STOKE BLISS with KYRE PARVA
Stoke (xii cent.); Stoke Blees, Stoke de Blez (xiv
cent.).
Stoke Bliss was formerly chiefly in the Herefordshire Hundred of Broxash, the hamlet of Kyre Parva
only being in Doddingtree Hundred. The whole
parish was transferred to Worcestershire in 1897. (fn. 1)
It consists of two parts, divided by the hamlet of
Kyre Parva, and is watered by the Kyre Brook and
Perry Brook. The road from Tenbury to Bromyard
runs through the parish.
The ground lies high, Stoke Hill on the eastern
boundary being 700 ft. above the ordnance datum,
and near Garmsley Camp in the west the same height
is reached.
The village contains several 17th-century half-timber
cottages and farm-houses. The church stands about
6½ miles south-east of Tenbury. Opposite it on the
east is the Church House Farm, a picturesque halftimber and stone 17th-century house of two stories
with dormers and a tiled roof.
Stoke Bliss: The Church House Farm
Banwalls, about three-quarters of a mile north-west
of the church, belonging to Mrs. Baldwyn-Childe, is a
two-storied farm-house of brick and stone of the 18th
century, with some half-timber work from a much
older building re-used in some parts of the walling.
An inclosed moated are immediately to the west of
the house is probably the site of this earlier dwelling.
The Perrie Farm, the residence of Sir Edward Pytts'
family before he rebuilt Kyre Park, stands at the west
of the parish about half a mile south of Kyre Park.
It is an early 16th-century two-storied house of halftimber on a stone base with tiled roofs, and is built on
an L-shaped plan with the living apartments on the
east and the kitchen on the west. The interior has
been considerably altered, but the hall retains good
oak moulded ceiling beams. There are three pools
round the house; those on the north and west are
probably the remains of a surrounding moat.
The Hyde (fn. 2) , which is situated at a completely
isolated spot about 2 miles west of the church, is a
stone house of the 14th century, much altered late
in the 16th or early in the 17th century, when,
according to an old drawing, much half-timbering
was used, and again altered in the 19th century.
Through all these vicissitudes, however, the house has
retained its original plan of a central hall 34 ft. 9 in.
by 19 ft. 9 in., with the solar and undercroft on the
south, at right angles to it, 28 ft. 8 in. by 13 ft. 1 in.,
and the kitchen on the north. These rooms have been
subdivided and partitioned, but the upper parts of the
roofs of both the hall and solar remain almost intact,
and are particularly fine examples of 14th-century
open-timber roofs. The hall, which is now divided
into two stages, was a single-storied apartment of the
same height as the solar with its undercroft, and had
a magnificent oak trussed roof divided into four bays
by one principal, and two subsidiary, moulded arched
trusses. Of this roof all the upper parts with the wind
braces remain, and, being constructed of heavy timbers,
are in good condition, but, with the exception of the
central one on the west side, all the responds have
disappeared, and the lower parts of the arches above
them have been cut away to obtain more space in the
later upper apartment. A rectangular chimney stack
of about 1600, with a wide fireplace, now occupies the
second bay from the north, dividing the hall laterally
into two parts. The roof over the solar, which is also
of moulded timbers with arched and cusped wind
braces, has not suffered so severely as that of the hall,
since the present division of solar and undercroft is
original. The two trusses dividing the apartment into
three bays have tie-beams with moulded braces below
them, and were originally braced above, but the upper
braces have been removed, probably in the late 16th
century, when a floor was constructed at the level of
the beams, thus forming an attic. The solar is now
partitioned below the trusses, and is approached by a
17th-century stairway on the west, and by a doorway
from the room in the upper part of the hall, the
stairway being continued to the attic. There is
some 17th-century panelling in the solar near the
stairway, and some of the late 16th century in the
lower part of the hall. The porch and entrance
doorway are modern, but the doorway entering
directly into the hall probably occupies its original
position. Some 14th-century oak window tracery,
which retains some fragments of the original leaded
glass, is used as a fanlight over the door. On the east
side of the house is a fine 17th-century half-timber
barn with a tiled roof, and on the west there is an old
well. A long strip of land between the Hyde and
the church bears the name of Prioress Meadow and
another portion to the north of the house is called
St. Flechers Chapel Field.
