STOKE DOYLE
Stoche (xi cent.), Stokes, Stok juxta Hundel
(Oundle) (xiii cent.), Stokes de Oly, Stoke Leukenors
(xiv cent.).
The parish of Stoke Doyle, which lies about two
miles south-west of Oundle, contains 1,570 acres,
the greater part of which is laid down in permanent
grass. The subsoil is Oxford clay, stone marls and
cornbrash. The land rises gently to the west from
the River Nene, which forms the eastern boundary.
Along the river bank the ground falls to a little below
the 100 ft. contour line, but in the north-west of the
parish near Stoke Wood it reaches 238 ft. above the
ordnance datum. Stoke Doyle was formerly within
the metes of the Forest of Rockingham, but in 1638
Edward Doyley obtained licence to disafforest his
manor which contained 1,200 acres of land within the
Forest. (fn. 1) There are two disused stone quarries in the
parish.
The village lies along the road from Wadenhoe to
Oundle, where the road is crossed by a stream rising
in Lilford Wood and running into the Nene. The
church stands on the east side of the road. A little
distance to the south-east is the Rectory, a 17th
century house with later additions. On one of the
bay windows is the date 1633 with the initials T. B.,
and a gable of this north wing is dated 1731. The
old manor house south of the church was pulled down
about 1870 and a farm house erected on the site. (fn. 2)
A square stone dovecot with hipped roof and lantern
survives from the old buildings.
There is no railway line in the parish, and the
nearest station is at Oundle on the London Midland
and Scottish Railway.
Manors
The manor of STOKE DOYLE may
be identified with one of the Domesday
holdings of the Abbey of Peterborough,
which contained 2 hides and a virgate of land, but
was then appurtenant to Oundle manor. (fn. 3) By 1125,
the land had been subinfeudated, but the overlordship was held by the Abbey, until its dissolution. (fn. 4)
Afterwards the manor was held of the Crown as of
the Hundred of Navisford (fn. 5) (q.v.), and when the latter
was granted by James I to Lord Montagu, he also
obtained the overlordship of Stoke Doyle. (fn. 6)
About 1125, Wymund de Stoke was the tenant of this
land, which he held as one knights' fee, but claimed
to hold 1½ hides in socage. (fn. 7) In the 12th century
survey of Northamptonshire, Stoke does not appear,
but as Wadenhoe, Pilton and Stoke formed one township, (fn. 8) it is possible that the entries under Wadenhoe
include holdings in the other two parishes. Wymund
appears as holding one virgate of land, (fn. 9) which may
have been the virgate which the lords of Stoke Doyle
afterwards held of the manor of Pilton, (fn. 10) but if so
his main holding is omitted. He was probably succeeded by another Wymund before 1146. (fn. 11) In 1189,
the fee was held by Guy de Stoke, (fn. 12) and in 1199
Robert de Stoke agreed to perform the military service
due from half a knight's fee and to pay a rent of 8s.
a year for the other half. (fn. 13) He was living in 1227, (fn. 14)
but was succeeded by Edmund or Simon de Stoke
shortly afterwards. (fn. 15) In 1242–3 John de Stoke was
the tenant, (fn. 16) but he had died before 1246–7, (fn. 17) and in
1254 the half fee was held by the heir of Robert de
Stoke. (fn. 18) In 1275 John de Stoke was lord of the
manor, (fn. 19) but he apparently died before 1280. (fn. 20)
Doyley. Gules three barts' beads caboshed argent.
