SEVERN STOKE
Stoche (xi cent.); Stokes, Stoke, Stokis, Stoka,
Sauernestoch, Savernestoke (xii cent.).
The parish of Severn Stoke, inclusive of the
hamlets of Clifton, Kinnersley and Sandford, has an
area of 3,326 acres, about two-thirds of which are
devoted to pasture. (fn. 1) It stands on the left bank of
the Severn and contains about 188 acres of woodland. The land, low lying in the west and northwest, rises to the east and south, the highest points
being on the southern boundary, where heights of
over 160 ft. above the ordnance datum are reached;
there are beautiful views of the Malvern Hills and
surrounding country. The soil is loam, gravel,
sand and clay and the subsoil Keuper Marl and
Alluvium. The chief crops are wheat, barley, roots
and early peas. There is much meadow-land on the
banks of the river. There was a vineyard here in the
12th century, but it existed only as a close in 1315. (fn. 2)
The south-west of the parish is watered by several
streams which flow into the Severn.
The village of Severn Stoke lies at the foot of a
fairly steep hill, about midway between Worcester
and Tewkesbury, on the high road connecting those
places. It contains several cross-timbered houses.
The church of St. Denis, which stands low near the
river bank, is backed by the dark woods of Severn
Bank. Near it is the rectory; a little to the north
of the village there is a pound.
A mile north, on the Worcester road, is the hamlet
of Sandford, where there are brick and tile works on
the river bank. Half a mile further north is Clifton,
in which the chief building of interest is Clifton
Court, now a farm-house. Near Clifton is Ashmoor
Common, from which a brook runs south through
Sandford into the Severn. Black Naunton lies to the
south-east of Clifton, and near it is Birch Farm. (fn. 3)
The hamlet of Kinnersley is about a mile east of the
village.
A little south-west of the village, on a marl bank
rising from the Severn, is Severn Bank, a mansion
built by one of the Earls of Coventry (fn. 4) and still belonging to Lord Coventry. It is now occupied by
Mrs. Long.
During the Commonwealth the minister of Severn
Stoke was shot at in his pulpit by John Somers. The
hole is still to be seen in the pulpit. (fn. 5) Severn Stoke
in 1671 was the head quarters of the 'Levellers, (fn. 6) a
number of rude and dissolute people who do many
exploits of villainy and roguery in the country.'
Warrants were issued for their arrest, but the death
of the leaders caused the band to disperse. (fn. 7)
From 1170–89 there are many references on the
Pipe Rolls to the 'recluse (inclusa) of Stoke,' who had
an annual pension of 30s. 5d. from the king's bounty. (fn. 8)
Henry le Truer, king's messenger, in 1264 had a
grant for life of 1d. a day 'as the recluse of Severn
Stoke received it of the king's appointed alms.' (fn. 9)
The common lands in this parish were inclosed by
an Act of 1774 (fn. 10) ; the award was made 27 June
1775. (fn. 11)
William Loe, divine and author, chaplain to James I,
was rector of Severn Stoke from 1611 to 1612.
Henry Greisley, a translator, afterwards a prebendary
of Worcester, was rector there from 1661 to 1678. (fn. 12)
John Somers, father of John Lord Somers, the Lord
Chancellor (1697–1700), had an estate at Clifton in
Severn Stoke, which was sold by Sir Charles Cocks,
towards the end of the 18th century, to Lord
Coventry. (fn. 13)
The following place-names occur: Kekynwyche
Grounde, (fn. 14) Wynshull, (fn. 15) Benhay (fn. 16) (xvi cent.).
