You can read a historical account of the village and its culture, along with a snapshot of village life in 1996, in the pdf book: "Stoke Albany 1996: Portrait of a Country Village".
The content below is in rough chronological order, comprising historical information, some personal recollections, and photographs depicting various aspects of village life. Numbers in brackets are a reference to the corresponding image file for each photographic link. The tilde symbol ("~") denotes an approximate date. The question mark symbol designates a guessed date.
If you wish to contribute to this page, please contact the webmaster. Corrections or enhancements to the descriptions of the photographs will be very much welcomed, especially regarding dates, names and locations.
~C5th. Arrival of the Celts in the Welland Valley area.
~C7th. Settlement of the Welland Valley by Saxons from the south and by Anglians (aka "Angles")" from the north, eventually resulting in a mixed "Anglo-Saxon" culture in the area.
~889. The Welland Valley falls to Danish invaders and becomes part of the Danelaw.
917. The Welland Valley is retaken by Edward The Elder of Wessex, King of the Anglo-Saxons (son of Alfred The Great).
940-942. Brief rule of Vikings in the Welland Valley, before being retaken by the Anglo-Saxons under King Edmund I.
1066. The Anglo-Saxon lord Oswulf (son of Frani) had most of his lands confiscated by William of Normandy ("The Conqueror"). At this time Oswulf's freehold of "Stoc", later to become the modern parish of Stoke Albany, was valued at 60 shillings. Oswulf is recorded as also owning the neighbouring settlements of Brampton Ash, Desborough and Medbourne.
OpenDomesday Project Catalogue Entry
1086. Under the name "Stoche", Stoke Albany was recorded as a settlement in the Domesday Book, in the Hundred of Stoke, in the County of Northamptonshire. There were two registered land owners: The King (William "The Conqueror") and Robert of Tosny (aka Todeni), who between them administered 20 households whose menfolk comprised 9 villagers, 6 freemen, 2 smallholders and 3 slaves. The Tosnys and their heirs (the D'Albinis and the De Rooses) remained as lords and landowners in Stoke for the next five centuries.
Domesday Book Entry
C13th. The population of the village around this time is thought to have been almost 100 people.
The Story of William d'Albini (d.1236)
William d'Albini was a descendant of Robert of Tosny. Some sources refer to him by the name William d'Aubigné. Aubigné is a small village in Brittany, France.
1168. William succeeded to the family titles on the death of his father (also named William), including the lordship of land at Stoke Albany.
1195. William accompanied King Richard I (The Lionheart) to Normandy to help defend Richard's lands there against the French. William later became a great friend of Richard's infamous brother John.
1201. Full Ownership Of Stoke Albany. With permission from his friend King John, William paid 40 shillings to the exchequer to buy the Crown's registered land in Stoke Albany (the village being known at this time as "Estokes"), on which to build the first Manor House. Along with the lands he already owned, this transaction meant that William now owned the entirety of the settlement. The King was known to have visited William at Stoke, and hunted hare and deer locally with him on several occasions around this time. Their hunting lodge is thought to have been on the site which later became Park Farm.
1215. Magna Carta. William renounced his friendship with King John when the rebel barons seized London on 24 May, and became one of the twenty-five barons who forced John to the observance of the Magna Carta at Runnymede on 15 June. On 30 November, John's loyalists forced the surrender of Rochester which William had been defending. John was dissuaded from having William hanged as punishment for his treachery and had him imprisoned instead.
1216. William bought his freedom in 1216 by paying a fine of 6,000 marks and swearing loyalty to John's successor Henry III (with whom he was later to find great favour).
1231. William acquired "ten small pike and ten small bream" from the fishpond at Rothwell to stock his new fishponds at Stoke, which eventually became the site of Fishponds Farm.
1236 May 1st. William died at Uffington, Lincolnshire and was buried at Newstead Abbey. His titles passed to his son (also named William) who sired only daughters, the eldest being Lady Isabella (see below).
British History Online - Stoke Albany
Fragment from the University of Leicester Archives
Cambridge University Press
Wikipedia Entry
Wikisource Entry
Historic England Entry for Stoke Fishponds
1247/1248. Saint Botolph's Church. Simon Goher began his tenure as the first incumbent priest of Saint Botolph's Church (149)(2024), which was in the Diocese of Lincoln at the time. The end-date of his tenure is unknown. The architectural style of the church accords with it having being constructed at this time. Saint Botolph (620-670) is a patron saint of sailors, wayfarers and agricultural workers.