Garmsley Camp or 'the Wrathes' is an ancient
stronghold which occupies a commanding position on
high ground three-quarters of a mile west of the
Hyde. (fn. 3) Garmsley Farm, to the west of the camp, is
a small rectangular half-timber house of two stories
with a tiled roof, and dates probably from the early
16th century, but was repaired and refronted in brick
and stone in the 18th century. There are two rooms
on the ground floor, the kitchen on the east with a
wide fireplace, and the parlour on the west above an
18th-century cellar. The parlour has two original
moulded ceiling beams, the stops on which are formed
by the mouldings converging to a point.
The soil is loamy clay, the subsoil Old Red Sandstone. The chief crops are wheat, beans, peas, hops
and apples. In a lease of the Perrie dated 1659
special reference was made to the hopyards. (fn. 4) The
area is 1,163 acres in Stoke Bliss, 900 acres in Kyre
Parva, the land being chiefly permanent grass. (fn. 5) There
are disused quarries in the south-west.
Among place names found in the parish are
Doriebruggesfield, Sakhulle, Grethulle, Wessbroke,
Stapilacre, Sceldregge (xiv cent.) (fn. 6) ; Flecherplot and
Blackwebbe (xv cent.) (fn. 7) ; the Poole, Mylnehurst and
Comball (xvi cent.); the Norgates, New House, Over
House, Brick House and Sweet Green (xvii cent.). (fn. 8)
MANORS
STOKE BLISS is evidently to be
identified with the hide of land at
'Stoch' which Grifin son of Mariadoc
held in 1086 as successor to Godric. (fn. 9) The estate
afterwards became part of the honour of Radnor
which passed about 1230 from the Braose to the
Mortimer family by the marriage of Roger Mortimer
with Maud daughter and co-heir of William de Braose. (fn. 10)
The manor was held of this honour, which passed to
the crown on the accession of Edward IV, until the
16th century. (fn. 11)
Stoke Bliss was probably part of the fee (fn. 12) held in
1211–12 of the honour of Radnor by William de
Bliss (Bledis), (fn. 13) who had paid a fine of 2 marks in
1176 for trespass in the forests of Herefordshire. (fn. 14)
William or a descendant of the same name was
dispossessed of all his lands in 1231, (fn. 15) but he had
evidently been restored before 1234–5. (fn. 16) He was
succeeded by a son Hugh (fn. 17) who was pardoned in
1253 for the death of William Corbin. (fn. 18) In 1262
Hugh gave rents from his tenants, and a messuage at
Stoke Bliss to Lady Catherine de Lacy, who transferred
her interest to the priory of Aconbury (co. Heref.). (fn. 19)
Hugh was holding land in Kyre Parva until 1305
or later, (fn. 20) but the manor of Stoke Bliss must have
passed before this time to the Frenes, for towards the
end of the 13th century Ralph de Frene and his wife
Isabel granted it to Edmund Mortimer. (fn. 21)
Edmund seems to have been holding the manor in
demesne in 1303, (fn. 22) but in the inquisition taken at
his death a year later the half fee at Stoke Bliss was
said to be held by Margaret Banwall. (fn. 23) Margaret
widow of Edmund Mortimer was holding Stoke Bliss
in 1316. (fn. 24) It is not known how long the Mortimers
held the manor in demesne, and in 1361 half a fee in
Stoke Bliss held by Henry Turberville was delivered
to Philippa widow of Roger Earl of March. (fn. 25) Henry
Turberville was returned as tenant of this half fee
until 1425, (fn. 26) but he had probably ceased to hold it
before that date. The half fee was returned in 1431
as in the hands of the king on account of the minority
of Richard Duke of York, (fn. 27) but in the following
year Thomas ap Philip Vaughan died seised of the
manor of Stoke Bliss, which then passed to his son
William ap Thomas. (fn. 28) William settled it on his
wife Agnes in 1434, (fn. 29) and died in 1437, (fn. 30) leaving
a son John, two years of age. It seems possible
that this John assumed the name Herle, the maiden
name of his grandmother Margaret wife of Thomas
Vaughan, (fn. 31) for in 1511 John Herle died seised of
the manor, leaving a son George. (fn. 32) In 1512 George
died and was succeeded by a brother Thomas, (fn. 33) on
whose death in 1521 the manor passed to John
his son. (fn. 34) John Herle sold it in 1556 to Thomas
Baskerville. (fn. 35) In 1572 Thomas Baskerville settled
it on his illegitimate son Thomas Baskerville of
Netherwood, (fn. 36) who succeeded him in 1577 (fn. 37) and
mortgaged the manor in 1585 to Edward Pytts. (fn. 38)
Thomas was succeeded by a son John, who died in
1602. (fn. 39) His son Thomas obtained livery of the
manor in 1622, (fn. 40) but the actual possession had passed
before this time to Edward Pytts, as the mortgage of
1585 had never been redeemed, (fn. 41) and the manor has
since followed the descent of Kyre Wyard, (fn. 42) Mrs.
