STOCKTON
Acreage: 1,391.
Population: 1911, 975; 1921, 1,006; 1931, 935.
Stockton is a parish and large village 2 miles northeast of Southam. It occupies a low hill in the gently
sloping country-side of south-eastern Warwickshire,
with no very prominent natural features; the courses
of the numerous small streams have been much
disturbed by the construction of the Warwick branch
of the Oxford Canal which runs along the northern
edge of the parish, and there is very little woodland.
The parish is crossed by the second-class road from
Southam to Rugby from south-west to north-east and
at right angles to this by a road from Napton to Long
Itchington, the village, a good example of the nucleated
type common in the Feldon country, being situated
along and off the Napton road a short distance southeast of the cross-roads The Weedon and Leamington
Spa branch of the former L.M.S.R. crosses the northern
edge of the parish; Napton and Stockton Station, about
a mile north-east of the village, being just outside the
boundary. The inclosure of the parish was being considered in 1778, (fn. 1) but the Act of Parliament, dealing
with 1,320 acres, was not passed till 1791. (fn. 2)
The Blue Lias subsoil has long been known as a
valuable source for the manufacture of lime and cement,
and by 1850 the workings were described as 'very
extensive'. (fn. 3) Stockton cement has been used in many
large contracting works, including the Victoria Embankment, London. (fn. 4) The quarries extend into the
parishes of Long Itchington and Southam (though the
best ones are said to be those north and east of Stockton
village, the earliest to be worked) and, covering nearly
all the northern and western portions of Stockton
parish, form the largest stretch of non-agricultural land
in the rural half of Warwickshire. Stockton, in fact,
has more the character of an industrial village than any
in Knightlow Hundred except Bedworth and its
neighbours on the coalfield; the population trebled
during the 19th century, at a rate comparable with
Alcester, Bedworth, or Kenilworth, and Stockton was
one of the very few rural parishes where voluntary
provision of school facilities was inadequate and a
School Board was formed (1878). The lime and
cement works formerly owned by Messrs. Charles
Nelson & Co. Ltd., who provided a workmen's club at
a cost of £2,000, are now controlled by the Rugby
Portland Cement Co. Ltd. The predominantly industrial character of the village is shown by the adoption of the name 'Blue Lias' for one of its inns, a typical
canal-bank public house in the quarry area, where the
Long Itchington road crosses the canal near a series of
locks. The title-deeds of this inn date back to 1809. (fn. 5)
A windmill is mentioned at various dates from
1356 onwards. (fn. 6)
Manor
STOCKTON does not figure in Domesday Book, but Dugdale (fn. 7) is no doubt right
in considering it to have formed part of
the large and valuable manor of Long Itchington, of
which it was afterwards held. (fn. 8) Walter de Somerville
held a virgate of land here in the reign of Henry II, (fn. 9)
which he may have obtained through his wife Cecily
de Limesi, whose family were overlords of Long
Itchington and Stockton. (fn. 10) Robert de Somerville, of
the fifth generation from Walter, obtained the right
of free warren in his demesne lands here in 1290. (fn. 11)
His son Roger died seised of the manor in 1338, when
it was held of William Corbet. (fn. 12) His brother and
successor Philip settled it, except for 2 messuages and
2 bovates, on himself and his male heirs, with remainders
to Rees ap Griffith and Joan his wife (Philip's daughter)
for the life of Joan, to Rees's sons Thomas and Rees in
tail successively, or to the right heirs of Joan. (fn. 13) After
his death in 1356 the pleas and perquisites of court
were stated to be worth only 2s. a year because the
manor was within the view of the manor of Long
Itchington. (fn. 14) Rees ap Griffith the elder died the same
year (1356), being survived by his wife and son Rees. (fn. 15)
The manor continued to be held
by this family of the Odingsels
of Long Itchington for nearly
two hundred years. (fn. 16) In 1543
George Griffith passed it to Sir
Walter Smyth, (fn. 17) and the latter
to Nicholas Purefoy of Shalstone
(Bucks.) four years later. (fn. 18) Stockton seems to have descended to
William Purefoy of Hollingbourne (Kent), a younger grandson of Nicholas, who on the
marriage (1580) of his son Edward to Joyce, eldest daughter