1274. First record of the village having the d'Albini family name appended, with the spelling: "Stok Daubeny".
1285. Lordship of Stoke Albany passed to the De Roos family when, there being no male d'Albini heirs, Lady Isabella d'Albini (a grand-daughter of William d'Albini (d.1236)) married Robert De Roos of Holderness. The De Roos family were Lords of Stoke Albany for the next two centuries. The new build at De Roos Way in Stoke Albany was later named in their honour.
1285~1307. Construction of The Second Manor House (147)(2024). Sometime during the reign of Edward I, the first Manor House was abandoned and a new one was built by the De Roos family on higher ground (where it still stands today, Grade II* Listed), possibly because of persistent poor drainage on the first site.
Historic England Entry
1296. Nicholas De Ros (or De Roos) ended his tenure as the second incumbent priest (successor to Simon Goher) of St Botolph's Church. The start-date of his tenure is unknown. It's a fair guess that Nicholas was probably related to Lord Robert De Roos, and may even have been his second son (the first son being heir to the title).
1296-1312. Tenure of Geoffrey De Yakele, 3rd incumbent of St Botolph's.
1312-1321. Tenure of John De Uppingham, 4th incumbent of St Botolph's.
1321-1322. Tenure of Simon De Clifton, 5th incumbent of St Botolph's.
1322-1343. Tenure of Richard De Swyneford, 6th incumbent of St Botolph's.
1343-1349. Tenure of Roger De Brumneby, 7th incumbent of St Botolph's.
1349. Start of the tenure of Will Turnour, 8th incumbent of St Botolph's. The end-date of his tenure is unknown.
C14th ~Late. Construction of The Old House, Ashley Road.
Historic England Entry
Undated. Sheep grazing at The Old House, Ashley Road (066)
1361. End of the tenure of William De Staunford, 9th incumbent of St Botolph's. The start-date of his tenure is unknown. The name Staunford may well refer to modern-day Stanford.
1361-1366. Tenure of William De Hampsterley, 10th incumbent of St Botolph's.
1366-1390. Tenure of Ralph De Wresill, 11th incumbent of St Botolph's.
1377. Death of Johannes (John) De Roos of Stoke Albany, who died in the village. John was a great favourite of King Edward III who named him "the Bon Compagnon". He was a Steward of the King's Household and was appointed Admiral of the Fleet, serving under his brother William who had been appointed Lord High Admiral in 1342.
1390-1411. Tenure of John Tykhull, 12th incumbent of St Botolph's.
1411-1435. Tenure of William Aleyn, 13th incumbent of St Botolph's.
1435. Start of the tenure of Robert Cade, 14th incumbent of St Botolph's. The end-date of his tenure is unknown.
1449. End of the tenure of Robert Lowthborogh, 15th incumbent of St Botolph's. The start-date of his tenure is unknown. The name Lowthborogh may well refer to modern-day Loughborough.
1449-1467. Tenure of Thomas Baker, 16th incumbent of St Botolph's.
Wars of the Roses.
1465. Stoke Albany was seized from Lord Thomas De Roos (a Lancastrian supporter) and given into the ownership of Sir William Hastings (a Yorkist).
1482. Hastings was executed by the Lancastrians and the village reverted to Lancastrian Crown ownership.
1485~1509. Sometime during the reign of Henry VII, Stoke Albany was given back to the De Roos family.
1467-1472. Tenure of John Blakwyn, 17th incumbent of St Botolph's.
1472. Start of the tenure of John Heltirby, 18th incumbent of St Botolph's. The end-date of his tenure is unknown.
1498. End of the tenure of Thomas Helperby, 19th incumbent of St Botolph's. The start-date of his tenure is unknown. Thomas had a very similar-sounding surname to his predecessor; they may have been related, with their surnames becoming differently spelled in various historical texts.
1554. Stoke Albany was sold to Sir Edward Griffin of Dingley. Descendants of the Griffin family were to maintain a presence in the village from this time up until the 1880's.
1575. Earliest entry in the parish register of St Botolph's Church.
1613. Thomas Griffin rented out the Manor to Henry Newdygate of Ashstead in Surrey. This was the beginning of a long series of land rentals and sell-offs by the Griffins, presumably as a result of some decline in their family's net income.
1633. Date inscribed on the wooden "Green Man" stand in St Botolph's Church.
1638. The Griffin family sold the the Manor to Sir Lewis Watson of Rockingham (d.1652) (but continued to live there themselves for some time).
1642-1647. Taxation Effect of the English Civil War.
