Wikipedia

Stanton, Gloucestershire

Stanton is a village and civil parish in Tewkesbury Borough, Gloucestershire, England. The village is a spring line settlement at the foot of the Cotswold escarpment, about 2.5 miles (4 km) southwest of Broadway in neighbouring Worcestershire. Broadway is Stanton's postal town. The 2011 Census recorded the parish's population as 198.[1]

Stanton
A cottage and wall in Stanton, both built with Cotswold stone
Stanton is located in Gloucestershire
Stanton
Stanton
Location within Gloucestershire
Population198 (2011 Census)
OS grid referenceSP0634
Civil parish
  • Stanton
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townBroadway
Postcode districtWR12
Dialling code01386
PoliceGloucestershire
FireGloucestershire
AmbulanceSouth Western
UK Parliament
WebsiteStanton Parish Council
List of places
UK
England
Gloucestershire
52°00′23″N 1°53′48″W / 52.0064°N 1.8968°W / 52.0064; -1.8968

The parish is about 3 miles (5 km) long on a northwest – southeast axis, embracing both low-lying land northwest of the village and high Cotswold land to the southeast. On the opposite northeast – southwest axis the parish is about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) across at its widest point. Its highest point is Shenberrow Hill on the escarpment in the southeast of the parish, 994 feet (303 m) above sea level. The low-lying northwestern part of the parish is bounded mostly by two streams, which converge and then join the River Isbourne about 0.5 miles (800 m) outside the parish. A report in 1712 indicated that the village consisted of 60 houses and 300 inhabitants, including 29 freeholders.[2]

Much of the area of the village was owned by the Stott family from 1906 to 1949. In addition to restoring the properties, these owners built a reservoir in 1907, added lighting to the main street, improved the church, extended the school, built a swimming pool and cricket field.[3] Today, the village has no school, post office or shops.[4]

The village is built almost completely of Cotswold stone, a honey-coloured Jurassic limestone. Several cottages have thatched roofs. It has a high street, with a pub, The Mount, at the end.[5] David Verey calls it "architecturally, the most distinguished of the smaller villages in the North Cotswolds".[6] The Daily Telegraph described Stanton in 2017 as "arguably the most beautiful Cotswold village of them all"[7] while the Huffington Post said that it's "one of the prettiest and idyllic unspoilt villages of the Cotswolds".[8]

The Cotswold Way long-distance footpath passes through the village.[9]

Archaeology

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Shenberrow, on the hill southeast of the village, is a hill fort enclosing about 2.5 acres (1 ha). It is bivallate, meaning that its defences include two concentric ditches. It was excavated in 1935, when Iron Age pottery, iron artefacts and a bronze bracelet were found. Romano-British pottery from the second century AD was also found.[10] The fort is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.[11]

Manor

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Built in 1557 by Thomas Warren, the manor belonged to Winchcombe Abbey until the Dissolution of the Monasteries[12] and then to a series of owners, including Sir Philip Sidney Stott in the early 1900s.[13] The English architect, civil engineer and surveyor, is credited with rescuing Stanton village from oblivion after he bought the estate in 1906.[6] He put his fortune and skills into restoring Stanton Court and other historic buildings in the village.

Parish church

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St Michael and All Angels' parish church

A church was built on this site circa 1100;[3] the earliest remaining features are three Norman columns from about 1200 which form the north arcade. The south arcade was rebuilt with Early English Gothic pointed arches, a bay longer than the previous arcade, together with a new tower of cut stone at the West end. There are hagioscopes (squints) in both transepts, an aumbry is in the north and two more in the south transept and aisle.

The village's web site provides this comment about its early history. "It seems possible that a Saxon church on the present site was served in early times by the monks of Winchcombe Benedictine Abbey, as the Manor, tithes and patronage of Stanton were bestowed on the Abbey by Kenulf, King of Mercia in 811 AD. Unfortunately, most records were destroyed in the disastrous fire at Winchcombe Benedictine Abbey in 1151 AD."[14]

The font, porch and parvise are 15th-century. The original pulpit and lectern date from about 1375 and were restored in 1982. There is a second pulpit added in 1684. There are medieval encaustic tiles at the east end.

