STANTONBURY
Stantone (xi cent.); Stanton Barry (xiv cent.);
Stanton Bury (xviii cent.) (fn. 1) ; Stantonbury with New
Bradwell (xix cent.).
Stantonbury is a small parish of 806 acres, (fn. 2) of
which 5 acres are arable land, 352 permanent grass,
and 25 woods and plantations. (fn. 3) The soil is gravel
and sand, the subsoil clay. The slope of the ground
is from the south, where the highest point is 353 ft.
above the ordnance datum, to the north where is the
lowest point, 194 ft. above the ordnance datum. The
parish is watered by the River Ouse, which forms its
northern boundary.
The village of Stantonbury has long since been depopulated, there being only four houses here in 1736. (fn. 4)
The old church of St. Peter occupies an isolated position
near the Ouse in the north-west of the parish, though
local tradition says houses formerly stood in the large
field north of it. It was restored in 1910, and is now
used regularly during the summer. (fn. 5) The plan of the
house which Sir John Wittewronge built in the 17th
century can still be traced near the church, between the
river and an artificial mound, which formerly marked
the garden boundary and has still hawthorn trees on it. (fn. 6)
There are a few scattered farms and cottages in the
parish, of which Stantonbury Farm in the east is the
most important. In 1857 the district known as New
Bradwell was added to the ecclesiastical parish of
Stantonbury. (fn. 7)
In the general inclosure of lands made at the
beginning of the 16th century Nicholas Vaux, lord
of the manor, turned much of the land in Stantonbury
from arable to pasture, and it was complained that
at least forty people on his estate were thus deprived
of work and home. (fn. 8)
Manors
In 1086 Miles Crispin owned the
5-hide manor of STANTON, later known
as STANTON BARRY or STANTON
BURY. (fn. 9) The overlordship passed from him to the
honour of Wallingford, of which the manor was held
until the 16th century by knight service. (fn. 10) After
its escheat to the Crown it was subject to a yearly
rent of £4 1s. 6½d., (fn. 11) of which mention is found as
late as 1688–9. (fn. 12)
Bisi, one of the king's thegns, held Stanton Manor
under Edward the Confessor, being succeeded before
1086 by Ralph. (fn. 13) Ralph de Stanton, who may be
regarded as the successor of the Domesday Ralph, is
mentioned in the Pipe Roll of 1166–7 (fn. 14) and also in
that of the year following, when he paid a relief of 100s.
for his lands in Stanton. (fn. 15) In January 1202–3 Amice
daughter of Ralph quitclaimed 2 virgates of land here
to Simon de Stanton, (fn. 16) in connexion with whom is
first found the family surname of Barry or Barre,
which has given its distinctive name to the parish.
Simon Barry or Simon de Stanton is returned as
holding a knight's fee of the honour of Wallingford
between the years 1201 and 1212. (fn. 17) He died in
or about the year 1221, at which date his son and
heir Ralph Barry paid a relief
of 10 marks for his father's
fee. (fn. 18) Simon Barry had a
second son Peter, who eventually became his brother's
heir. (fn. 19) The names of both
Ralph and Peter Barry are
given in the Testa de Nevill, (fn. 20)
and the latter had probably
acquired Stanton before the
middle of the 13th century.
Early in 1280–1 Robert son of
Peter Barry (fn. 21) confirmed the
right of Hugh Barry to 3 acres
of meadow in Stanton, which Ralph father of Hugh
Barry had held of the fee of Robert Barry. (fn. 22) In
1284–6 Robert Barry rendered the feudal aid for
Stanton, (fn. 23) and various other documentary references
are found to his tenure, (fn. 24) including a settlement made
in 1309 between himself and his son Thomas, by
which he secured the manor to himself for life, paying
the rent of a rose yearly to Thomas. (fn. 25) Robert represented the county in the Parliaments of 1297, 1307 and
1312 (fn. 26) and was still alive in February 1316–17, when
he and his son Thomas obtained a grant of free warren
in their demesne lands of Stanton. (fn. 27) Robert died
some time before 26 May 1321; (fn. 28) his widow Maud
survived him, and held one-third of the manor in
dower till 1326. (fn. 29) Thomas Barry held the remaining
two-thirds until his own death in 1324–5, when they
passed to his son Robert, a minor, fifteen years of age,
who also succeeded to his grandmother's third in
1326. (fn. 30) At this time the manor (which now begins to
be called Stanton Barry) included a garden, a capital
messuage, dovecote, a broken-down water-mill, 3 acres
of wood, which provided no pannage because it was
composed of ash trees, while rents in kind included
ten cocks, six capons, 1 lb. of pepper, 1 lb. of cummin,
and a pair of spurs. (fn. 31)
Barry. Azure two leopards or.
