourced. As a traditional English pub, the evening meals consist of conventional favourites such as liver and bacon, scampi and cottage pie. To compliment your meal, the Swan provides various locally-sourced ales and ciders, perfect for a winters night out.

Things to do

Being so close to the Quantocks, there are many delightful walks surrounding the area of Kingston St Mary. The Spinney is a beautiful woodland only a few minutes’ walk from the centre of Kingston, perfect for family picnics or dog walking. If you are looking for a longer stroll or a day out in the woodlands, fine court is large woodland with various paths and walks to occupy a sunny afternoon.

Good Schools?

Being a small village, Kingston St Mary Church of England Primary School is the only local primary school in Kingston St Mary. The school was rated “good” by Ofsted in December 2016. The school itself has students aged between 5 and 11 and consists of 115 pupils. For older students, they must travel the four-mile journey into Taunton to attend schools such as The Castle School, Heathfield Community School and more.

Well Connected?

Kingston St Mary is just four-miles away from Taunton, linked by Taunton/Kingston Road. The village is located 15 minutes away from the M5, with connecting routes either through Taunton or Cheddon Fitzpane. Hatch Green Coaches, both the 23 and 23B connect Kingston St Mary with the surrounding villages. Travelling by train, the nearest station is Taunton Railway station with access to many other parts of the country.

What does it cost?

If Kingston St Mary sounds like the perfect village for you, the average housing price is around £481,348. A beautiful detached five bedroom Elizabethan farmhouse with wonderful countryside views and a secluded walled garden would cost around £670,000, whereas a smaller three bedroom, semi-detached house would set you back around £260,000. Stunning flats are also available for a smaller family or couple, which cost around £110, 000.

Council Tax bands vary from £944.67 for Band A to £2834 for Band H.