MANORS
SEVERN STOKE is doubtless to be
identified with 'Stoce,' 10 manses in
which are said to have been confirmed
to the abbey of Pershore by King Edgar in 972. (fn. 17)
At the time of the Domesday Survey this land formed
part of the manor of Pershore which had been given
by Edward the Confessor to Westminster Abbey, (fn. 18)
and was held, as it had been in his reign, by Alvred
of Marlborough. (fn. 19) It was gelded at 15 hides, and
the whole was held in 1086 by Alvred, (fn. 20) of whom
two radmanni had a hide, and two men, William and
Boselin, had 2 hides and 3 virgates. Alvred's lands
soon escheated, for a survey of a rather later date
accounts for 15 hides in 'Stokes Roberti,' of which
12 were of the fee of the king and 3 of the fee of
Westminster. (fn. 21) In 1166 the king held Severn Stoke,
for which he owed to the Abbot of Westminster the
service of one knight. (fn. 22) In 1167–8 it was held of
the king by Walter Beauchamp, (fn. 23) but was forfeited
by him apparently before 1170. (fn. 24) In 1194–5 the
sheriff rendered account of £4 10s. for Severn Stoke,
escheat of William Turpin. (fn. 25) It was still in the
Crown in the next year, (fn. 26) but before 1199 Richard I
gave Severn Stoke to Baldwin de Betun Earl of Albemarle, (fn. 27) who gave all his lands in England, including
this manor, to William son of
William Marshal Earl of Pembroke on his marriage with
Alice, Baldwin's only daughter. (fn. 28) The gift was confirmed
by King John in 1203, (fn. 29) but
Baldwin retained a life interest
till his death in 1212. (fn. 30) Alice
died without issue before
April 1219, and in 1224
William married the Lady
Eleanor, sister of Henry III. (fn. 31)
In 1229 the manor of Severn
Stoke was confirmed to him
with reversion to his wife for life (fn. 32) ; he had, however,
subinfeudated it at about this time to Roger Clifford.
William died without issue in 1231, (fn. 33) and Eleanor
held the overlordship of the manor till her death in
1275. (fn. 34) The overlordship then followed the earldom
of Pembroke (fn. 35) till 1245, when it fell to co-heirs.
Severn Stoke was afterwards held of the manor of
Hanley Castle. (fn. 36)
Marshal. Party or and vert a lion gules.
William Earl of Pembroke had given this manor
about 1229 to Roger Clifford (fn. 37) of Clifford in Herefordshire, who died in 1231–2. (fn. 38) His son Roger (fn. 39) had
a grant of free warren in Severn Stoke in 1248, (fn. 40)
and, as his son Roger had died in 1282, (fn. 41) he settled
the manor in 1284 on himself and his wife with
remainder to his grandson Roger, a younger son of
Roger Clifford, jun. (fn. 42) Roger the elder died in 1286, (fn. 43)
and in 1310 the manor belonged to his elder grandson
Robert Clifford, Roger, on whom the manor had
been settled in 1284, having apparently died childless.
Robert, who was summoned as Lord Clifford in
1299, (fn. 44) had in 1310 a grant of a weekly market on
Monday and a yearly fair on the vigil, the feast and
the morrow of St. Faith (6 October) at his manor
of Severn Stoke. (fn. 45) He was slain at Bannockburn in
1314, (fn. 46) being then seised of a messuage and a garden
here. (fn. 47) His son Roger joined the rebellion of
Thomas Earl of Lancaster and was taken prisoner at
Boroughbridge and executed at York in 1322, when
Severn Stoke was forfeited. (fn. 48)
It was given into the custody
of Richard de Foxcote (fn. 49) and
afterwards granted to Hugh le
Despencer, jun., and Eleanor
his wife. (fn. 50) Hugh was hanged
in 1326, (fn. 51) and the custody of
the manor was given to Henry
de Percy and Robert Clifford,
brother and heir of Roger, (fn. 52)
and to Robert alone on his
attaining full age in 1327. (fn. 53)
In 1332–3 Robert Clifford
was the principal landowner
in Severn Stoke. (fn. 54) He died in 1344, his son and
heir Robert being then under age. (fn. 55) Robert paid
40s. for a knight's fee in Severn Stoke in 1346. (fn. 56)
He died without issue about 1349, holding this
manor for life jointly with his wife Euphemia, who
survived him. (fn. 57) She married Sir Walter Heselarton