 
One of Stanton's two First World War memorials. This one is in St Michael's parish churchyard and was designed by Sir Ninian Comper.

Fragments of ancient painted decoration survive. There are fragments of medieval stained glass in the east window, the south transept and the west window, which also shows the White Rose of York. The reredos of 1915, the rood screen and the east windows of the chancel and transepts are by Sir Ninian Comper and Squire Stott. In the north transept are murals of the Annunciation and Purification, fragments of the medieval screen.

Still visible on the south wall is evidence of stone benches for the old and infirm, dating from when most of the congregation would stand during the parts of the service that did not require kneeling. There are medieval benches at the back of the nave: "their poppy heads ringed with the chains of shepherds' dogs".[15] There is a wooden roundel of Mauritius Wrabury.[16]

The west tower has a ring of six bells. Humphrey and James Keene of Woodstock, Oxfordshire cast the second, third, fourth and fifth bells in 1640. John I Martin of Worcester cast the tenor bell in 1659 and the treble in 1660.[17] Sir Philip Stott hired designer Ninian Comper to improve the church with reredos and stained glass.[13]

The church is a Grade I listed building.[16]

Historic buildings

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Old Manor Farmhouse

The Manor (also known as Warren House)[18] and Warne Cottage,[19] also called Warren House, is Elizabethan, with the year 1577 on a datestone. This was formerly manor house, and is now one house and an attached cottage.[20] Old Manor Farmhouse, built circa 1678,[21] is also Elizabethan.[20][22]

A full 43 of the buildings in this village are Listed, all as Grade II.[23] Some of the noteworthy properties include the following.

Wormington Grange

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Wormington Grange

Wormington Grange was built in the 1770s.[24] Its stables were designed by Henry Hakewill and completed in 1827.[25] It is Grade II listed.[26]

Sheppey Corner

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Sheppey Corner Cottage

Sheppey Corner is a thatched cottage built about 1650 at the top of the High Street.[27] Like the rest of the village it is built of Cotswold stone. It was built as one large house and barn but was altered in the mid 18th century and then, extensively altered in 1922 for then-owner Sir P. Stott. It is now divided into three cottages that are Grade II Listed:[28] Little Sheppey House, No 3 and Pixie Cottage.[29]

Stanton Court

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A Grade II listed building Stanton Court is a 14,644 square feet (1,360.5 m2) Jacobean manor house built for the Izod family in the "early and later part" of 17th Century.[30] It passed to their relatives, the Wynniatt family, in the early 18th century, who then extended the house adding a wing with Georgian sitting room. The house was extensively restored for Sir Philip Stott in the 20th century.[6] As of 2023, it is for sale with a guide price of £14 million.[31]

The Mount Inn

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Though not listed, this very quaint 17th-century inn, atop a steep hill at the end of the village, is a popular spot for tourists because of its views over the Vale of Evesham and the Malvern Hills to the Black Mountains in Wales. It has an interesting history.[32] The building was originally a farmhouse,[4] known as "The Bank" until 1897 when it became a pub owned by Donnington Brewery and Richard Arkell. It was operated by the Troughton family until 1962. It was an off-licence facility for decades, known as "The Five Elms"; since alcoholic beverages could not be sold inside, the inn operator made cider in an outbuilding. Finally in 1947, the inn received its licence.[33]

Railway

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New track being laid for the restoration of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway through Stanton parish

The Great Western Railway's main line between Stratford-upon-Avon and Cheltenham Spa Malvern Road was built through the parish between 1900 and 1904,[3] passing about 0.5 miles (800 m) west of the village. The nearest station was Laverton Halt about 1 mile (1.6 km) north of Stanton. British Railways closed the line to passenger trains in 1960 and freight in 1976. The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway heritage railway is currently rebuilding the line.

By 2018, the line had reached beyond the Stanton Lane bridge.[34]

Notable residents

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Stanton has a 17th-century sundial on the base of its former village cross. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.[35] The cottages behind it are 17th- and 18th-century.