Baldwyn-Childe being the present owner.
The site of the manor during the 17th century
seems to have followed a different descent. In 1625
Edward Broad of Dunclent leased it for ninety-nine
years, after the death of Frances wife of Richard
Turville, to Philip Awbrey of Stockton, (fn. 43) who conveyed it in 1626 to Thomas Heming. (fn. 44) George
Heming sold the site in 1639 to Thomas Wich, (fn. 45)
and in 1722 another Thomas Wich sold it to Samuel
Pytts of Kyre Wyard. (fn. 46)
The manor of KETTLES KYRE (Keteles Cure,
xiii cent.; Parva Kyer alias Kettles Cure, xvi cent.)
was held of the manor of Eastham. (fn. 47) It may have
originated in land granted by Roger son of Samson
of Eastham to Henry Ketel by an undated 13thcentury charter. (fn. 48) Henry granted part of his land
to Peter de Dunnesdon, (fn. 49) and the rest passed to his
daughter Juliana wife of Adam Wele, who sold it to
Adam son of Hugh de la Hill. (fn. 50) The latter gave his
estate to Hugh Donville, who gave it to Sir William
Mortimer, rector of Eastham and canon of Hereford, (fn. 51)
Juliana confirming the transaction. (fn. 52) William Mortimer
gave the estate to Robert Burnell, Bishop of Bath and
Wells, (fn. 53) who died seised of it in 1291, (fn. 54) when his
nephew Philip succeeded. Philip was unsuccessfully
sued in 1292–3 for the estate, which then consisted
of a messuage, a carucate of land, 3 acres of wood and
rent, by Richard Baret, grandson of Henry Ketel. (fn. 55)
The estate passed on Philip's death to his son
Edward, (fn. 56) and had become part of Kyre Parva manor (fn. 57)
before 1585 when it was mortgaged by Thomas
Baskerville to Edward Pytts. (fn. 58)
An estate called HULL in Kyre Parva (fn. 59) seems to
have followed the descent of Hanley Child during the
16th century, (fn. 60) passing from the Crofts to the Hackluits,
for John Croft leased his 'Hall Place of Little Kyre'
to John Borrall in 1528, (fn. 61) and in 1564 Thomas
Hackluit settled it on himself and his wife Fortune. (fn. 62)
They sold it in 1569–70 to Thomas Baskerville, (fn. 63)
and it has probably since descended with Stoke Bliss. (fn. 64)
The capital messuage known as the Hull belonged
in the 18th century to the Lingens. (fn. 65)
The manor of KYRE PARVA (Cures, xiii cent.)