and held the manor till her death in 1393. (fn. 58)
Robert's heir was his brother Roger, who died in
1389. (fn. 59) His son Thomas died in 1391 holding the
reversion of the manor of Severn Stoke after the
death of Euphemia. (fn. 60) He was succeeded by an
infant son John, during whose minority the custody
of the manor was granted to William Lord de Roos. (fn. 61)
John was slain at the siege of Meaux in 1422,
having granted this manor in 1414 to William del
Garth and others, (fn. 62) who held it during the minority
of John's young son Thomas Clifford. (fn. 63) Thomas
fought on the side of Henry VI, and was slain at the
battle of St. Albans in 1454. (fn. 64) His son John was
one of the Lancastrian leaders at the battle of Wakefield, 1460. He was known as Bloody Clifford or
the Butcher, and was slain the day before the battle
of Towton, 1461. He was attainted, his peerage
forfeited and his estates confiscated, (fn. 65) Severn Stoke
being granted in 1474 to Humphrey Stafford of
Grafton. (fn. 66) On the accession of Henry VII the
attainder was reversed and the title and estates were
restored to Henry Clifford, son of John, who died in
1523. (fn. 67) Severn Stoke was settled by his son Henry
on himself and his wife Margaret in 1532–3. (fn. 68) He
died in 1542, (fn. 69) having been created Earl of Cumberland in 1525. His son and heir Henry sold
Severn Stoke to Elizabeth Onely, widow, (fn. 70) who died
2 August 1556. (fn. 71) Her son Thomas Lee succeeded
her, and in 1572 bequeathed Severn Stoke to his
wife Mary for life with remainder to Richard son of
Richard Lee of 'Wyddebury' (Cheshire). (fn. 72) He died
in the same year, his heir being his nephew William
Watson (son of Anne daughter of Elizabeth Onely),
who had an interest in this manor till 1591 or
later. (fn. 73) In 1610 Richard Lee gave Severn Stoke
to Robert Barnefield in exchange for an estate
in Cheshire. (fn. 74) Barnefield sold it in 1631 to Sir
William Courteen, (fn. 75) who held it at the time of his
death in 1636. (fn. 76) His son and heir William conveyed the manor in 1636 to Sir Edward Lyttelton. (fn. 77)
Though Severn Stoke was seized in 1649 as land of
Sir William Courteen and Sir Edward Lyttelton, (fn. 78)
delinquents, (fn. 79) it must have been sold before that time
to Thomas Lord Coventry, who was holding it at his
death in 1640. (fn. 80) Since that date Severn Stoke has
descended with Croome D'Abitôt, (fn. 81) the Earl of
Coventry being the present owner. (fn. 82)
Clifford. Checky or and azure a fesse gules.
The manor of Severn Stoke was within the
boundary of Malvern Chase, the lord of the manor
being a free suitor at the court of Hanley Castle. (fn. 83)
The wood of Severn Stoke is mentioned in 1086 as
being 2 leagues in length and a league in breadth. (fn. 84)
Two bucks every week during the season from Severn
Stoke were granted in 1231 to Isabel the king's
sister dwelling in the castle of Marlborough. (fn. 85)
There was a windmill and a fish-pond in the
manor in 1315, (fn. 86) and the lord had a free fishery in
the Severn in the 17th century. (fn. 87)
In 1315 Roger Golafre held 3 virgates of land in
Severn Stoke of Robert Clifford. (fn. 88) This land in
1505 had passed to Robert Arderne. (fn. 89) It was called
'the manor of Severn Stoke' on the death of John
Arderne in 1525, (fn. 90) and was held in succession by
his son Thomas and his great-grandson Edward. (fn. 91)
The manor of CLIFTON possibly represents land
which, in 1328, when the Prior of Little Malvern
claimed the wardship of the heir of Walter le Blake, (fn. 92)
was shown to have been held by the Blake family
of the priors by ancient feoffment. (fn. 93) It is mentioned
at the Dissolution as a manor in the possession of
the priory of Little Malvern, of the clear annual
value of 62s. 8½d. (fn. 94) It was granted in 1543 to
Richard Andrews and Nicholas Temple, (fn. 95) who had
licence to alienate it in the same year to Nicholas
Clifton and Anne his wife. (fn. 96) They settled the manor
