Timeline for Wilstock/Willstock Farm (spellings vary locally), set within the history of the North Petherton royal estate and Petherton Park:
- c. 12th–13th centuries: North Petherton lay at the heart of a large royal estate/forest. The deer park (Petherton Park) formed here; later medieval keepers include Geoffrey Chaucer (forester 1391–1400). This parkland was progressively divided into farm holdings in the 17th century, laying the groundwork for later farms such as Wil(l)stock.
- 1638–1676: Sir Thomas Wroth began breaking up Petherton Park (1638); by 1665–1676 it was divided into 11–15 separate holdings. This estate fragmentation is the most likely moment farms in the park’s orbit (including the future Wil(l)stock Farm site) emerged as distinct units.
- 1782: Day & Masters’ county map marks “Petherton Park Farm” and depicts the park’s setting; it evidences established agricultural units across the former park by the late 18th century.
- 1834–1840: Most of the remaining Petherton Park estate was sold by Sir Thomas Acland to William Nation (1834) and is recorded under his holding at the North Petherton tithe award (1840). This anchors ownership/tenure patterns for farms in the park’s former bounds.
- 1871: Census: the Bruford family (John Bruford, farmer, b. 1840) are recorded at “Willstock Farm.”
- 1891: Census: the Marshall family farm at “Willstock Farm.”
- 1901: Census: the Aplin family are resident at “Willstock Farm.”
- 20 February 2016: Geograph photograph locates “Willstock Farm” just south of North Petherton (coords c. ST311/326), showing the farmstead in situ prior to redevelopment.
- 2021–2022: The historic farmhouse and ranges were converted as “Willstock Farm,” an exclusive development of 13 dwellings “crafted from the original farmhouse and buildings… several centuries old.” Sales brochures and listings document the scheme and the plan of the rebuilt yard (e.g., Willstock House, The Stables, Middle Barn, The Coach House).