Stoke, East (or Stoke-sub-Hamdon), 1-1/2 m.  W. from Montacute.  It has a remarkably interesting church, exhibiting an exceptional combination of various styles of architecture.  At present it is cruciform in plan, with a tower on the N. (cp.  Tintinhull) the basement of which constitutes the N. transept; but originally it consisted of a Norm. nave and chancel only.  Of the Norm. church note (1) N. porch, with quadripartite groining, supported on quaint corbels; (2) N. doorway, with carved tympanum exhibiting the zodiacal figure Sagittarius aiming at a lion, with the Agnus Dei above (King Stephen is said to have assumed Sagittarius on his badge because he obtained the kingdom when the sun was in that sign); (3) S. doorway, now blocked; (4) two very small windows in nave, one displaying outside a rude representation of St Michael and the Dragon; (5) recessed chancel arch; (6) round-headed window in chancel, visible only on the outside; (7) corbels under chancel roof; (8) flat buttresses at W. end; (9) font with cable and lozenge mouldings.  To this Norm. building an E.E.N. transept was added, with a tower above (the groining supported on beautifully-carved corbels) which has two lancets on each face.  In the Dec. period there was added the S. transept; foliated lancets were inserted in the nave and chancel walls (those in the nave breaking the splays of the Norm. slits); a large window (with reticulated tracery) was placed at the W. end, and a second with flowing tracery introduced into the ribbed chamber over the N. porch.  Still later, Perp. windows were inserted in the E. and S. walls.  Other noteworthy features are (1) the piscinas, one (double) being under a massive canopy at the S.E. corner of the chancel, a second in the S. transept, and a third (for the rood-loft altar) on the E. pier of the transept; (2) Perp. stone screen under the tower (obviously not in its original position); (3) squints; (4) effigies, one (in the chancel) of a knight under a Renaissance canopy, the other (in the S. transept) of an ecclesiastic; (5) Jacobean pulpit; (6) stand for an hour glass; (7) low side windows in the chancel.

At the hamlet of West Stoke is Parsonage Farm, originally a chantry house, where should be noticed the Tudor gateway, the hall, a gabled room surmounted by a bell-cot, and a circular columbarium.  The chantry which was served by the priests who resided here, no longer exists.

Above the village is Hamdon Hill, an eminence 426 ft. above sea level.  It consists of inferior oolite, which furnishes excellent building stone, and the hill in consequence is honeycombed with quarries.  On the summit is a very extensive British camp covering 2O0 acres, part of which was subsequently occupied by the Romans in order to command the ford where the Fosseway (which runs near) crossed the Parrett.  The rampart is nearly 3 m. in circumference.  Near the N. side of the camp is a hollow called the “Frying-pan,” which is thought to have been an amphitheatre; but it looks too small to have served for this.