The manor then passed to Alice, the wife of John
Doyley, who obtained in 1313, (fn. 21) from Robert son of
John de Stoke, a quitclaim of
his right in the manor. In
the same year they settled it,
with remainders to their son
Thomas and the right heirs of
Alice. (fn. 22) Thomas did homage
to the abbot in 1322. (fn. 23) A
John Doyley, possibly son of
Thomas, held the manor in
1341 (fn. 24) and in 1353 he made a
settlement on his son Thomas
by his second wife Margery. (fn. 25)
This Thomas seems to have
died young, and the manor
went to Henry Doyley, probably his great-uncle,
son of John Doyley and his wife Alice. (fn. 26) On his
death after 1367 the manor went to John, son of
Robert Knightley (d. c. 1326) and Alice his wife
(d. 1349), who was sister of Henry Doyley. John
Knightley presented to the church in 1369 and 1390. (fn. 27)
A settlement of Stoke Doyle was made in 1370 (fn. 28) on
Joan, said to be daughter and heir of Sir John Doyley,
and Thomas, son of Roger Lewkenor of Sussex, her
husband, (fn. 29) and in 1391 a further settlement of the
manor was made on Joan and her second husband,
John Cobham, with a life interest to John Knightley. (fn. 30)
Roger Lewkenor apparently granted it to trustees, (fn. 31)
one of whom, Nicholas Nymmes, did homage in
1401, (fn. 32) and the trustees still held it in 1412. (fn. 33) By
1428 the manor had reverted to Thomas Lewkenor,
Joan's grandson, (fn. 34) whose son Roger presented to the
church in 1453 and died in 1478, leaving a son and
heir Thomas, (fn. 35) who forfeited his lands, probably as
a Yorkist. Stoke Doyle was granted to William
Sapcote in 1484, (fn. 36) but Lewkenor was probably reinstated in possession, as his son Roger presented to
the church in 1491. (fn. 37) He left four daughters, and
his heirs apparently sold the manor to Sir George
Puttenham, who in 1526 levied a fine of it against
Roger Corbet. (fn. 38) It seems to have passed, with other
property to Andrew, first Lord Windsor, before
1536. (fn. 39) On his death it passed to his son William (fn. 40)
and grandson Edward. The latter sold it in 1560 to
Richard Palmer, (fn. 41) who was already lord of another
manor in Stoke Doyle (q.v.).
Richard Palmer died in 1570, (fn. 42)
and the property passed in
direct descent to Anthony
(d. 1633), Edward, Edward,
Geoffrey (living 1677), and
Anthony Palmer. (fn. 43) The lastnamed sold it in 1697 to Sir
Edward Ward, Chief Baron of
the Exchequer. (fn. 44) His sons, (fn. 45)
Edward (d. 1734), (fn. 46) and Philip,
successively succeeded him. (fn. 47)
On the death of the latter in
1752, (fn. 48) the manor was divided
amongst his sisters or their descendants. (fn. 49) The whole
manor, however, was obtained before 1789 by Rowland
Hunt, grandson of Jane, the eldest daughter of Sir
Edward Ward, (fn. 50) who married Thomas Hunt (d. 1753)
and had a son, Rev. Rowland Hunt, D.D., rector of
Stoke Doyle (d. 1785). Rowland Hunt (d. 1831), his
son, apparently conveyed the manor to the Rev. Robert
Roberts, D.D., after whose death it was put up for
auction in March 1830, when it was stated to be
discharged from tithe and to extend over 1,300
acres, and there went with it the right of fishing in
the Nene for nearly two miles, and the right to cut
rushes. In April 1830, however, it was privately
sold by the trustees of Dr.
Roberts to George Capron.
It passed on his death in
1872 to his son, the Rev.
George Capron, whose son,
Mr. G. Herbert Capron, is the
present lord of the manor. (fn. 51)
Palmer. Azure a cheveron engrailed between three crescents argent.
Capron. Party cheveronwise gules and azure a cheveron engrailed argent between two lions erminois facing one another in the chief and a cross pary or in the foot with three molets sable on the cheveron.
In 1086, the Abbey of
Peterborough had a second
holding in Stoke. The under
tenants were two knights, two
serjeants, with one sokman,
who held 2 hides and 3 virgates of land. (fn. 52)
One of the knights may be
identified with Geoffrey Infans,
said to have been nephew of
Abbot Thorold (1069–98), and
tenant of 8 hides in Gunthorp,
Southorp, Stoke and Hemington. (fn. 53) Geoffrey Infans
or de Gunthorpe seems to have had three sons, Ive,
Richard and Ralph. Ive apparently left no issue.