in 1577 on their younger son Francis. (fn. 97) Nicholas
Clifton was succeeded in 1588 by two granddaughters Anne and Eleanor, daughters of his elder
son Thomas, (fn. 98) who had livery of their lands in 1594. (fn. 99)
They conveyed Clifton in 1598 to Francis Clifton,
their uncle, (fn. 100) who settled it on them in 1615. (fn. 101)
He died in 1616, and was succeeded by Anne, then
widow of — Greville, and Eleanor, then wife of
Francis Buck, who had livery in the following year, (fn. 102)
Anne being then the wife of Thomas Rea. In 1633
Eleanor with her son Brutus Buck sold Clifton to Sir
William Courteen. (fn. 103) It has since descended with
Severn Stoke (q.v.). The site of the manor was
conveyed by Richard Moore and Jane his wife in
1605 to Sir John Buck and George Wylde, (fn. 104) and by
Francis and Henry Clifton to the same in 1606. (fn. 105)
The manor of BLACK NAUNTON (Newenton,
xiv cent.) may probably be identified with the lands
of Robert le Blake, or Blac, who in 1180–1 (fn. 106)
paid relief for his lands, amounting to half a knight's
fee, in Severn Stoke. (fn. 107) This entry is repeated in the
two following years. (fn. 108) In 1195 this or another
Robert le Blake gave 2 marks 'for having his inheritance in Severn Stoke, which was worth a mark
yearly.' (fn. 109) In 1237–8 Robert 'le Neir' gave to Avice
widow of Richard de Severn Stoke a third part of
3½ virgates of land in Naunton which Avice claimed
as dower. (fn. 110)
John D'Abitot in 1265 granted to Thomas le
Blake and Agatha his wife lands in Hillfield in
Severn Stoke, (fn. 111) which they in 1271–2 granted to
Geoffrey de la Hide. (fn. 112) Nicholas le Blake of Naunton
dealt with lands here in 1275. (fn. 113) Adam de Naunton
in 1274–5 narrowed the king's way in the vill of
Naunton. (fn. 114) In 1276 he was assessed at 2s. under
Severn Stoke, while John, Thomas, Richard and
Nicholas le Blake also paid subsidies here. (fn. 115) In 1315
Alice de Naunton was returned as holder of a quarter
of a fee in Naunton under Robert Clifford. (fn. 116)
Reginald le Blake was a landowner in Severn Stoke
in 1332–3. (fn. 117)
As a manor Black Naunton first appears in the 15th
century in the possession of John Throckmorton, (fn. 118)
who enfeoffed John Cade and
others to make an estate for
one Thomas Greet. (fn. 119) Thomas
left it to his wife Margery,
who married as her second
husband Thomas Washbourne.
The manor appears to have
reverted to the Throckmortons, however, for in 1518
Sir Robert Throckmorton
died seised of Black Naunton
Manor, held of Lord Clifford. (fn. 120)
He was succeeded by his son
George, who in 1543–4 mortgaged the manor to John Legh
of London. (fn. 121) Black Naunton is mentioned in the
will of Sir George Throckmorton, 1552, (fn. 122) and his
son and heir, Sir Robert Throckmorton, sold it in
1562 to John Folliott of Pirton, (fn. 123) with which manor
Black Naunton has since descended. (fn. 124)
Throckmorton. Gules a cheveron argent with three gimel bars sable thereon.
BLAKE'S FARM was held of the manor of
Clifton, (fn. 125) probably by the Blake family. It is first
mentioned in 1539, being given by Richard Monington
to his daughter Sybil and her husband Sir Rowland
Morton. The latter died in 1554 and was succeeded
by a son Richard. (fn. 126) Sybil was holding the property
in 1556 (fn. 127) and 1576. (fn. 128) In 1603 Thomas Morton
and Anne his wife, Rowland Morton and John Morton
granted it to James Morton. (fn. 129) It was conveyed in
1651 by Sir William Morton, kt., (fn. 130) and Anne his wife
to Thomas Peirson and Richard Williams. (fn. 131)
CHURCH
The church of ST. DENIS consists
of chancel 30 ft. by 17 ft. 9 in., south
transept 18 ft. 9 in. by 17 ft. 9 in., nave
69 ft. 6 in. by 21 ft., south aisle 42 ft. by 15 ft. 6 in.,
tower 11 ft. square, and south porch. The tower
stands opposite the transept on the north side of the
nave, to which it is open in the lower stage. The
width across nave and aisle is 39 ft. 6 in. and the
total length of the building is 102 ft. 3 in. All the
measurements are internal.
