A NEW LIFE IN FROME

It seems particularly fitting that behind every new resident’s move to The Old Printworks in Frome - where Penguin first started publishing books - there is a fascinating personal story to be told.

That is certainly the case with Sophie and Ali, who both moved to their new homes at the historic site recently after discovering how special Frome is.

Sophie, a Bath-born mother-of-two has revealed that she was inspired to relocate from the Midlands to Frome when on a visit to the town she witnessed a nearby spectacular starling murmuration – a huge shape-shifting black cloud of countless birds swooping and diving together. While health coach, Ali, fell in love with the town while visiting the notorious ‘Frome Independent’ Market and then soon fell for her new two-bedroom home at The Old Printworks in Frome.

Ali and her husband headed from Rutland to the South West to look for a new home before being won over by the delights of Frome and The Old Printworks.

“We checked out a fair few places but ultimately the vibrant street market confirmed Frome was THE place for us,” Ali said.

“We didn’t really know what we were letting ourselves in for - we just felt an incredible vibe around the market which epitomises Frome.

“It’s a place for people from all walks of life. It suited us as we felt a real passion locally for a greener, more holistic way of life.

“Seeing the murmuration was an absolutely stunning sight and confirmed to me that it was hightime I came back home to Somerset,” Sophie said.

“It was beautiful, powerful and so profound that it honestly felt as if I was being called back to the South West of England.

“I’d always loved life here when I was growing up in nearby Bath, but this felt like irrefutable proof that the time was right to return to the area from Nottingham where we’d been living.

For Sophie it has certainly proved to be a successful move and has brought her own thriving yoga teaching business to the picturesque market town and business is booming.

Sophie had high expectations of Frome but admits that they have all been exceeded since she moved into her new-build home at The Old Printworks.

“I had a feeling it would be a great place, but it’s been even better than I imagined,” Sophie said.

Ali goes on to say, “plus, as a former garden and interior designer, I appreciated how well the architect had maximised the space to give each room a workable layout and lovely flow through the house.”

Sophie says her new home will provide the platform for her yoga business to prosper.

“Our home works well as a base for my yoga work because it’s a relaxing, spacious and airy environment which benefits from enjoying plenty of natural light.

“There’s even a pathway leading down to the picturesque banks of the River Frome if we want a change of scenery.

“The site has been converted beautifully. As well as lovely new homes, it’s reassuring to know our new community has the same access to local nature they enjoyed when printing books was in full swing.”

Ali is also relishing the new chapter in her life and her work-life balance saying “I’m able to work from home in an office that I’ve set up in our garden which means my commute to work in the morning lasts all of 20 seconds.

Ali is also equally impressed with the quality, design and biodiversity of the homes at The Old Printworks. “It’s a quality, contemporary home, but it also boasts impressive sustainability credentials; from use of eco-stock bricks and triple-glazing to the consideration of biodiversity across the site,” Ali said.

“And it felt right to be buying a home at a site being brought back into use and regenerated, rather than a greenfield site. It ticks all the important boxes for us.

“I was also won over by the styling of the houses and the big windows that mean every room is filled with light.

“There’s lots of like-minded people here who are open to exploring new ways to live life to the full.

“And I’m delighted to be a member of that community where there’s a real feeling of togetherness.

“That’s what makes Somerset a special county and Frome an extraordinary market town.”