The wardship of Robert Barry was granted to
Richard Blundel, (fn. 32) and in 1332, the year of his
majority, an inquisition as to proof of his age was
made, twelve witnesses coming forward with very
varied evidence in his favour. (fn. 33) He married a wife
Cecilia, (fn. 34) who survived him, dying in 1349. (fn. 35) Her
heir was then their son William Barry, aged seven
years. (fn. 36)
In 1377 William Barry and Margaret his wife
made a settlement of the manor on themselves and
William's issue, subject to a rent to John de Kyngesfold. (fn. 37) William Barry's name is given about this
time as that of the tenant of the Wallingford Honour
in Stanton Barry. (fn. 38) He was probably dead before
1399, (fn. 39) in which year Hugh Boveton of Yardley
Gobion (co. Northampton) (who is said by some
historians to have married the daughter and heir of
William Barry) (fn. 40) and Parnel his wife made a settlement of the manor on Sir William Thirning on
behalf of themselves and the heirs of Parnel. (fn. 41) Nine
years later, in 1408, Sir William Thirning made a
further settlement on John
Fever and other trustees (including Reynold Boveton,
chaplain) (fn. 42) probably preliminary to an alienation to
William Vaux, who certainly
obtained Harrowden (co.
Northampton) from Sir
William Thirning at this
date, (fn. 43) and whose descendants
are as certainly found in possession of Stanton Barry.
William son of William Vaux
was attainted in 1461, and
this manor became forfeit to
the Crown, (fn. 44) by whom it was granted to Ralph
Hastings and later to Richard Fowler, who also received
Preston Bissett (q.v.). (fn. 45) Nicholas Vaux obtained
the reversal of his father's attainder in 1486, and the
restoration of Stanton Barry and other of his father's
lands. (fn. 46) He was created Lord Vaux of Harrowden
on 27 April 1523 (fn. 47) and died within three weeks in
possession of Stanton Barry Manor. (fn. 48) Thomas Lord
Vaux, his son, made a settlement of Stanton Barry
in 1535 (fn. 49) preliminary to a sale of much of his property,
which took place about this date to Thomas Pope. (fn. 50)
This sale was confirmed to Thomas Pope by statute of
the realm in the same year, (fn. 51) but in 1536 there is
mention of the purchase of Stantonbury from Thomas
Pope by the Crown, (fn. 52) by whom it was granted eleven
years later to Sir Thomas Carwardine. (fn. 53) He only retained the manor a few years, alienating it in February
1550–1 to John Coke, (fn. 54) and his son Robert Coke (fn. 55)
in 1570 conveyed it to Edmund Ashfield, (fn. 56) whose
leasehold rights under a grant from Lord Vaux had
been specially respected in the sale of 1535. (fn. 57)
Vaux of Harrowden. Checky or and gules a cheveron azure with three roses or thereon.
Sir Edmund Ashfield died in January 1577–8 and
Stanton Barry passed to his daughter and co-heir
Avice wife of Edmund Lee. (fn. 58) Avice Lee survived her
husband, dying in August 1599. (fn. 59) Her son and heir
Edmund had died the previous March leaving two
daughters, Dorothy and Mary, both minors. (fn. 60) Dorothy
married before 1618 Sir John Temple, kt., bringing
him in marriage half the manor of Stanton Barry. (fn. 61)
Mary Lee and John Claver her husband conveyed
her share of the manor in 1621 to Sir Thomas
Temple, bart., of Stowe, father of Sir John Temple,
kt., on whose behalf the transfer was made. (fn. 62) About
this date the manor-house is said to have been rented
by and in the occupation of Viscount Purbeck, who
was then a lunatic under
treatment by Dr. Napier,
rector of the neighbouring
parish of Great Linford. (fn. 63) Sir
John Temple died in 1632,
seised of Stanton Barry Manor,
which then passed to his son
and heir Peter Temple, aged
nineteen. (fn. 64) In 1653 Sir Peter
Temple made a settlement of
his property in Stanton Bury
on Sir John Wittewronge, kt., (fn. 65)
which was confirmed by his
son John Temple in 1658. (fn. 66)
Four years later Sir John
Wittewronge was raised to
the title of baronet, being enrolled as of Stantonbury. (fn. 67) His family seat was at Rothamsted in co.
