Stow, Lincolnshire
Encyclopedia
Stow is a small village and civil parish
within the West Lindsey
district of Lincolnshire
, England
. It is eleven miles (17 km) northwest of the city of Lincoln
and six miles (9.6 km) southeast of Gainsborough
, and has a total resident population of 355.
Stow dates back to Roman times
and in the Anglo-Saxon period was known as Sidnaceaster ("ceaster" meant fortification or camp), lies along the B1241 road, and is perhaps most notable for its large parish church
named the Minster Church of St Mary, Stow in Lindsey
(known locally as "Stow Minster"), which is one of the oldest churches in the Great Britain
.
The parish of Stow, which extends to include other localities such as Coates-by-Stow, is today a mixture of modern brick
and older stone built housing, some of the latter being thatched. It boasts the Cross Keys (a traditional country pub), and a small Methodist chapel
, but the village remains dominated architecturally by the large minster church.
There is another Stow in Lincolnshire, the site of a lost village and a medieval fair
, between Threekingham
and Billingborough
. The location is now known as Stow Green Hill. There is also Shepeau Stow near Spalding
.
has a long and relatively well-documented history. There is evidence of Roman
activity within the village, including the discovery of ancient coins, ruins and foundations from this period.
Around 1640 a certain George Clifford, the rector
's son, moved from Stow to Amsterdam
. His grandson George Clifford III
became the maecenas
of Carl von Linné the Swedish botanist.
of Lincolnshire
from a very early time, Stow lay within the Well
hundred
of the ancient Parts of Lindsey, having previously formed part of the ancient Anglo-Saxon
Kingdom of Lindsey
.
As a result of the 1834 Poor law Amendment
, the parish of Stow became part of the Gainsborough Poor Law Union, and later, for civil registration matters, part of the Willingham
sub-district of the Gainsborough Registration District.
In 1974, as part of the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972
, Stow was given to the newly created non-metropolitan district
of West Lindsey
, though remained within the county of Lincolnshire.
in 870
--the year they are documented to have burnt the church down. The building remained in ruins until an abbey was built in 1040, reputedly by Bishop Eadnoth II.
Dedicated to Mary, mother of Jesus, Stow parish church, sometimes referred to as the "Mother Church of Lincolnshire", is one of the largest and oldest parish churches in England, and once served as the Cathedral Church of the Diocese of Lindsey, founded in the 7th century, and stands on the site of a much older one.
It is partly Saxon
and partly Norman
in date and is designated by English Heritage
as a "Scheduled Ancient Monument
" and was also included in the World Monuments Fund
's 2006 list of the world's 100 most endangered sites. The arches in the Anglo-Saxon part are the tallest of their era in Britain.
"Elnothus Lincolniensis", almost certainly Bishop
Aelfnoth of Dorchester
, is recorded as the founder round about 975
AD, who built the church, possibly on the site of an earlier wooden Saxon church, to serve as Minster
(or mother church
) for the Lincolnshire part of his large diocese
. As the Lindsey diocese was the predecessor of the Diocese of Lincoln, memory of this period gave rise to the tradition that Stow is the Mother Church of Lincoln Cathedral
.
It is said to have been re-founded and re-endowed in 1054 by Leofric
and Godiva (of Coventry
fame) encouraged by Bishop Wulfwig as a Minster of Secular
Canons
with the Bishop at its head. In 1091 Bishop Remigius of Fécamp re-founded it as an abbey
and brought monk
s to it from Eynsham
, describing the church as having been a long time deserted and ruined. Within five years his successor had transferred the monks back from where they had come and St Mary's had become a parish church.
One mile (2 km) to the west of the village and lying just to the south of the Roman road known as Tillbridge Lane are to be found the remains of the medieval palace
of the Bishops of Lincoln built in 1336. All that can be seen today are the earthworks of the moat
and to the north and east of the site the earthwork remains of its associated medieval fish-ponds.
lies the hamlet
of Coates by Stow. There is no village here just a farm with a farmyard and a church standing nearby. The church which is dedicated to St Edith is late Norman (12th century), but has alterations and additions up to Georgian times including a double bellcote
. The church has a very low small nave
and chancel
and is peace itself. It contains a 15th century rood screen
(which is the only one in Lincolnshire). The screen is very much Early English but has been restored.