Richard, who succeeded him, had a son Geoffrey
whose son Geoffrey is mentioned in 1189. In 1198
Waleran son of Ralph, who took the name of de
Helpston, claimed against Geoffrey, son of Geoffrey, 3
knights' fees in Southorpe, Gunthorpe and Stoke. (fn. 54)
Geoffrey was succeeded after 1212 by his son Robert,
who was followed by Thomas, his son, and another
Geoffrey, son of Thomas. Geoffrey de Southorpe conveyed the manor of Southorpe, with the homages and
services pertaining to it, to Stephen de Cornhill, citizen
of London, probably in security for a loan. Stephen
de Cornhill sold the manor and services to Elias de
Bekyngham, apparently on behalf of the abbot of Peterborough. Geoffrey de Southorpe, however, being imprisoned for a debt to Queen Eleanor, repudiated the
conveyance of Southorpe, saying it was made while he
was under duress, and therefore of no effect. But
William de Woodford, out of respect for Geoffrey's
poverty and to avoid a scandal, gave him 10 marks and
two horses, and Geoffrey confirmed the manor to the
abbot. The transactions were completed in 1291. (fn. 55)
The knight's service held in Stoke was in respect of
the manor of STOKE or STOKE DOYLEY. (fn. 56)
At what date it was sub-infeudated is not known,
but in 1242–3 Thomas Wake held a quarter of a
knight's fee of Thomas, son of Robert, and Thomas
of Peterborough Abbey. (fn. 57) In 1316, Hugh Wake was
the tenant, (fn. 58) and in 1329 Andrina Wake, possibly his
widow, holding for life, had apparently succeeded
him. (fn. 59) Thomas son of Hugh was at this time a
minor in the wardship of the abbot. (fn. 60) Another
Hugh Wake appears in 1347, (fn. 61) and he seems to have
been succeeded by Thomas Wake. (fn. 62) A Hugh Wake
of Stoke Doyle was living about 1400. (fn. 63) The manor
seems to have been bought either by Sir William
Thorpe, senior, or his brother Sir Robert Thorpe,
since Sir William Thorpe, junior, inherited it (fn. 64) and
settled it in 1383. (fn. 65) After his death it passed with
the manor of Pilton (q.v.) to the Mulshos and Treshams. (fn. 66) Just before his death in 1533, Richard
Tresham sold the manor to John Palmer, (fn. 67) and the
transaction was completed by his son and heir John. (fn. 68)
John Palmer died in 1558, (fn. 69) and the manor passed to
his son Richard, (fn. 70) who some years later purchased
the main manor of Stoke Doyle (q.v.). The manor is
mentioned separately in the inquisition on the lands
of Anthony Palmer in 1633, (fn. 71) but the two manors
afterwards became merged.
The second knight, who held of the Abbey of Peterborough, apparently only held 3 virgates of land, and
his holding may be identified with the land held by
Ingram (d. 1114), whose fee was seized by Geoffrey de
Gunthorpe. The next holder was Hugh Olifard of
Stoke in 1125. (fn. 72) Hugh held another third part of a
virgate, (fn. 73) but later documents show that some land
in the quarter of a knight's fee held by his successor
lay in Churchfield. (fn. 74) His land passed in succession
to Ingelram, who was the tenant in 1146, (fn. 75) and to
Vivian de Stoke, who, however, had died before
1189. (fn. 76) Ive de Stoke was holding in 1189, and
Henry his son was the tenant in 1211, (fn. 77) and he was
followed by another Ive de Stoke. (fn. 78) By 1243 it had
passed to Henry Knight (Miles), (fn. 79) and in 1254
Robert Knight paid the scutage due from a quarter
fee. (fn. 80) In 1300 Nicholas Knight did homage for his
land in Stoke, (fn. 81) and another Nicholas did homage in
1322, (fn. 82) but shortly afterwards he gave it to William
de Whatton, rector of the church of Stoke, who sold
it to Thomas Doyley, (fn. 83) the lord of the chief manor of
Stoke Doyle (q.v.), to which this quarter fee seems to
have been united. (fn. 84)
A free fishery was apparently parcel of the second
manor of Stoke Doyle, and is mentioned in 1537 and
1610. (fn. 85)
A fulling mill is referred to in 1408. (fn. 86)
Church
The church of ST. RUMBALD
or ALL SAINTS stands on the east
side of the village, and is a plain,
classic structure erected in 1722–25 on the site of an
older building. The former church, which appears to
have belonged mainly to the middle of the 13th century, consisted of chancel with north chapel (or
'burying isle,') nave with north aisle, and west tower
surmounted with a broach spire. The nave was of
four bays, and the chancel opened to the chapel by
an arcade of three arches. There was a large roundheaded south doorway with many shafts and ornamented with dog-tooth, but no porch. (fn. 87)
In a petition to the bishop to pull down the old
church it was stated that the building had become
'so ruinous that to repair it would be a burden too
heavy for the parish to bear'; the spire (fn. 88) was in
danger of falling, and the structure was described as
'very much larger than is necessary for the inhabitants
of so small a parish.' The building, therefore, was
pulled down in the spring of 1722, and the first
stone of the new church laid in May of that year.
