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White's Directory of Nottinghamshire, 1853

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Staunton

Staunton is a small village picturesquely situated in the Vale of Belvoir, near the point where the three counties of Nottingham, Leicester and Lincoln unite, 7 miles south by east of Newark, and 10 miles from Grantham, which is the post town, and near the source of the River Devon. Its parish includes part of the hamlet of Alverton, and the township and chapelry of Flawborough. The lordship of Staunton has 93 inhabitants and 1,410 acres of land, which was enclosed in 1760.

It has been the sole property of a family of its own name from the time of the Saxons, and (in Thoroton) we find, "Sir Manger Staunton successfully defended Belvoir Castle against William the Conqueror, and there made his composition and contract for his lands, and had the strongest fortress therein, ever since called by his name - Staunton's Tower". Job Staunton Charlton Esq., the last male heir of this ancient family, died in 1777, after which this lordship was possessed by his two maiden daughters, the survivor of whom died in 1807, and left here estates here and in Yorkshire, to her second cousin, Elizabeth, wife of the Rev. John Apinshaw L.L.D, on condition that they should take the name and bear the arms of Staunton only. This was the case, and the present representative of this family, George William Manger Staunton, grandson of the late Dr Staunton, is the chief proprietor and lord of the manor, as well as patron of the rectory, which is valued in the King's books at £16 10s 11½d. In 1851, the present proprietor presented the living to the Rev. Charles Wing B.A., the present rector.

The church is dedicated to St Mary, and contains many ancient monuments of the Staunton family. The Hall is a large and commodious mansion, with beautiful gardens and pleasure grounds, and is at present unoccupied. Staunton Cottage, a farm house, was built some years ago by the trustees of George William Manger Staunton, grandson of the late Doctor, and is occupied by Mr Marshall of Kilvington. The poor have 26s yearly from the bequest of Elizabeth Sherwin, in 1725. A feast is held on the Sunday after September 19th.

[Transcribed by Clive Henly]