For Dr Pamela Stagg-Jones and her husband, Ray it was ‘love at first sight’ when they viewed a new home in the Vale of White Horse.

However, having set their hearts on living in somewhere like Marlborough or Cirencester, they were initially reluctant to move to Faringdon.

But just three months later, they have grown to love the town which offers everything they need, as well as being a friendly place to live.

The couple lived in Texas and Florida for more than 20 years and moved to a flat in Penarth, near Cardiff, before discovering Fern Hill Place. Tucked away in a landscaped setting off Coxwell Road, the development consists of ten new homes which have been designed and built to a high specification by Wallingford-based Beechcroft.

Dr Stagg-Jones said: “We were hoping to buy a new, easy-to-maintain home in Cirencester or perhaps Marlborough, where our daughter lives. Faringdon was was not even on our list but friends, who were also looking to move, recommended we take a look at Fern Hill Place.

“I had visited a Beechcroft development in Winchester some time before and because I liked the style of the new homes and the quality of build and finish, we decided to visit Fern Hill Place.

“My husband thought the development was perfect for us but I was not too keen on Faringdon so we continued our search.” Having failed to find anything that matched up to the quality of the development they decided to buy a four-bedroomed townhouse.

The location, equidistant between three sets of grandchildren and close to Wrag Barn Golf Club in Highworth, where Mr Jones is a player, proved ideal after all.

Dr Stagg-Jones added: “The architect was certainly inspired when he designed the homes here. Each has a garage and some homes also have a workshop. There is also a security gate.

“But one of the best things about living here is the sense of community.

“We go out to dinner with our neighbours and we had a wonderful barbecue in a neighbour’s garden in the summer.

“It is really nice that the community is mixed. Three of the couples are retired like us and there are two young families. It is so lovely to have children around.” And Faringdon has actually grown on them. In fact, every time they visit the town it becomes more appealing. The remaining property at Fern Hill Place is the former showhome which has four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a cloakroom arranged over three storeys.

The home comes complete with carpets, curtains, blinds and light fittings and is priced at £279,950.

For more details of the showhome, call 01367 244105, or selling agents Green & Co on 01235 763562.