SHIPSTON-upon-STOUR, a market-town and
parish forming, with the parishes of Tidmington and
Tredington, a detached portion of the upper division of
the hundred of OSWALDSLOW, county of WORCESTER,
being locally in the Kington division of the hundred of
Kington, county of Warwick, 16 miles (S. by W.) from
Warwick, and 83 (N.W. by W.) from London, containing
1562 inhabitants. This town is said to derive its name
from having been formerly one of the largest markets
for sheep in the kingdom; it is situated on the river
Stour, in a fertile and rather hilly country, at about
two miles distance from the Stratford upon Avon and
Moreton railway: there was formerly a large manufacture
of shag, which has quite declined, and it has
now little trade of any description. The Dean and
Chapter of Worcester, who possess the manorial rights,
hold a court annually, at which a constable is appointed.
The market is on Thursday, and there are
fairs on the third Tuesday in April, June 22nd, the last
Tuesday in August, and the Tuesday after the 10th of
October, The living is a rectory, with the perpetual
curacy of Tidmington annexed, in the archdeaconry
and diocese of Worcester, rated in the king's books
at £5. 7. 8., and in the patronage of the Dean and
Chapter of Worcester, and of the Principal and Fellows
of Jesus College, Oxford, the former presenting to every
third vacancy. The church is dedicated to St. Edmund.
The Baptists, Society of Friends, and Wesleyan Methodists,
have each a place of worship. Endowments
for the instruction of children were bequeathed by John
Pittway, in 1706, and by George Marshall, in 1747, the
latter amounting to £ 39 per annum, and the -National
school is well attended; there are also various small
bequests for the poor of the town.