STOCKTON: Geographical and Historical information from the year 1824.

"STOCKTON, a parish in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstry, formerly called BODDY STOCKTON, a rectory in charge, in the diocese of Coventry and Lichfield, the deanery of Newport, and archdeaconry of Salop. 79 houses; 500 inhabitants. 4½ miles north of Bridgnorth.

Stockton was in early times called Boddy Stockton, from a family who once enjoyed the manor of Stockton. It is a parish lying within the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstry, and in the diocese of Coventry and Lichfield, comprizing the names of Apley Higford, formerly written Huggeford, and Stockton. Within its limits are several others places called Astwall, Crowgraves, Echoeshill, Levenhall, and Norton; the three former are single residences. Apley is the beautiful and magnificent seat, park and pleasure grounds of Thomas Whitmore, Esq. M.P. for Bridgnorth, through which the Severn rolls its rapid stream for more than a mile, meandering from thence towards that borough in full view of one of the most delightful terraces in the kingdom. The mansion is an elegant free stone structure, in the castellated style fitted up in character, the most chaste, and with that degree of exquisite taste not to be surpassed. This manor prior to the reign of Henry III. belonged to the respectable family of Huggeford. A female of this family, in the reign of Henry IV., married Sir Thomas Lucy, of Cherlecote co Warwick, and upon the death of her niece, Margery Huggeford took this manor into that family. Its proprietor, Sir Thomas Lucy, in the reign of Elizabeth, was the Knight from whom the immortal Shakespeare stole the venison, which forced him from his native home, to elude the vengeance of Sir Thomas, whom he attempted to ridicule in the eyes of the publick. This sir Thomas Lucy, with Joice his wife, and his son Thomas, disposed of these manors of Stockton, Apley, and Huggeford, all the estates within the parish and the advowson of the church of Stockton, in 1551, to William Whitmore, of Balmes house, Oxton, near London, and Anne his wife.

William Whitmore was the eldest son of Richard Whitmore of Aston, in Claverley, a gentleman whose ancestors were of great antiquity in that parish and at Whittemore, (in the parish of Bobbington,) from which latter place they derive their surname. The above William Whitmore was a Merchant of great and extensive connexions and traffick with Spain, in fine cloth, by which he acquired an immense fortune, being of the Haberdashers' company. The abundant acquisitions of this great merchant, laid the foundation of the future prospects of this respectable and aspiring family which soon raised its head above its neighbours in wealth and possessions, as well around their ancient patrimony as in many other counties in the kingdom.

Sir George Whitmore, Knight, the second son of the above William, was Lord Mayor of London in 1632, from whom the present Gentleman is descended in the female line, and in the male line from his elder brother sir William Whitmore, of Apley, Knight, who was sheriff of this county in 1620, in which year he was first elected M.P. for Bridgnorth, returned on the 20th January, 21 James I. and in 1st Charles I. Sir William's son, sir Thomas Whitmore, Bart., was elected for that borough in 15 Charles I., and this Baronet's youngest son, sir Thomas Whitmore, K.B. in 1663, who, in 1678 was again re- elected with his elder brother, sir William Whitmore, of Apley, Bart.; they were again returned in 1681. Sir William Whitmore was re-elected in 1685, 1688, 1695, and 1698. William Whitmore, of Apley, Esq., a descendant of the first sir William Whitmore, Knight, represented Bridgnorth in 1705, 1708, 1713, 1714, and 1721. His eldest son, sir Thomas Whitmore, K.B. in 1734, and again with his brother General William Whitmore in 1741, and 1747. General Whitmore was again elected in 1754, 1761, 1766, and 1768. The General's nephew, the late Thomas Whitmore, Esq. of Apley, was elected in 1771, 1774, 1780, and 1790. John Whitmore, Esq. of the Old Jewry, London, first cousin of the last member, was elected in 1796, and 1802. The present Thomas Whitmore, Esq. was sheriff of this county in 1804, and returned from the borough of Bridgnorth in 1806, 1807, 1812, 1818, and 1820. The living of Stockton is a rectory of considerable value in the gift of this last Gentleman, whose brother the Rev. C.B.C. Whitmore is the present rector."

" APLEY, a hamlet in the parish of Stockton, and in the Bridgnorth division of the hundred of Brimstry. 3½ miles north-west by north of Bridgnorth. The residence of Thomas Whitmore, esq. M.P. See appendix."

" HIGFORD, a manor within the parish of Stockton, belonging to Thomas Whitmore, Esq., of Apley Park, where is a neat residence of several ladies of the Whitmore family, called Cotsbrook-house. This place had, in very early times, been the residence of the Huggefords, lords thereof."

" NORTON, a township in the parish of Stockton, and in the hundred of Brimstry. In Norton stands the hundred house, where Thomas Whitmore, Esq., the lord of the hundred of Brimstry, holds his half yearly rents. 5 miles north of Bridgnorth."

[Transcribed information from A Gazetteer of Shropshire - T Gregory - 1824](unless otherwise stated)

[Description(s) transcribed by Mel Lockie ©2015]