The oldest parts of the building are the lower part
of the west wall and part of the north wall of the
nave, which retain several 12th-century features.
Other portions of the structure may be of this date,
several fragments of masonry exhibiting architectural
detail of the same period occurring as named below,
but these were in most cases apparently due to the
re-use of old materials by the later builders. There
is, however, sufficient evidence to show that a building
of some importance existed in the 12th century, the
north and west nave walls of which stood in the same
position as at present. Whether the nave extended
so far eastward as now cannot be stated. This 12thcentury building no doubt consisted of a rectangular
chancel and aisleless nave and seems to have remained
unaltered till the 14th century, when the whole
structure was rebuilt in its present form, the plan
having since remained unaltered. The 14th-century
porch, which had a chamber over it, has, however,
disappeared, and a new east window was inserted in
the 15th century. The transept is known as the
Warwick chapel and is of the same date as the rest
of the building. Its south wall projects only about
3 ft. in front of that of the aisle. The chancel
was restored in 1872, and following a flood in 1886,
when the water rose to nearly 3 ft. above the floor of
the church, the building was restored in 1890, when
the whole of the nave fittings were removed, the
plaster scraped from the walls, the stucco removed
from the exterior of the tower, the floor relaid in
concrete, and the roofs retiled. The church is built
throughout of rubble masonry and the roofs, with
the exception of that of the aisle, are covered with
red tiles overhanging at the eaves. The aisle has a
flat-pitched lean-to leaded roof and the porch is a
modern one of timber.
The chancel has square angle buttresses of two
stages and the east window is the original 15thcentury one of three trefoiled lights with perpendicular tracery. The north wall of the chancel is
blank, but on the south side are two windows, each
of two trefoiled lights with a quatrefoil in the head,
modern restorations of 14th-century work. The
rear arches are original. There is a square-headed
piscina recess in the usual position, but no traces of
a bowl or drain remain. The priest's doorway,
which is between the windows, is modern or a
restoration. Below the westernmost of the two
south windows are inserted three stones, each carved
with sunk ornament within a circle, and on the north
side of the chancel arch, facing west, is built a stone
with two star ornaments. Above the arch itself is
another early fragment carved with a small herringbone pattern. The chancel arch is pointed and of
two chamfered orders, both dying into the wall on
the east side, but the outer one carried down
towards the nave. The oak reredos was erected to
the memory of Leila Louisa, wife of the Rev. Henry
William Coventry, rector of Severn Stoke; she died
in 1899.
The north wall of the nave is divided externally
into three bays by 14th-century buttresses of two
stages. The 12th-century features consist of a
round-headed window high up in the wall in the
westernmost bay, a double flat buttress at the northwest angle, a pilaster buttress further east, and a
portion of a triangular grooved and chamfered stringcourse in the middle bay, about 14 ft. above the
ground level, ranging with the lower part of the
window. The window has a plain head in one
stone, without hood mould, and splays out internally
in the usual manner. The pilaster buttress is about
19 ft. from the west end and goes the full height of
the wall, but is partly covered by the later buttress
which is built up against it. The middle bay has a
built-up pointed doorway and the easternmost one a
three-light modern window with perpendicular
tracery. Internally, to the west of this window
and 5 ft. above the floor, is the lower part of the
12th-century attached shaft with moulded base,
together with two loose fragments of the same period,
the whole contained within a later recess. There
are remains of a 12th-century west doorway, part of
the south jamb being visible inside. Externally two
12th-century stones are built into the head of a
later square-headed recess below the west window
and another fragment carved with cheveron ornament occurs in the wall further south. The west
window is modern and of five cinquefoiled lights with
the mullions crossing in the head and tracery of
14th-century type, probably a copy of the original
window. The jambs inside are ancient. The arcade
consists of four pointed arches of two orders springing
from square piers with a half-round on each face, and
having moulded capitals and bases following the same
section. The outer order is simply chamfered, but
the inner has the characteristic 14th-century wave
moulding and all the detail is good. The easternmost
arch opens to the transept, and the arch dividing
the transept from the aisle is of similar character,
springing from the first pier and from a respond
opposite.