The following amounts were paid as tax by Stoke Albany Parish (in pounds, shillings and pence) for the financial years shown below:
1642/43. £3.8s.3d
1643/44. £15.8s.0d
1644/45. £23.4s.9d
1645/46. £33.17s.5d
1646/47. £10.8s.10d
1650s. Construction of the thatched cottage at No 8 Bottom Lane (144)(2024).
1655. (Datestone) Construction of No 1 Desborough Road. (148)(2024). Thought to have been originally an estate house, it was at one time the gardener's house for Stoke Albany House.
1681. Date inscribed on the stone font in St Botolph's Church. The inscription reads: "Marke Marshall, Churchwarden, 1681".
1684. (Datestone) Construction of End Cottage, No 8 Lower Road. (146)(2024). A larger-than-usual cottage, thought to have been originally built for a farm foreman/manager.
1706. Construction of The White Horse Inn.
1735. Construction of the original farm building on the site of what would later be Brockenhurst, No 12 Chapel Lane, Grade II Listed. The date-stone from the original was incorporated into the newer building, which was named in the 1950s by its owner Mrs Sherrard who hailed from the New Forest area. Mrs Sherrard owned several of the other cottages nearby and became known locally as "The Lady of The Lane".
Historic England Entry
1751. The census recorded 470 people living in Stoke Albany. Three of these had their occupation listed as "publican", presumably the respective landlords of The White Horse, The White Hart and The Talbot (see the 1885 entry below). There were also two cobblers, two bakers, a butcher, and a thatcher.
1796. Recasting of the five bells in St Botolph's Church. A sixth bell was added in 1888.
1812-1831. Richard Vevers (born Wilkinson) was Rector of St Botolph's. Vevers was brother-in-law to Thomas Denman, 1st Baron Denman (see below).
The Deacon Family
1818. Robert Deacon of Wilbarston married Elizabeth Beesby of Stoke Albany. They went on to have nine children, several of whom became wheelwrights and carpenters like their father, with one of them, Josiah, also skilled as a blacksmith. Robert and Elizabeth are buried alongside each other in the north-west corner of St Botolph's churchyard. It is probable that Robert's headstone was made by one of his sons; it is quite striking and well-worth a visit.
1891. The census recorded Josiah Deacon (son of Robert) in the occupation of blacksmith.
Benjamin Deacon (1871-1929). Benjamin (son of Josiah) grew up to carry on the family trade of wheelwright/carpenter/blacksmith along with his brothers Robert and Augustus. He married Emma Enderson (1869-1924) from Weymouth, and their children Gladys, Amy and James were all born in Stoke Albany.
- Emma's sister Eliza Enderson (1865-1945) never married and spent most of her life in service as a lady's maid working for the family of Mr Brenton Robie Collins (a Canadian barrister from Nova Scotia), initially in London and later in Eastbourne after Mr Collins retired.
- James Deacon became a carpenter in true family tradition and made the belfry doors for St Botolph's that were commissioned by the Watts family. James also made the middle connection bar for the main altar rail.
Gladys Deacon (1900-1985). Gladys was daughter of Benjamin and great-grand-daughter of Robert. She played a large part in many of Stoke Albany's community projects for many years, including Stoke Feast and The Girls' Friendly Society, and was instrumental in the campaign to have a bypass built. She was also one of those involved in the controversial campaign to rename Baker's Lane as Green Lane (see below). She is buried in the north-eastern corner of St Botolph's churchyard.
Headstone of Gladys
Memorial to Benjamin, Emma and Eliza
Undated. Painting of "The Close" (No 2 Chapel Lane) (030)
Painted by a Mr Deacon, a relative of one of the occupants, Mrs Deacon. The Close was located on the site of what later became No 2 Chapel Lane, and consisted of a number of buildings: a Smithy and a Carpenter's workshop operated as businesses in their own right, but also collaborated to make cartwheels. The original dunking pond for the Smithy later became the duck pond for the front garden of No 2.
2010s? Cartwheel remnants in the grounds of No 2 Chapel Lane (031)
2010s? Ivy Kennedy at 2 Chapel Lane with her daughter-in-law Jane (086)
1837. Construction of Stoke Albany House (aka Stoke House).
~1850. Construction of the latter-day main house at Park Farm (aka Stoke Park Farm). It's thought that William d'Albini's hunting lodge was located on this same site in ~1200 (see above).
1851. The census recorded The Honourable Thomas Denman (son of 1st Baron Denman, see below) living at Stoke Albany House.
1852. With the death of the last male heir of the Watson family (Richard), the Manor was sold to James Blockley, a farmer.