of George Purefoy of Drayton (Leics.) settled the
manor on them, with a life interest to his sister-inlaw Anne, wife of John Purefoy of Shalstone, remainder to the heirs of Edward and Joyce and to his
own right heirs. (fn. 19) Anne outlived Edward who died
in 1594 when his son and heir George was 11 years
old. (fn. 20) The latter dealt with the manor in 1605, (fn. 21)
probably a settlement on his coming of age, made a
settlement on his marriage to Mary (Knightley) in
1610, (fn. 22) and finally sold it to John Clapham, one of the
Six Clerks of Chancery, and his heirs in 1613. (fn. 23) This
John Clapham died without issue in 1618, (fn. 24) when the
manor devolved on his cousin and namesake, of Willenhall (Coventry), (fn. 25) whose son Luke was dealing with it
during the Commonwealth, (fn. 26) after which the exact
descent is not clear. It is found in the Harvey family
from 1705; (fn. 27) Robert Harvey, who was then lord, was
a nephew of Hugh Audley (d. 1662), a legal officer of
the Crown like the first John Clapham. Audley amassed
a fortune of £400,000 (fn. 28) and by an indenture of 1656
settled his estates, which included manors in Warwickshire and other counties, on his nephew. (fn. 29) Robert
Harvey divided his inherited property, that in Warwickshire going to his third son, another Robert, who was
associated with his father in his manorial dealings. (fn. 30)
His grandson John was lord between 1728 and 1745, (fn. 31)
taking the additional surname of Thursby on succeeding
to the estates of that family (1736). (fn. 32) After his death
in 1764 the manor came to the Biddulph family of
Birdingbury, Sir Theophilus, 4th baronet, being
vouchee in recoveries of 1782 and 1790. (fn. 33) It changed
hands several times in the 19th century, the Rev.
Charles Crane being lord from 1806 to 1821, the
Rev. Samuel Parkins, rector of Stockton, in 1826,
William Henry Seymour in 1831, (fn. 34) and William
Hodgson in 1850, there being at the last date no less
than eight 'principal landowners'. (fn. 35) By 1900 all
manorial rights had disappeared. (fn. 36)
Griffith. Gules a fesse dancetty between six lions or with three martlets sable on the fesse.
Property in Stockton which had belonged to Hertford Priory was in 1538 granted to Anthony Denny
and Joan (Champernowne) his wife. (fn. 37) Forty years
later this property, apart from the advowson, amounted
to 30s. in rents. (fn. 38)
Church
The church of ST. MICHAEL stands
in a small churchyard on the south side
of the village. It consists of chancel, nave,
north and south aisles, west tower, vestry, and north
porch. Except for the 15th-century tower and the
14th-century south wall of the chancel the church is
modern. The nave and north aisle were built in 1863,
the south aisle in 1873, and the chancel was partly
rebuilt in 1809.
The east end of the chancel is built of squared and
coursed brown sandstone with red sandstone dressings,
the upper part being rebuilt and the east window
renewed in 1809; there is a shield bearing this date
above the window. The tracery window has a pointed
arch of two splays with three trefoil lights and a hoodmould. The north side is partly covered by a modern
vestry and has a modern plain tracery window of two
trefoil lights. On the south side to the east there is a
two-light window similar to the one on the north, and
in the centre there is a narrow doorway of 14thcentury date with a pointed arch of one splay, with a
15th-century square-headed window of two trefoil
lights to the west. The south aisle, which has a lowpitched lead-covered roof, is built of squared and
coursed limestone with bands of sandstone at the levels
of the sills and springers of the window-heads. In the
east wall is a two-light window, and on the south side
four windows, similar to those to the chancel; and on
the west wall is a single pointed trefoil light with a
hood-mould. In the clearstory, which has a band of
sandstone level with the centres of the windows, there
are three circular lights. The nave roof is tiled. The
north aisle and clearstory have bands of sandstone as
on the south. There are three windows, all alike with
two ogee trefoil lights with pointed arches and hoodmoulds, two east of the porch and the other west. The
west end has a single pointed trefoil light, and the
clearstory three lights, as on the south. The porch has
a pointed stone vaulted roof, stone benches, and small
rectangular unglazed windows, one on either side.