The transept is lighted on the south side by an
unrestored window of four trefoiled lights with flowing
tracery in the head, and on the east by two restored
windows of two trefoiled lights with a quatrefoil above,
set within a wide containing rear arch. There is no
trace of any mediaeval ritual arrangements, but the
roof has a flat wooden ceiling divided into sixty-four
small panels by moulded ribs, a modern copy or
restoration of an original feature. The south aisle
has two windows, one on each side of the porch, and
a third at the west end, all similar to those on the
east side of the transept and equally restored. The
south doorway is original and has a pointed arch of
two orders, with hood mould, the inner order with
the wave moulding and the outer hollow chamfered,
both continued to the ground. To the west of the
opening inside is a doorway, now built up, to the
former porch chamber. It is square-headed and the
sill is 6 ft. 3 in. above the aisle floor. The old
porch had a vaulted ceiling, the wall rib and the
springers of the vaulting ribs supported by mutilated
carved heads still remaining above and on either side
of the doorway.
The tower has a projecting vice in the south-west
corner carried up as a turret above the embattled
parapet, and diagonal buttresses of four stages on the
north side. It consists of four internal stages, but
they are unmarked outside by string-course or set-off
of any kind. The lower stage, which is open to the
nave, is lighted by two original windows, each of
two trefoiled lights with quatrefoil in the head, one
on the north and the other on the east side, and
the two middle stages have square-headed single-light
openings to east and west. There is a clock dial on
the east side facing the road. The tower arch is of
two chamfered orders, both dying into the wall.
The lower stage is used as an organ chamber and
vestry and has a late built-up fireplace in the northwest corner. The doorway to the vice is also built
up and a new one formed on the outside. In the
vestry is an oak chest with three locks and an old
communion table with turned legs. Some 17thcentury panelling has been used up in the organ
case.
The font is of 14th-century date and consists of
an octagonal bowl with panelled sides and blank
shields below. In the chancel is a 15th-century
prayer-desk with carved ends and front, but all the
other fittings are modern. Some old glass remains
in the top lights of the south window of the transept
and in one of its two eastern windows.
On the north wall of the chancel is a marble
monument to John Somers (d. January 1680–1) and
Catherine (Severn) his wife, erected by their son
John Lord Somers, who wrote the Latin inscription. (fn. 132)
An inscribed stone to Richard Somer (d. 1598)
with a punning epitaph is now set up against the
south wall of the nave near the east end. (fn. 133) Some
old encaustic tiles found at the time of the last
restoration are now in the recess in the north wall of
the nave.
There is a ring of five bells; the treble, third and
tenor by John Martin are dated 1648, and the fourth
1605; the second was recast by H. Bond & Sons,
of Burford, Oxon., in 1900, when all the bells were
rehung. (fn. 134) There is also a 'little bell' without date
or inscription.
The plate consists of a chalice of 1571, with
the usual floral band and later cover paten, (fn. 135) a
salver paten without date letter, inscribed 'Ex
dono Thome et Joh'is Somer,' (fn. 136) and a flagon of
1571 inscribed 'Thomas Chapleyne and Joan his
wife,' and on the domed lid 'Ex dono Thomae
Chapleyne.' (fn. 137)
The registers before 1812 are as follows:
(i) baptisms, burials and marriages 1538 to 1728;
(ii) baptisms and burials 1729 to 1775, marriages
1729 to 1769; (iii) baptisms and burials 1729 to
1812, marriages 1729 to 1769; (iv) marriages
1754 to 1786; (v) marriages 1786 to 1812.
To the south of the chancel is the moulded base
and part of the shaft of a churchyard cross on a new
stone plinth. The shaft, which is octagonal in
section, has a slight taper; it stands 4 ft. 9 in. high,
and there is a niche in the base facing south.