There is a Jacobean
family pew
at the west end and the rest of the seating is just rough benches sometimes described as "Rustic". There is the royal coat of arms
of Charles I
dating from 1635 and brasses to a William Butler and his wife, the figures on these are small and he died in 1590. In a niche there is a demi-figure made of alabaster
of a Brian Cooke who died in 1653. There are also small pieces of stained glass
. Outside just south of the chancel is the tomb
of the Maltby family comprising an urn on a table with tapering columns as legs with a sarcophagus
underneath.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
within the West Lindsey
West Lindsey
West Lindsey is a local government district in Lincolnshire, England.-History:The district was formed on 1 April 1974, from the urban districts of Gainsborough, Market Rasen, along with Caistor Rural District, Gainsborough Rural District and Welton Rural District...
district of Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is eleven miles (17 km) northwest of the city of Lincoln
Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Lincoln is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England.The non-metropolitan district of Lincoln has a population of 85,595; the 2001 census gave the entire area of Lincoln a population of 120,779....
and six miles (9.6 km) southeast of Gainsborough
Gainsborough, Lincolnshire
Gainsborough is a town 15 miles north-west of Lincoln on the River Trent within the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. At one time it served as an important port with trade downstream to Hull, and was the most inland in England, being more than 55 miles from the North...
, and has a total resident population of 355.
Stow dates back to Roman times
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
and in the Anglo-Saxon period was known as Sidnaceaster ("ceaster" meant fortification or camp), lies along the B1241 road, and is perhaps most notable for its large parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
named the Minster Church of St Mary, Stow in Lindsey
Minster Church of St. Mary, Stow-in-Lindsey, Lincolnshire
The Minster Church of St Mary, Stow in Lindsey is one of the oldest parish churches in England. It originally served as the Cathedral Church of the ancient diocese of Lindsey, founded in the 7th century, and stands on the site of a much older one.-History:...
(known locally as "Stow Minster"), which is one of the oldest churches in the Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
.
The parish of Stow, which extends to include other localities such as Coates-by-Stow, is today a mixture of modern brick
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
and older stone built housing, some of the latter being thatched. It boasts the Cross Keys (a traditional country pub), and a small Methodist chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
, but the village remains dominated architecturally by the large minster church.
There is another Stow in Lincolnshire, the site of a lost village and a medieval fair
Stow Fair, Lincolnshire
Stow Fair was a medieval fair inaugurated in 1233. Permission was granted in 1268 to the Prior of Sempringham for a fair here, confirming the earlier charter. This fair is known to have been held on 23 June each year, but it seems likely that the earlier fairs were held on the same day, which is...
, between Threekingham
Threekingham
Threekingham is a village in mid-Lincolnshire, on the A52 Grantham to Boston road, near Sleaford, close to the A15 Threekingham Bar roundabout. Mareham Lane, the Roman Road aligned with King Street, crosses the A15 at Threekingham....
and Billingborough
Billingborough
Billingborough is a village and civil parish in the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England, about ten miles north of Bourne and ten miles south of Sleaford on the B1177 between Horbling and Pointon just south of the A52.-Village:...
. The location is now known as Stow Green Hill. There is also Shepeau Stow near Spalding
Spalding, Lincolnshire
Spalding is a market town with a population of 30,000 on the River Welland in the South Holland district of Lincolnshire, England. Little London is a hamlet directly south of Spalding on the B1172 road....
.
History
Stow, which itself means a "Holy Place"Sacred
Holiness, or sanctity, is in general the state of being holy or sacred...
has a long and relatively well-documented history. There is evidence of Roman
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
activity within the village, including the discovery of ancient coins, ruins and foundations from this period.
Around 1640 a certain George Clifford, the rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
's son, moved from Stow to Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
. His grandson George Clifford III
George Clifford III
George Clifford III was a wealthy Dutch banker and one of the directors of the Dutch East India Company. He is known for his keen interest in plants and gardens...
became the maecenas
Patrón
Patrón is a luxury brand of tequila produced in Mexico and sold in hand-blown, individually numbered bottles.Made entirely from Blue Agave "piñas" , Patrón comes in five varieties: Silver, Añejo, Reposado, Gran Patrón Platinum and Gran Patrón Burdeos. Patrón also sells a tequila-coffee blend known...
of Carl von Linné the Swedish botanist.