The entrance has a pointed arch with its mouldings
continued down to splayed stops, and a hood-mould
with return ends. The south doorway is similar but
has a segmental-pointed head.
The vestry is a continuation of the aisle but with a
steep-pitched tiled roof. On the north it has an early15th-century window similar to the one in the south
side of the chancel, but with a low-side window under
its sill, the sill forming its head, evidently removed
from the north wall of the chancel; the low-side window
appears to have been reduced in height to suit its new
position. On the east there is a window similar to
those in the south aisle.
The tower, which has a plinth of one splay, is in
three stages and built of brown sandstone ashlar to
half-way up the first stage, and above of red sandstone
ashlar in large blocks, each stage being diminished
slightly by weathered offsets. There are buttresses
rising in four stages at each corner, those on the west
being diagonal, and the tower is finished with an
embattled parapet resting on a hollow moulding with
gargoyles in the centre, flanked by human heads in the
hollow of the moulding, and with similar heads at each
of the angles. In each merlon there is a shield, and at
the angles pinnacles with trefoil panels and crocketed
finials. On the west in the lower stage there is a tracery
window in a deep splay, of two trefoil lights with a
pointed arch; the tracery and mullions are modern,
the arch original. On the south are two loop-lights
one each in the first and second stages and a small
rectangular window in the second stage. The belfry
windows on all four faces are two-light, of two splayed
orders, with transoms and four-centred arches, the
upper lights trefoiled and the lower cinquefoil, except
on the east which has all trefoil lights. On the north
there is a clock in the second stage.
The chancel (27 ft. 4 in. by 16 ft.) has a modern
tiled floor with two steps to the altar, a modern hammerbeam roof, and plastered walls. The modern windows
have pointed rear-arches and the south door a segmental. The door to the vestry has a pointed arch and
adjoining it on the west there is an arch resting on
moulded corbels, under which the organ is placed.
On the south wall there is a white marble monument
to Ellen Pilkington, died 1689.
The nave (53 ft. by 16 ft. 1 in.) has a tiled floor and
an open collar-beam roof. The clearstory windows
have wide splayed recesses with stop-chamfered pointed
rear-arches. The north and south arcades are each of
four bays with pointed arches of two splayed orders,
the outer one hollow, resting on octagonal pillars with
moulded capitals and bases and half-octagon responds
at the ends. The font is placed near the west pillar of
the north arcade and is modern, on a 14th-century base
and probably a copy of the original basin. It is octagonal
with moulded trefoil panels on each face and floriated
crosses on each of the angles, resting on floriated stops
and carried down by a fluted splay to a circular stem
having a moulded capital and base. The oak pulpit,
placed to the north of the chancel arch, is modern.
The chancel arch is pointed, of two splayed orders,
with moulded capitals but no visible bases; the responds
repeat the arch orders. The tower arch has two splays
on the nave side and three on the tower side, the inner
resting on moulded capitals, the outer continued down
to the floor and on the tower side they die out on the
walls of the tower.
The north aisle (47 ft. by 11 ft.) is paved with stone
and has a lean-to roof with wall brackets on stone
corbels. At the east end there is a pointed arched
opening to the vestry, of two splayed orders, resting
on short shafts with moulded capitals and bases. The
windows have pointed rear-arches, stop-chamfered,
and the south door a segmental one.
The south aisle (47 ft. 10 in. by 11 ft.) is similar
to the south but has a mutilated 14th-century piscina
built very low into the south wall near the east wall.