seems in early times to have been held of the lords of
Stoke Bliss, for in 1234–5 William de Bliss agreed
with Osbert de Cures that Osbert should do the
service of one-eighth of a knight's fee for land which
he held of William in Kyre, and should find a third
of the cost of maintenance of two serjeants doing
castle ward at Brecknock for fifteen days. (fn. 66) Ralph
de Frene, who succeeded as lord of Stoke Bliss,
granted to Edmund Mortimer the services of Hugh de
Bliss of Kyre Parva, (fn. 67) but the manor was held in the
14th century of the Beauchamps of Elmley, (fn. 68) , and
they retained the overlordship until the 15th century. (fn. 69)
In 1603 the manor was said to be held of the manor
of Bulford, co. Wilts. (fn. 70)
Hugh de Bliss still held land at Kyre Parva in
1307, (fn. 71) but before 1315 the manor had passed to
Roger Mortimer. (fn. 72) In 1346 a quarter of a fee in
Kyre formerly held by Hugh de Bliss was in the
possession of John de la Hyde. (fn. 73) It remained with this
family until 1459 or later. (fn. 74) In 1540 John Combes
was dealing with a manor of Kyre Parva, (fn. 75) , which he
conveyed in 1557–8 to Thomas Baskerville, (fn. 76) but in
1557 Roger Acton and his wife Iseult (fn. 77) sold a manor
called Kyre Parva to Thomas Hackluit, (fn. 78) who immediately conveyed it to Sir Andrew Corbett and others. (fn. 79)
The estate at Kyre Parva acquired by Thomas
Baskerville became united with the manor of Kettles
Kyre, and was mortgaged in 1585 by Thomas Baskerville to Edward Pytts as 'the manor of Parva Kyer
alias Kettles Cure.' It has since descended with the
manor of Stoke Bliss. (fn. 80)
The manor of BANWALLS (Banewall, xv cent.)
was held in 1432 of Richard Cornwall. (fn. 81) Since
much of the property held by Osbern Fitz Richard in
1086 afterwards passed to the Cornwalls, it seems
possible that Banwalls may have been the estate of one
hide at Kyre held under Osbern by Herbert in
1086. (fn. 82) The Banwalls first appear at Kyre at the
end of the 13th century, when John de Banwall
granted land there to Edmund Mortimer. (fn. 83) In 1303
Margaret Banwall was holding the manor of Stoke
Bliss, (fn. 84) and the name Banwall occurs until 1353. (fn. 85)
The manor of Banwalls, however, probably followed
the descent of that of Stoke Bliss, for Thomas ap
Philip Vaughan died seised of it in 1432, (fn. 86) and its
subsequent descent is identical with that of Stoke
Bliss (q.v.). (fn. 87)
Banwalls was leased during the 17th and 18th
centuries to the Oselands. (fn. 88) In a lease granted in
1702 the tenant was forbidden to plough up or deface
'the walk called my lady's walk.' (fn. 89)
Henry Ketel appears to have had a mill on his
estate at Kyre, (fn. 90) and it was probably this mill which
Philip Burnell was holding at his death in 1294. (fn. 91)
The water-mill at Kyre Parva was leased to John
Borrall and his wife by John Croft of Holt in 1528. (fn. 92)
In 1651 Thomas Baskerville and Anne his wife conveyed to Matthew Pytts a water corn-mill in Kyre
Parva. (fn. 93)
Plan Of Stoke Bliss Church
CHURCH
The parish church, of unknown invocation, consists of a chancel 26 ft. by
18 ft. 6 in., small north vestry, nave
46 ft. 9 in. by 21 ft. 6 in., south aisle 34 ft. 2 in.
by 7 ft. 2 in., and south-west tower 10 ft. 3 in. by
9 ft. 11 in. All these dimensions are internal.
The nave probably dates from the 12th century,
though there is little to indicate this but the unusual
thickness of the north wall, and the chancel from the
early part of the 13th century, while the south aisle
seems to have been added about 1260. The fabric
was restored in 1854, and the early work has been
considerably altered. The tower, vestry, and all the
nave windows are modern, and the east wall has
been rebuilt. A sketch made before the restoration
shows that there was originally a western bell-turret
of timber. The church is built of sandstone rubble
with sandstone dressings, tufa being used in some of the
modern work, and the walls are plastered internally.
The chancel and vestry are roofed with stone slabs,
and the nave and aisle with tiles.
The chancel has a modern plate-tracery window
of three trefoiled lights in the east wall. On the
north are a modern doorway and a pointed arch,
both of which open to the vestry. In the south wall
are two lancet windows of about 1200, with a modern
doorway between them; the western most window,
which is a very narrow light, has been repaired, and
both have modern internal jambs. There is a modern
piscina recess near the east end of the wall.