Governance
Lying within the historic county boundariesHistoric counties of England
The historic counties of England are subdivisions of England established for administration by the Normans and in most cases based on earlier Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and shires...
of Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
from a very early time, Stow lay within the Well
Well, Lincolnshire
Well is a small estate village and civil parish about south of the town of Alford, in the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. It is situated on the foot of the east entry to the Lincolnshire Wolds...
hundred
Hundred (division)
A hundred is a geographic division formerly used in England, Wales, Denmark, South Australia, some parts of the United States, Germany , Sweden, Finland and Norway, which historically was used to divide a larger region into smaller administrative divisions...
of the ancient Parts of Lindsey, having previously formed part of the ancient Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
Kingdom of Lindsey
Kingdom of Lindsey
Lindsey or Linnuis is the name of a petty Anglo-Saxon kingdom, absorbed into Northumbria in the 7th century.It lay between the Humber and the Wash, forming its inland boundaries from the course of the Witham and Trent rivers , and the Foss Dyke between...
.
As a result of the 1834 Poor law Amendment
Poor Law Amendment Act 1834
The Poor Law Amendment Act 1834, sometimes abbreviated to PLAA, was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed by the Whig government of Lord Melbourne that reformed the country's poverty relief system . It was an Amendment Act that completely replaced earlier legislation based on the...
, the parish of Stow became part of the Gainsborough Poor Law Union, and later, for civil registration matters, part of the Willingham
Willingham By Stow
Willingham by Stow is a rural village in the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. It lies on the B1241, south-east from Gainsborough and north-west from Lincoln...
sub-district of the Gainsborough Registration District.
In 1974, as part of the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972
Local Government Act 1972
The Local Government Act 1972 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974....
, Stow was given to the newly created non-metropolitan district
Non-metropolitan district
Non-metropolitan districts, or colloquially shire districts, are a type of local government district in England. As created, they are sub-divisions of non-metropolitan counties in a so-called "two-tier" arrangement...
of West Lindsey
West Lindsey
West Lindsey is a local government district in Lincolnshire, England.-History:The district was formed on 1 April 1974, from the urban districts of Gainsborough, Market Rasen, along with Caistor Rural District, Gainsborough Rural District and Welton Rural District...
, though remained within the county of Lincolnshire.
Stow Minster
There had been a church at Stow even before the arrival of the DanesDanelaw
The Danelaw, as recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle , is a historical name given to the part of England in which the laws of the "Danes" held sway and dominated those of the Anglo-Saxons. It is contrasted with "West Saxon law" and "Mercian law". The term has been extended by modern historians to...
in 870
870
Year 870 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Prague Castle is founded....
--the year they are documented to have burnt the church down. The building remained in ruins until an abbey was built in 1040, reputedly by Bishop Eadnoth II.
Dedicated to Mary, mother of Jesus, Stow parish church, sometimes referred to as the "Mother Church of Lincolnshire", is one of the largest and oldest parish churches in England, and once served as the Cathedral Church of the Diocese of Lindsey, founded in the 7th century, and stands on the site of a much older one.
It is partly Saxon
Anglo-Saxon architecture
Anglo-Saxon architecture was a period in the history of architecture in England, and parts of Wales, from the mid-5th century until the Norman Conquest of 1066. Anglo-Saxon secular buildings in Britain were generally simple, constructed mainly using timber with thatch for roofing...
and partly Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
in date and is designated by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
as a "Scheduled Ancient Monument
Scheduled Ancient Monument
In the United Kingdom, a scheduled monument is a 'nationally important' archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorized change. The various pieces of legislation used for legally protecting heritage assets from damage and destruction are grouped under the term...
" and was also included in the World Monuments Fund
World Monuments Fund
World Monuments Fund is a private, international, non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of historic architecture and cultural heritage sites around the world through fieldwork, advocacy, grantmaking, education, and training....
's 2006 list of the world's 100 most endangered sites. The arches in the Anglo-Saxon part are the tallest of their era in Britain.
"Elnothus Lincolniensis", almost certainly Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
Aelfnoth of Dorchester
Dorchester, Oxfordshire
Dorchester-on-Thames is a village and civil parish on the River Thame in Oxfordshire, about northwest of Wallingford and southeast of Oxford. Despite its name, Dorchester is not on the River Thames, but just above the Thame's confluence with it...
, is recorded as the founder round about 975
975
Year 975 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Africa :* Al-Azhar University is founded in Cairo, Egypt .- Asia :...
AD, who built the church, possibly on the site of an earlier wooden Saxon church, to serve as Minster
Minster (cathedral)
Minster is an honorific title given to particular churches in England, most famously York Minster. The term minster is first found in royal foundation charters of the 7th century; and, although it corresponds to the Latin monasterium or monastery, it then designated any settlement of clergy living...
(or mother church
Mother Church
In Christianity, the term mother church or Mother Church may have one of the following meanings:# The first mission church in an area, or a pioneer cathedral# A basilica or cathedral# The main chapel of a province of a religious order...