Hertford, (fn. 68) but he is said to have built a house (which
has now disappeared) in this parish for his eldest son
John. (fn. 69) The first baronet died in 1693 and lies
buried at Harpenden. (fn. 70) He was succeeded by the
above-named son John, who together with his son
John is found making a settlement of Stanton Bury
Manor in 1695–6. (fn. 71) Sir John Wittewronge, bart.,
died and was buried at Stantonbury in 1697. (fn. 72) His
son and successor, Sir John Wittewronge, bart., served
in the war in Flanders, being colonel of a foot
regiment known as 'Wittewronges' which was disbanded in 1717. (fn. 73) He sat as member for Aylesbury
from 1705–13, and for Wycombe from 1713 until his
death in January 1721–2. (fn. 74) A few months previous to
his death he made a settlement of the manor in conjunction with his son John, (fn. 75) who about this date
had to flee the country for the murder of Joseph
Griffith, a mountebank, at the Saracen's Head in
Newport Pagnell. (fn. 76) He returned to England some years
after his father's death, and in
or about the year 1727 sold
his Stantonbury property to
Sarah Duchess of Marlborough, (fn. 77) the sale being confirmed by Act of Parliament. (fn. 78)
The Duchess of Marlborough
died in possession of the manor
in 1744, and under her will
it passed under trust to her
grandson John Spencer, (fn. 79)
whose descendant Earl Spencer
is now lord of the manor. (fn. 80)
Wittewronge of Stantonbury, baronet. Bendy argent and gules a chief sable charged with a bar dancetty or.
Spencer, Earl Spencer. Argent quartered with gules fretty or and over all a bend sable charged with three scallops argent.
A view of frankpledge for
the Wallingford Honour was held within this manor, (fn. 81)
to which was also attached from the 14th to the 17th
century the right of free warren and a free fishery. (fn. 82)
At Domesday there was a mill in this parish worth
10s. 8d. and fifty eels. (fn. 83) It is described as in decay in
1324. (fn. 84) There were said to be three water-corn-mills
in the parish in 1653 (fn. 85) and 1695 (fn. 86) and four in 1721. (fn. 87)
Tickford Priory owned a small property in this
parish. (fn. 88)
Church
The old church of ST. PETER consists
of a chancel measuring internally 29 ft.
4 in. by 13 ft. 3 in., nave 25 ft. 6 in.
by 18 ft. and north porch. It is built of rubble and
the roofs are covered with tiles.
This small building has been subjected to so many
alterations during the course of its history that it is
difficult to determine the precise dates of some of its
parts, but the chancel probably represents an early
church to which a new nave, some 10 ft. longer than at
present, was added during the first half of the 12th
century. At some period an aisle, or chapel, since
destroyed, was built on the south side of the chancel,
and in the 13th century the north wall of the chancel
was rebuilt and a north aisle added to the nave. The
west wall of the nave was rebuilt in its present position
in the 15th century. There is no evidence to indicate
the date of the destruction of the north aisle and as
yet no foundations have been disclosed, but it was
probably completed in the 13th century and removed
in the late 16th century, when the arcade was blocked
and the north porch built.
The south wall of the chancel, which is unusually
thick, is probably the oldest part of the building. It
was pierced by two openings, now blocked, one a
round-headed squint and the other, further west, a
small archway, the head of which has been removed;
both appear to have opened into a south chapel and
probably date from the 12th century, though the
material of the former may have been reset. A wide
piscina, probably of the 14th century, with a plain
pointed head and circular bowl, has been inserted at
the east end of the wall. The east window, of three
lights with interlacing tracery, dates from the 14th
century, and over it is a circular light of the 13th
century. On the north are two 13th-century windows,
the eastern a single light with a modern external head,
and the other of two lights with an external square
head of the 16th century. There are two lockers at
the east end of the north wall, both rebated for doors,
one being square and having a small side recess and the
other rectangular. The small chancel arch is a beautiful
and fairly well preserved example of Norman work of
about 1150. It is of two orders, the outer ornamented
with cheveron moulding and the inner with a large roll
with beak-head and grotesque ornament at intervals.
Both orders are supported by detached shafts with
carved capitals and moulded bases, the shafts
being enriched with varieties of spiral zigzag
and diaper ornament; one of the capitals is
scalloped and the others have grotesque carvings
of animals and birds. The arch itself has been
strengthened by the insertion (probably in the
14th century) of a third order with a twocentred depressed head moulded in agreement
with the original work.
