STONELEIGH, a parish in the Kenilworth division
of the hundred of KNIGHTLOW, county of WARWICK,
3 miles (E. by N.) from Kenilworth, containing
1391 inhabitants. The living is a vicarage, in the
archdeaconry of Coventry, and diocese of Lichfield and
Coventry, rated in the king's books at £6. 15. 5., and
in the patronage of the Crown. The church, dedicated
to St. Mary, is a large and venerable structure, with
a square tower supported by strong buttresses, and surmounted
by another of smaller size, crowned with
pinnacles at. the angles; between the chancel and the
nave is a large Norman arch, richly ornamented, and
supported by columns, whose shafts and capitals are
greatly embellished; around the east end is a series of
small Norman arches, which for many years were filled
up with plaster, but have been restored. On the south
side of the chancel is the mausoleum of the Leigh family,
lately erected, the ceiling of which is beautifully
worked in groined and ribbed arches; in the chancel
is a splendid monument to the memory of Lady Alice
Leigh, Duchess of Dudley; also a recumbent stone figure,
found in an upright position in a wall, in digging the
foundation of the mausoleum; it is supposed to be in
memory of Geoffrey de Muschamp, Bishop of Coventry
and Lichfield in the reign of John. The south aisle
is separated from the nave by three pointed arches supported
on octagonal pillars; on the south side is a fine
Norman porch and doorway, the arch and pillars ornamented
with flat and round mouldings: the ancient stone
font is cylindrical, and is surrounded by figures of the
twelve Apostles, in Norman arches. The free school
was founded, in 1708, by Thomas, Lord Leigh, who bequeathed
an annuity of £20 for its support; in 1731,
the Hon. Ann Leigh gave £1000, as an augmentation
of its funds; the annual income is £102; seventy boys
and about fifty girls are educated in a large house, containing
separate school-rooms, with apartments for the
master and the mistress. Almshouses for five aged persons
of each sex were founded and endowed, in 1575, by
Dame Alice Leigh, whose descendants have for many
years past doubled the endowment. The village is situated
on the Sow, near its junction with the Avon,
and consists of a few red cottages, interspersed with
some modern detached houses. About one mile from it
is Stoneleigh abbey, the seat of Chandos Leigh, Esq.,
originally founded by Henry II., in 1154, for Cistercian
monks, and dedicated to the Virgin; at the dissolution,
its revenue was valued at £178. 2. 5. In 1245, the
abbey suffered greatly from fire, and was repaired by
Robert de Hockele, the sixteenth abbot, about 1300,
who built the gateway-tower, which is entire, and in
the early decorated style, leading through a lofty arch
way to the lawn before the house: its situation on
an extensive plain, rising gently from the Avon, is
peculiarly beautiful. Many privileges were granted to
the monks by Henry II., and amongst them power
to hold a market and a fair. Of the ancient building,
the remains are formed into cellars and domestic offices
belonging to the modern elegant mansion, erected by
the family of Leigh: among the specimens of ancient
architecture are, groined arches, resting on massive
pillars; and Norman arches and pillars, in the latest
and most finished character of that style, which prevails
generally throughout the lower part of the abbey. The
rivers Avon and Sow run through the parish; the former
nearly surrounds the abbey, and is crossed by a handsome
stone bridge, and the latter passes through the
village, where it is crossed by an ancient bridge of eight
arches, about half a mile before its confluence with the
Avon. On the south side of the river, opposite the
church, is Motstow hill, where the tenantry used to
assemble to render suit and service to the lord of the
manor.