The roof was completed in the autumn, but no joiners'
work was done in the interior until the summer of
1724, (fn. 89) when the pews, pulpit, wainscot and doors
were put in, the windows glazed, and the ceiling and
walls plastered. The tower was begun in June, 1724,
and finished in August, 1725, but the building was
not opened until the following March. (fn. 90)
The church as then completed remains unaltered.
In plan it is a rectangle measuring internally 61 ft. by
24 ft. 6 in., (fn. 91) with west tower, and mortuary chapel,
now used as a vestry, at the east end of the north
wall; it is faced with ashlar, and has a cornice and
plain parapet, and semi-circular headed side windows
with moulded architraves and sills. The east window
is of the three-light 'Venetian' type, and the south
doorway has a semi-circular arch, pilasters, and broken
segmental pediment. The tower is of three stages,
with balustraded parapet and angle pinnacles,
round-headed bell chamber windows, and west
doorway.
There is no structural division of chancel and nave
inside, a coved plaster ceiling covering the whole
space. The font, pulpit, seating and wainscot are all
contemporary with the building.
The vestry, or mortuary chapel, opens to the
sanctuary by a round stone arch and has a window
facing east. It contains an elaborate marble monument to Sir Edward Ward, knight, Lord Chief Baron
of the Exchequer (d. 1714), with reclining figure in
judge's robes, said to be by Rysbrack. (fn. 92) In the
sanctuary is a canopied mural monument in marble
and alabaster to Mrs. Frances Palmer (d. 1628), wife
of Edward Palmer, Counseller at Law, and memorials
to Katharine (d. 1760), wife of Dr. Rowland Hunt,
rector, and to Hannah (d. 1819), wife of the Rev. R.
Roberts, curate, the latter by Chantrey.
There is a ring of five bells by Thomas Eayre, of
Kettering, cast in the winter of 1727. (fn. 93)
The plate consists of a cup and cover paten, flagon,
and two plates of 1734, each inscribed 'Stoke Doyle
in Northamptonshire.' (fn. 94)
The registers begin in 1560. The first volume has
all entries to 1653, the second from 1654 to 1736, and
the third from 1736 to 1812. (fn. 95)
On the south side of the building is the base of a
churchyard cross, of somewhat unusual form, the
chamfered stops of which have scroll-like projections. (fn. 96)
Bridges records in the chancel of the old church a
stone 8 ft. long, on which was cut the name 'Ricardus
Ashton.' (fn. 97)
A recumbent effigy of a priest now in the churchyard to the east of the chancel was formerly in the old
church, between the chancel and north chapel. (fn. 98)
Advowson
The advowson of the church of
Stoke Doyle has been always held by
the lords of the first manor of
Stoke Doyle, the earliest recorded presentation being
in 1222, by Robert de Stoke. (fn. 99) Mr. Capron is the
owner of the advowson at the present day.
A rent of 10s. a year from the rectory of Stoke
Doyle was paid to the Sacrist of the Abbey of Peterborough in 1291. (fn. 100) All portions, tithes and pensions
in the parish were granted in 1541 to the dean and
chapter of the newly founded cathedral. (fn. 101)
At the Dissolution of the chantries, a sum of
53s. 4d. existed to maintain an obit and light in the
church as well as an annual rent of 2s. (fn. 102)
In 1591 a dispute arose as to a messuage and 20 acres
of land held for the benefit of the parish for repairing
bridges, the relief of the poor, etc. The deeds were
in the possession of Anthony Palmer, the lord of the
manor, and two others, who, it is alleged, tried to
conceal the property, pretending that it had been
given for superstitious uses. (fn. 103)
Charities
Thomas Hewitt in 1749 left £20 for
the poor. This sum was subsequently
invested in £20 8s. 9d. Consols producing 10s. yearly in dividends. The income is
distributed by the rector and churchwardens in
bread on St. Thomas's Day to about 20 recipients.
George Capron by indenture dated 24 June 1844
gave £200 to the rector and churchwardens for
charitable purposes. The money was invested in
£215 10s. 10d. Consols producing £5 7s. 8d. in dividends. £2 is distributed to the local Clothing and
Coal Clubs, £2 in aid of the Sunday School and £1
to Peterborough Infirmary.
The sums of Stock are with the Official Trustees of
Charitable Funds.