The pointed chancel arch is modern; it is of two
moulded orders, the inner one being stopped at the
springing on moulded corbels. The nave presents
a rather modern appearance except for the south
arcade; there are four windows, each of two trefoiled
lights, in the north wall, and one similar window, with
a trefoil in the head, in the west wall, all of which are
modern; the west wall has either been rebuilt or
refaced. On the south is an arcade of four pointed
arches of two chamfered orders inclosed
by plain chamfered labels, and supported
by large circular columns and responds
with moulded circular capitals and bases.
The three east bays date from about
1260, but the west bay, including the
pillar and respond, has been rebuilt to
support the modern tower, the original
capital of the western column being reused. A piece of a much-worn carved
stone with a raised crown upon it, built
into the external face of the west wall
to the south of the window, may be a
small part of a mediaeval monumental
slab.
The south aisle is an interesting example of 13th-century work. At the east
end of the south wall is a tall dormer
window of two trefoiled lights with plain
tracery under a two-centred head; the
upper half of the window is constructed in a gabled
projection above the eaves of the roof. In the gable is
a small niche with a trefoiled ogee head. The south
wall to the east of the dormer is original, but the
portion to the west of it has been rebuilt or refaced.
There is a trefoiled light in the east wall, and two
windows, each of two trefoiled lights, in the south
wall to the west of the dormer, all of which are
modern. At the south-east is a 13th-century piscina
in perfect condition; it has a trefoiled head with an
edge roll continued horizontally across the sill from
which the head springs directly, and a multifoiled bowl.
The tower is of two stages and is surmounted by a
timber broached spire covered with tiles. The main
doorway of the church is in the south wall of the lower
stage, which opens by arches to the nave and aisle.
The roofs are all modern.
The font, at the west end of the nave, dates from the
latter part of the 12th century; it has a circular bowl
relieved by twelve shallow round-headed pancls, a
plain circular shaft, and a moulded base; a small
step forming one piece with the base projects from
it on the west. The rim of the bowl has been repaired in the places formerly occupied by the iron
staples of the hinge and lock of the font cover.
The pulpit is of panelled oak and is dated 1631,
the initial I being cut away. In the front of the
reading desk are two carved panels flanked and
divided by demi-figures in high relief, and above them
is a panel carved with grotesque animals and inscribed
'Roger . Osland . churchwarden . 1635.' The oak
chancel screen dates from the 15th century; it is a
simple oak screen having three open trefoiled bays
with tracery in their heads on each side of the
entrance, and a crowning moulded cornice; the lower
part is filled with modern plain panelling. There
are two carved oak chairs in the chancel, and in the
vestry are preserved a 17th-century oak table with
turned legs and a small panelled oak chest of c. 1600.
At the west end of the nave, against the north wall,
are some pieces of 17th-century oak panelling used
as bench ends. In the south-east corner of the tower
are three pieces of mediaeval monumental slabs of
sandstone; two of these form parts of a complete slab
having in relief a cross formy with a long stem; the
other piece is the upper end of a similar stone with
a larger cross. Both probably date from the 13th or
early 14th century. Here also is a floor slab to
'E. B. 1664,' and below the east respond of the
nave arcade is another slab commemorating Thomas
Pytts, who died in 1594, Richard Pytts, 1657, and
Matthew Pytts, 1671.
The tower contains a ring of three bells with the
following inscriptions: the treble, 'All praise and
Glory be to God for ever. Richard Brook. C.W.
1669'; the second, 'Thomas Hammond, Meredith
Iones. churchwardens 1687'; and the tenor,
'T. E. M. Holland Rector. Thos Webb. C.W. 1842.
T. Mears Fect.' There is also a small call bell with
no inscription.
The communion plate consists of a silver chalice
of 1851, a paten of 1853, a flagon of 1805, and
a pewter paten and flagon, probably of the 18th
century.
The registers before 1812 are as follows: (i) all
entries 1571 to 1717; (ii) all entries 1718 to 1754,
baptisms and burials to 1768; (iii) baptisms and
burials 1768 to 1812; (iv) marriages 1755 to 1799;
(v) marriages 1800 to 1813.