Plan of Stantonbury Church
The nave is lighted by two windows, one
on the south and the other on the west, both
of the 15th century and of two cinquefoiled
lights with tracery under pointed heads. The
walls of the nave and the roof having been
lowered about 2 ft. 6 in., part of the head of
the south window has been removed and the
tracery blocked, but the west window, being in
the gable, is intact, though the tie-beam passes in
front of its rear arch. On the west side of the south
window are the remains of a small 12th-century light,
and on the east side are traces of a window of
slightly later date, while near the west end of the wall
is a pointed doorway of the 13th century with an
indented label; all three are now blocked. At the
east end of the south wall is a plain piscina with a
mediaeval circular bowl, and in the east wall to the south
of the chancel arch is a rough pointed image niche.
The north wall contains a mid-13th-century
arcade, now built up, of two pointed arches
supported by a quatrefoil pillar with moulded
capital and base and responds with moulded corbels.
The masonry blocking the eastern bay has been
pierced by a wide window, now also blocked, and
that of the western bay contains a reset pointed
doorway, probably of the 13th century, and a
stone fragment with two trefoiled panels which has
also been reset and forms the west side of a wide
recess near the doorway. High in the west gable
is a small arched opening which contains a bell.
A wide stone bench is carried along the west wall
to the full width of the nave. The chancel has
an open roof with collar-beam trusses incorporating
some old timbers, and the nave an old roof of
rough timbers with heavy tie-beams and a central
queen-post truss. The porch is lighted by a
small pointed window on the east and has a
plain entrance with a depressed arch in a square
head.
The font has a circular bowl developing below to an
octagonal shape, somewhat in the form of a tumbler,
an octagonal stem and square base. It probably dates
from the 12th century, but the panels were recut in
the 17th century. Two 13th-century coffin slabs,
each with an incised cross, are now used as benches
in the porch.
In the chancel are floor slabs to Clare Wittewronge
(d. 1669); Sir John Temple (d. 1632) and Dorothy
(Lee) his wife (d. 1625); Charle; Tyrell (d. 1694);
and Eleanor (Tyrell) widow of Sir Peter Temple
(d. 1671). A slab in the floor against the south wall
appears to have supported on the three disengaged sides
an iron railing which has been removed, together
with everything else indicating the character of the
monument inclosed. In the nave is a floor slab to
the Rev. William Jenkins (d. 1783) and Ellen his
wife (d. 1781). The carved oak pulpit dates from
the 17th century, and on the wall near it are a
funeral helm with the crest of a Saracen's head,
gauntlets and sword, all of the 17th century, though
the helm probably incorporates work of an earlier
date. At the south-east of the nave is a table with
rails and top of the 17th century, but the legs probably
date from the 15th century. A 17th-century panelled
oak chest has been removed to the new church.
Stantonbury Church from the North-east
The small bell in the west gable has no inscription,
but probably dates from the 16th or 17th century.
The communion plate includes a cup of about
1620, the date mark of which has been obliterated.
The registers begin in 1653.
Advowson
The church of Stantonbury formed
part of the endowment of Goring
Priory in Oxfordshire, as appears from
a confirmation charter of 1181, when it was said to be
the gift of William and Ralph Barry, brothers. (fn. 89) In
1220 the church was appropriated to the priory, (fn. 90)
to which it continued to belong till the Dissolution, (fn. 91)
when the vicarage was worth £7 6s. 8d., (fn. 92) the rectory
being leased for a rent of 26s. 8d. yearly. (fn. 93) The rectory
was granted by the Crown to Robert Newdigate of
Haynes, Bedfordshire, and others in 1578, (fn. 94) and they
immediately sold it to Edmund Lee. (fn. 95) He apparently
also acquired the advowson, since it hereafter descends
with the manor in his family. (fn. 96) Earl Spencer is the
present patron. (fn. 97) In 1860 St. James's Church was
erected at New Bradwell, and was henceforward used
as the parish church, until in 1909 it was discovered
that the instrument transferring the rights and privileges of a parish church from the old church of St. Peter
to St. James had never been perfected. In consequence
the vicar, the Rev. Allan Newman Guest, and the
patron, Earl Spencer, obtained a special Act of Parliament for securing legal status for all marriages hitherto
solemnized there.
John Mason (1646 ?–94), the enthusiast and
poet, was vicar of Stantonbury from 1668 to
1674. (fn. 98)
There do not appear to be any endowed charities
subsisting in this parish.