It has a moulded ogee head with a trefoil traceried
panel at the back of the recess; the projecting basin
has been broken off.
The tower is stone-paved and in the south-west
corner the angle is splayed for the tower stair, the
doorway of which has a moulded four-centred head
with the moulding carried down to stop on a splayed
threshold. Below the west window, which has a
pointed rear-arch, there is a blocked door opening with
a chamfered segmental head which is not visible
externally.
There are three bells: one by Newcombe of Leicester,
1608, the other two by Hugh Watts, 1620 and 1622. (fn. 39)
The plate includes a silver chalice and two plated
dishes of 1805.
The registers commence 1567.
Advowson
The church was given to Hertford
Priory, probably by Walter de Somerville, whose wife Cecily (de Limesi)
was a descendant of the founder, in the reign of Henry
II. (fn. 40) In 1249 a lawsuit occurred, John de Somerville
claiming the advowson through his grandmother Maud
who held the manor in dower of her husband's gift,
having made a presentation, against the Prior of
Hertford, who claimed that the right had been confirmed as his after a previous suit, and by Otto the papal
legate. Judgement was for the prior, (fn. 41) and three years
later John de Somerville quitclaimed all his rights in
the advowson to the priory. (fn. 42) The church was worth
£6 in 1291 (fn. 43) and in 1535 £10 7s. in addition to 30s.
pensions to the priory and 3s. to the archdeacon. (fn. 44)
After the Dissolution the first presentation (1545) was
made by Anthony Denny, to whom Hertford Priory
and its estates had been granted, (fn. 45) and Edward Denny,
his second son, conveyed it to William Carewe in
1580; (fn. 46) the latter passed it to Humphrey Davies in
1603. (fn. 47) Thomas Davies presented in 1628, (fn. 48) since
when the advowson has passed through a large number
of hands. Robert Martin obtained it in 1664 from
Henry Ganderton and Mary his wife and presented
in 1673; (fn. 49) Martin Mugge was patron in 1713, and
Jane Mugg, widow, in 1729. (fn. 50) John Holland and
Elizabeth his wife conveyed it to John Unwin in
1754, (fn. 51) and the latter was patron in 1763. (fn. 52) By 1830 (fn. 53)
the advowson was in the hands of New College, Oxford,
who still hold it.
Though the church was not impropriate, the tithes
had become separated from the rectory in the early
17th century. They were passed in 1615 by Francis
Browne and Jane his wife to James Enyon senior and
junior. (fn. 54) James Enyon senior settled them two years
later on his son-in-law Hannibal Horsey and his son
James, with remainder to James Enyon junior, but
the agreed yearly rent being unpaid the settlement
was void. (fn. 55)
Charities
William Smith. This parish participates in this charity to the amount of
4s. each year, which in accordance
with the terms of the bequest is required to be distributed in bread to the poorest people of the parish. For
particulars of the charity see under Birdingbury.
Church Allotment. Upon the inclosure of the common fields of Stockton in 1792 there was awarded to the
churchwardens of the parish, in lieu of several green
slades commonly called Church Meers, or Slades, a
plot of land lying in Long Highlands containing
13 a. 2 r. 4 p. It is stated in the printed Parliamentary
Reports of the former Commissioners for Inquiring
Concerning Charities, dated in 1827, that it is unknown
from what source the lands were derived in respect
of which this allotment was made, but the rents appear
to have been always applied to the repairs of the church.
The Report also states that some time after the awarding
of this allotment it was discovered that it contained a
rock of limestone, which was thereupon sold, and
that of the £937 10s. received all but £440 was
expended in effecting substantial repairs and improvements to the parish church. The quarry was
exhausted and the works ceased about 1820. Part of
the allotment, containing 4 a. 2 r. 24 p., was conveyed to the Warwick and Napton Canal Navigation
Co. in 1798 in consideration of an annual rent of
£9 6s.