References

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  1. ^ "Area: Stanton (Parish): Key Figures for 2011 Census: Key Statistics". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 26 November 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  2. ^ Glover, Susan Paterson (19 January 2018). The Hardships of the English Laws in Relation to Wives by Sarah Chapone. Routledge. ISBN 9781317029281. Archived from the original on 2 July 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2019 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ a b c "Stanton Village - History and People". stantonvillage.uk. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  4. ^ a b Avery, Alison (29 September 2016). "Stanton, Gloucestershire". Beautiful England Photos. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  5. ^ "The Mount Inn, Stanton - Village Pub near Broadway, Worcestershire UK". themountatstanton. Archived from the original on 28 April 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  6. ^ a b c Verey 1970, p. 413.
  7. ^ Madden, Richard (3 October 2017). "10 perfect pub walks in the Cotswolds". Archived from the original on 27 June 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2019 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  8. ^ "Five Magical Cotswolds Towns for the Winter". HuffPost UK. 16 December 2014. Archived from the original on 26 July 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  9. ^ "Cotswold Way Circular Walk: 3. Stanton, Snowshill and the Edge - National Trails". www.nationaltrail.co.uk. Archived from the original on 25 June 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  10. ^ RCHME 1976, pp. 109–110.
  11. ^ Historic England. "Shenberrow hill camp (1004867)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  12. ^ Pilbeam, Alan (3 October 2011). Gloucestershire 300 Years Ago. The History Press. ISBN 9780752496733. Archived from the original on 2 July 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2019 – via Google Books.
  13. ^ a b Elder, David (15 July 2015). 50 Gems of the Cotswolds: The History & Heritage of the Most Iconic Places. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 9781445646718. Archived from the original on 2 July 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2019 – via Google Books.
  14. ^ "Stanton Village - Church of St Michael". stantonvillage.uk. Archived from the original on 7 April 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  15. ^ Church leaflet, circa 1990s
  16. ^ a b Historic England. "Church of St Michael and All Angels (Grade I) (1091828)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  17. ^ Higson, Andrew (19 April 2006). "Stanton S Michael & All Angels". Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers. Central Council for Church Bell Ringers. Archived from the original on 6 September 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  18. ^ Elder, David (15 July 2015). 50 Gems of the Cotswolds: The History & Heritage of the Most Iconic Places. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 9781445646718. Archived from the original on 25 June 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2019 – via Google Books.
  19. ^ Historic England. "The Manor and Warne Cottage (Grade II*) (1091838)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  20. ^ a b Verey 1970, p. 414.
  21. ^ Stuff, Good. "Manor Farmhouse, Stanton, Gloucestershire". britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Archived from the original on 28 April 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  22. ^ Historic England. "Old Manor Farmhouse (Grade II*) (1154068)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  23. ^ "Listed Buildings in Stanton, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire". britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Archived from the original on 28 April 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  24. ^ Historic England. "Wormington Grange (Grade II*) (1340084)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  25. ^ Historic England. "Stables, Wormington Grange (Grade II*) (1091824)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  26. ^ Stuff, Good. "Wormington Grange, Stanton, Gloucestershire". britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Archived from the original on 28 April 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  27. ^ Elder, David (15 July 2015). 50 Gems of the Cotswolds: The History & Heritage of the Most Iconic Places. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 9781445646718. Archived from the original on 25 June 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2019 – via Google Books.
  28. ^ Historic England. "LITTLE SHEPPEY HOUSE, NO 3 AND PIXIE COTTAGE, Stanton (1340088)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  29. ^ Historic England. "Little Sheppey House, No 3 and Pixie Cottage (Grade II) (1340088)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  30. ^ Stuff, Good. "Stanton Court, Stanton, Gloucestershire". britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Archived from the original on 28 April 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  31. ^ "9 bedroom house for sale in Stanton, Broadway, Gloucestershire, WR12". Knight Frank. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  32. ^ "The Mount Inn, Stanton". www.lovingthecotswolds.com. Archived from the original on 25 June 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  33. ^ "About The Mount at Stanton". themountatstanton. Archived from the original on 25 June 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  34. ^ "Goucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWR)in the Cotswolds". www.cotswolds.info. Archived from the original on 28 April 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  35. ^ Historic England. "Village cross at Stanton (1014398)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 November 2015.

Sources

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