STRATFORD (STONY), a market-town comprising
the united parishes of West Side and East Side, in the
hundred of NEWPORT, county of BUCKINGHAM, 8 miles
(N. E.) from Buckingham, and 52 (N.W.) from London,
containing 1499 inhabitants. At or near this spot appears
to have been the Lactodorum of the Itinerary.
Camden is of opinion that it was at the town, because
the derivation of Lactodorum, in the ancient British
language, agrees with the present name, both signifying
"a river forded by means of stones." Dr. Stukeley
supposes it was at Old Stratford, on the Northamptonshire
side of the river; and Dr. Salmon, at Claverston,
an eminence close to the old road which led to the ford
at Passenham, where the army of Edward the Elder
was stationed, whilst he fortified Towcester. Through
Stratford passes the Roman road, Watling-street, in its
course in a direct line through the county from Brickhill.
One of the crosses in memory of Eleanor,
queen of Edward I., was erected here, but it was demolished
in the great civil war. At an inn in this town,
Richard III., when Duke of Gloucester, accompanied
by the Duke of Buckingham, seized the unfortunate
young prince, Edward V., and, in his presence, arrested
Lord Richard Grey and Sir Thomas Vaughan. In 1736,
an accidental fire destroyed fifty-three houses; and, in
1742, a similar catastrophe consumed one hundred and
thirteen, and the church of St. Mary Magdalene, which
has never been rebuilt: the tower, however, escaped
the flames, and is yet standing. The damage was estimated
at £10,000, of which £7000 was raised for the
sufferers by a brief and subscriptions. The town consists
of one long street, composed of houses built of
freestone, of which some are very good; it is partially
paved with pebbles, and well supplied with water, but
not lighted, though an act for lighting and paving w
obtained in 1800. This place consisted originally
only a few inns, but its traffic (which is nowVery great)
increasing, its enlargement followed, and a stone bridge,
with five arches, was constructed over the Ouse. The
manufacture of bone-lace gives employment to many
families. A market was granted to the Veres in 1460;
in 1663, Simon Bennet, lord of the manor of Calverton,
procured a charter for a market on Friday (the
present market-day), and four fairs, but only three are
now held, viz. August 2nd, Friday next after October
the 10th, and November 12th; the first and last are
for cattle. The government is in the county magistrates,
who sit every alternate Friday.
The livings of the two parishes, having been united,
form a perpetual curacy in the archdeaconry of Buckingham,
and diocese of Lincoln, endowed with £8
per annum and £200 private benefaction, and £600
royal bounty, and in the patronage of the Bishop
of Lincoln. The church, dedicated to St. Giles, formerly
a chantry, was erected in 1451, and endowed in 1482,
but rebuilt, except the tower, in 1776, by Mr. Irons
of Warwick. Till of late years it was included in the
parish of Calverton, on the west side of the street,
whilst that of St. Mary Magdalene belonged to that of
Wolverton, on the east side j there are not at present,
in either district, twenty acres of land not covered
with buildings. There are places of worship for Baptists,
Independents, and Wesleyan Methodists. Two
Sunday schools, in which upwards of three hundred
children are instructed, were opened in 1786; and in
1819, a National school, for an unlimited number of
boys, supported by voluntary contributions, was also
opened, to which an endowment for ten boys, bequeathed
by Mr. M. Hipwell, of this place, has since
been appropriated. Here is also a fund of £70 per
annum, for apprenticing poor children.