) for the Lincolnshire part of his large diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
. As the Lindsey diocese was the predecessor of the Diocese of Lincoln, memory of this period gave rise to the tradition that Stow is the Mother Church of Lincoln Cathedral
Lincoln Cathedral
Lincoln Cathedral is a historic Anglican cathedral in Lincoln in England and seat of the Bishop of Lincoln in the Church of England. It was reputedly the tallest building in the world for 249 years . The central spire collapsed in 1549 and was not rebuilt...
.
It is said to have been re-founded and re-endowed in 1054 by Leofric
Leofric, Earl of Mercia
Leofric was the Earl of Mercia and founded monasteries at Coventry and Much Wenlock. Leofric is remembered as the husband of Lady Godiva.-Life and political influence:...
and Godiva (of Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
fame) encouraged by Bishop Wulfwig as a Minster of Secular
Secularity
Secularity is the state of being separate from religion.For instance, eating and bathing may be regarded as examples of secular activities, because there may not be anything inherently religious about them...
Canons
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
with the Bishop at its head. In 1091 Bishop Remigius of Fécamp re-founded it as an abbey
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
and brought monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
s to it from Eynsham
Eynsham
Eynsham is a village and civil parish about east of Witney in Oxfordshire, England.-History:Eynsham grew up near the historically important ford of Swinford on the River Thames flood plain...
, describing the church as having been a long time deserted and ruined. Within five years his successor had transferred the monks back from where they had come and St Mary's had become a parish church.
One mile (2 km) to the west of the village and lying just to the south of the Roman road known as Tillbridge Lane are to be found the remains of the medieval palace
Palace
A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word itself is derived from the Latin name Palātium, for Palatine Hill, one of the seven hills in Rome. In many parts of Europe, the...
of the Bishops of Lincoln built in 1336. All that can be seen today are the earthworks of the moat
Moat
A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that surrounds a castle, other building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive water defences, including natural or artificial lakes, dams and sluices...
and to the north and east of the site the earthwork remains of its associated medieval fish-ponds.
Coates by Stow
Three kilometres (2 miles) to the east but still within Stow parishParish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
lies the hamlet
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
of Coates by Stow. There is no village here just a farm with a farmyard and a church standing nearby. The church which is dedicated to St Edith is late Norman (12th century), but has alterations and additions up to Georgian times including a double bellcote
Bell-Cot
A bell-cot, bell-cote or bellcote, is a small framework and shelter for one or more bells, supported on brackets projecting from a wall or built on the roof of chapels or churches which have no towers. It often holds the Sanctus bell rung at the Consecration....
. The church has a very low small nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
and chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
and is peace itself. It contains a 15th century rood screen
Rood screen
The rood screen is a common feature in late medieval church architecture. It is typically an ornate partition between the chancel and nave, of more or less open tracery constructed of wood, stone, or wrought iron...
(which is the only one in Lincolnshire). The screen is very much Early English but has been restored.
There is a Jacobean
Jacobean era
The Jacobean era refers to the period in English and Scottish history that coincides with the reign of King James VI of Scotland, who also inherited the crown of England in 1603 as James I...
family pew
Pew
A pew is a long bench seat or enclosed box used for seating members of a congregation or choir in a church, or sometimes in a courtroom.-Overview:Churches were not commonly furnished with permanent pews before the Protestant Reformation...
at the west end and the rest of the seating is just rough benches sometimes described as "Rustic". There is the royal coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
of Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
dating from 1635 and brasses to a William Butler and his wife, the figures on these are small and he died in 1590. In a niche there is a demi-figure made of alabaster
Alabaster
Alabaster is a name applied to varieties of two distinct minerals, when used as a material: gypsum and calcite . The former is the alabaster of the present day; generally, the latter is the alabaster of the ancients...
of a Brian Cooke who died in 1653. There are also small pieces of stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
. Outside just south of the chancel is the tomb
Tomb
A tomb is a repository for the remains of the dead. It is generally any structurally enclosed interment space or burial chamber, of varying sizes...
of the Maltby family comprising an urn on a table with tapering columns as legs with a sarcophagus
Sarcophagus
A sarcophagus is a funeral receptacle for a corpse, most commonly carved or cut from stone. The word "sarcophagus" comes from the Greek σαρξ sarx meaning "flesh", and φαγειν phagein meaning "to eat", hence sarkophagus means "flesh-eating"; from the phrase lithos sarkophagos...
underneath.
External links
- Stow-in-Lindsey, GENUKI article.
- Stow Minster, Official website.