ADVOWSON
A priest is mentioned in the
Domesday Survey of Severn Stoke. (fn. 138)
In 1229 the advowson belonged to
Roger Clifford, (fn. 139) whose son presented to the church
in 1273. (fn. 140) His successors in the manor have always
held the patronage of the living. (fn. 141)
In 1245 the benefice was found to be insufficient
for the maintenance of a priest, and an additional
benefice was granted to the incumbent. This arrangement continued for some years, (fn. 142) and the curates
under these pluralist rectors were probably also presented by the lords of the manor, for in 1315 Robert
Clifford was said to hold the advowson both of the
church and vicarage of Severn Stoke. (fn. 143) This practice
seems to have given rise to a supposition that the
living of Severn Stoke was a vicarage, and at the
beginning of the 14th century the bishop sequestered
the so-called vicar's portion pending examination
into the matter. (fn. 144) Finding that the living had never
been a vicarage, the sequestration was removed in 1323
and the living declared entire, i.e., the incumbent to
have a right both as rector and vicar to the great and
small tithe. (fn. 145) At the Dissolution the rectory was of
the clear annual value of £21 17s. 10d. (fn. 146)
In 1325 the churchyard of the church of Severn
Stoke (fn. 147) was consecrated.
Nicholas de Aston (fn. 148) in 1313 had licence for an
oratory in his own house, which was 3 miles from
the parish church, 'and in foul winter (the) ways
(were) not to be passed with safety.' (fn. 149)
There was a chantry dedicated to the Virgin in
the parish church, founded in the 13th century (fn. 150) by
Geoffrey de la Hide, (fn. 151) who gave lands to maintain a
chaplain to say mass daily for his soul. Other lands
were given to the chantry by John Lokynton (fn. 152) and
Bartholomew Corteis. (fn. 153) The advowson belonged to
the lord of the manor. (fn. 154) Thomas the chaplain of the
chantry is mentioned in 1280. (fn. 155) At the time of the
suppression of the chantries the sum of 102s. 6½d.
was employed annually for the maintenance of the
chantry priest. (fn. 156) The parish at that date was so large
that one priest was insufficient to serve the cure. (fn. 157)
The chantry lands were granted in 1550 to Thomas
Reve and others. (fn. 158)
An obit of 14d. was used to provide lights and
lamps in the church. (fn. 159)
CHARITIES
The documents relating to the
charities of this parish were destroyed
in 1770 by an inundation of the River
Severn, which flooded all the ground on which the
church stands. It appeared, however, from the
church tables that Richard Tustian gave by will,
1656, 2 acres in Clifton Ham for the poor in bread;
that Mrs. Catherine Fownes, widow of the Rev.
Richard Fownes, D.D., a former rector, gave £10
for the use of the poor; that Mrs. Ann Wright, by
will, 1705, gave £5, the interest to be given to poor
widows; that Job Blissard, by will, 1726, gave £5
for the poor and aged. These charities are now
represented by about 3 a. allotted under the Inclosure
Act, 1774, producing a net income of £1 a year or
thereabouts.
It was stated in the same tables that Margaret
Lady Coventry gave £20 to be laid out in land, the
yearly rent thereof to be employed for providing
bread and wine for the monthly communion, and
that Mr. Postumus Salway, by his will, 1703, gave
£30 for the use of the poor. These sums, with
some addition from the parishioners, were applied in
the purchase of 2 a. in Tewkesbury Ham, producing
about £3 yearly.
For the charities of Geo. Lloyd and Richard Spencer
see under Kempsey, Oswaldslow Hundred. A sum
of about £4 10s. yearly is received as the proportion
of the income due to Severn Stoke.
The church table also states that William Palin,
by his will in 1764, gave £20 to the poor, but only
£10 15s. 5d. was received in respect of the legacy.
The money is now on deposit in the Post Office
Savings Bank and produces 5s. yearly.
The income of the above charities is applied in
the distribution of 10s. yearly among the poor, and
a loaf of bread is given to every poor inhabitant of
the parish.