STRATFORD (FENNY), a market-town and chapelry,
partly in the parish of BLETCHLEY, and partly in that
of SIMPSON, hundred of NEWPORT, county of BUCKINGHAM,
13 miles (E) from Buckingham, and 45
(N. W.) from London, containing 521 inhabitants. The
distinguishing prefix is derived from the nature of the
surrounding land; the town itself stands on an eminence.
In 1665, it was much depopulated by the plague,
on- account of the ravages of which the inns were shut
up, and the road turned in another direction: it contains
two streets. The Grand Junction canal crosses
the high road at the bottom of the town. Lace-making
employs a considerable number of poor females. The
market, which has never flourished since the time of the
plague, is on Monday; and fairs for cattle are held on
April 19th, July 18th, October 10th,'and November
28th. The living is a perpetual curacy, in the archdeaconry
of Buckingham, and diocese of Lincoln, endowed
with £400 private benefaction, and £ 600 royal
bounty, and in the patronage of John Willis, Esq. The
chapel, situated in Bletchley, having been dilapidated
since the reign of Elizabeth, was rebuilt by subscription,
through the exertions of Mr. Browne Willis, the antiquary,
who resided here, and who may be considered
its founder. The first stone was laid by him, on St.
Martin's day, in 1724, and the building was dedicated
to St. Martin, because his grandfather died on St. Martin's
day, in St. Martin's lane. On its consecration,
in May 1730, he delivered a speech to the diocesan,
in which he represented the decline of morality
among the inhabitants, from the want of a place of
worship: it has received an addition of two hundred
and forty free sittings, to which the Incorporated
Society for the building and enlargement of churches
and chapels contributed £195. The living is a perpetual
curacy, in the archdeaconry of Bucks, and diocese
of Lincoln, and in the gift of the patron of Bletchley.
The remains of Mr. Willis are interred within the rails
of the communion-table; he bequeathed a benefaction
for a sermon to be preached on St. Martin's day, and
requested that the rector of Bletchley may never have
the cure of Fenny-Stratford, but directed that, if he
would contribute £6 per annum towards the salary of
the curate, he should have the appointment; this has
never been done.. Baptists and Wesleyan Methodists
have "each a place of worship. A National school, supported
by voluntary contributions, was erected in 1817.
A guild, dedicated to St. Margaret and't. Catherine,
was founded, in 1494, by Roger and John Hobbes.