ADVOWSON
The advowson of Stoke Bliss evidently belonged originally to the
Mortimers of Wigmore, overlords of
the manor, for it was given by Roger Mortimer, who
died in 1282, to the priory of Limebrook. (fn. 94) Roger's
widow Maud presented to the church in 1300, (fn. 95)
but the prioress presented in the following year, (fn. 96)
and in 1302 the church was appropriated to the
priory, (fn. 97) the vicarage being ordained in 1303. (fn. 98) Both
Roger's gift and the appropriation had been carried
out without the king's consent, which was obtained
in 1309. (fn. 99) It was agreed that the vicar should have
the altarages, all tithes of the fee of Brecknock, a
suitable house and land called la Pyrie. (fn. 100) A pension
of 3s. was to be paid to the church of Bromyard and
18d. to the church of Tenbury. (fn. 101)
The advowson and rectory remained with the priory
until the Dissolution, (fn. 102) when they came to the Crown,
in which the advowson still remains. (fn. 103) Certain tithes
at Stoke Bliss were granted in 1545 to Richard and
Thomas Lawley, (fn. 104) who sold them in the same year to
Thomas Rotsey. (fn. 105) These tithes afterwards passed to
Thomas Baskerville, (fn. 106) who also acquired the rectory of
Stoke Bliss, which is mentioned in deeds relating to
the manor between 1589 and 1622. (fn. 107)
Stoke Bliss is returned in the Institution Books as
a vicarage until 1740. Ecton, two years later, says
'the institutions have always been as to a vicarage,
but . . . it seems to be entitled to rectorial tithes.
Thomas Spilsbury compounded for the first fruits
thereof as a rectory, 20 Aug. 1717.' (fn. 108) Since the
middle of the 18th century it has always been looked
upon as a rectory, though it was returned in 1831 as
a vicarage. (fn. 109)
The chapel of Kyre Parva appears at one time to
have been annexed to the church of Kyre Wyard, (fn. 110)
but was returned in 1655 as united with Stoke Bliss. (fn. 111)
The chapel has now disappeared.
In 1575 Queen Elizabeth granted the chapel of
St. Fletcher with land in Stoke Bliss belonging to it
to John Herbert and Andrew Palmer. (fn. 112) The chapel
yard or close was sold to James Pytts of Stoke Bliss in
1577 by William Oliver, (fn. 113) and in 1579 the chapel
and land belonging to it, as granted in 1575, and
then in the tenure of John Pytts, was also sold to him
by Francis Downes of Hyde, to whom it had apparently been transferred. (fn. 114) An award was made in
1580 by Edward Pytts directing James Pytts of the
Perrie to convey to Richard Barneby of Bockleton the
chapel and lands lately acquired of Francis Downes. (fn. 115)
CHARITIES
In 1740 Alexander Dykes, by will
proved at Hereford, gave £100, the
interest to be divided among three poor
people. The legacy was invested in the purchase of
10 a. 3 r. 33 p. of land in Stoke Bliss producing £18
yearly. The official trustees also hold £37 6s. 6d.
consols, representing proceeds of sale of timber, and
producing 18s. 8d. yearly. The income is distributed
in monthly payments of 10s. each to three poor
persons.
In 1892 Thomas Dorrell, by his will proved at
Hereford, gave £100. The legacy is represented by
£99 7s. 7d. Local Loans 3 per cent. stock, producing
£2 19s. 8d. yearly. The income is applied in clothing
and boots, which are distributed to three poor persons
resident in either Stoke Bliss or Kyre Parva.
In 1902 the Rev. Godfrey Edward Alexander, by his
will proved at London, bequeathed £300, the income
to be applied in maintaining the fabric of the church.
The legacy, less duty, was invested in £268 6s. 5d.
India 3 per cent. stock, producing £8 1s. yearly.
In 1884 Miss Frances Holland, by her will proved
16 January, left £100, the interest to be applied in
educating poor children of Stoke Bliss and Kyre
Parva. The legacy is represented by £92 14s.
consols, producing £2 6s. 4d. yearly.
The several sums of stock are held by the official
trustees.