1854. Thomas Denman, 1st Baron Denman (b. London, 1779)
Thomas Denman, 1st Baron Denman came to live in Stoke Albany in April 1854. He was a former Lord Chief Justice Of England and had been a notable campaigner for the abolition of slavery. His wife had died in June 1852 and in December of that same year he suffered a paralysing stroke, following which he was looked after by his widowed daughter Mrs Hodgson at the Denman family seat in Stoney Middleton in Derbyshire. When Mrs Hodgson was obliged to move house, Denman then moved in with his eldest son (also called Thomas) and daughter-in-law, who were living at Stoke Albany House. Denman died just a few months later in September 1854 and was buried in St Botolph's churchyard where his headstone can still be seen.
- In St Botolph's Church there is a plaque in Denman's memory (141)(142) which gives his date of death as 22nd September 1854, the same date being given at Page 277 of Vol II of Denman's biography by Sir Joseph Arnould. Other sources cite Denman's date of death as being 26th September, but since the church plaque was most likely commissioned by Denman's family in the period immediately following his death, it is almost certainly the definitive record. Given also that Denman's biography was written less than 20 years after his death and was authored by one of his contemporaries, it too can be taken as fairly reliable. (The later confusion between the 22nd and the 26th could well have arisen because Denman was known to have been buried 4 days after his death.)
- Bizarrely, there is also a lack of agreement over Denman's date of birth: the plaque in St Botolph's states 23rd February 1779, whereas other sources cite 23rd July of that same year. We find again that Arnould's biography Volume 1 (143) concurs with the church plaque, so these two are probably accurate.
- Denman's brother-in-law Richard Vevers had been rector of the combined parishes of Stoke Albany & Wilbarston from 1812 until 1831 (see above).
- Denman's oldest son Thomas who lived at Stoke Albany House became the 2nd Baron Denman and campaigned in the House of Lords for women's suffrage; Denman's middle son Vice Admiral Joseph Denman spent most of his colourful Royal Navy career disrupting the slave trade on the high seas; Denman's youngest son George became a barrister and High Court Judge, and despite a somewhat mediocre reputation in the latter role was nevertheless an active and successful reformer of criminal law.
- More than a century after Denman's death, the new build at Denman Close in Stoke Albany was named in his honour.
1854. First recorded mention of a Post Office in Stoke Albany, being run by Harriet Deacon (1839-1903).
1858. Construction of the original Rectory (later to be known as The Old Rectory).
Undated. Five ladies & the Rector in the garden of The Old Rectory (117)
Undated. Paddling pool fun at The Old Rectory (084)
1860. The census recorded fewer than 300 people living in Stoke Albany. Numbers were dwindling at this time compared to the 1751 peak, as people moved to seek industrial work other than farming.
1869. Earliest record of there being a "Sunday School and Wesleyan Chapel" in Stoke Albany. The original chapel (since demolished) was at the top of Chapel Lane.
1871. (Datestone) Construction of the School House (later to become the Village Hall) on farmland which had been part of the Old House. The school was founded and paid for by Mrs Laetitia Blanche Pearson, in memory of her father Richard Buckby Humfrey who had lived at Stoke Albany House. The first headmistress was Miss Fanny Franklin, who would later be assisted by Annie Harding. The first curriculum was: Needlework for girls, Geography for boys, English for all.
Historic England Entry
Undated. School Photo (119)
Undated. School Photo (120)
1872. Restoration of the chancel of St Botolph's Church at a cost of £2000.
1885. Records show that there were three public houses in the village at this time. To the locals they were each known by the name of a white animal: The White Horse (estb 1706) and The White Hart were so-named in their own right, and The Talbot was sometimes referred to as "The White Dog". The Talbot incorporated a butcher's shop until the 1930s; it closed as a pub in the 1950s and became a private house. The White Hart was demolished to make way for new builds (Nos 2 & 4 Harborough Road).
Undated. Children by the Upper Green, Ashley Road (024). The Talbot Inn at No 1 Ashley Road is in the foreground; the White Horse Inn just beyond.
Undated. The White Hart pub on Harborough Road (029). The sign of the White Horse can be seen at the bottom of the road.
Undated. The crossroads from Desborough Road (079). The Talbot is in the left foreground. The sign of The White Horse can be seen on the right.
1888. Addition of the sixth bell to St Botolph's Church.
1890. Geography was added to the girls' curriculum at the school, Drawing was added to the boys' curriculum.
1890 June 23rd. Death of Samuel Harding
Samuel died after being accidentally struck by the ball while playing in a parish cricket match. Samuel was also a keen bell-ringer, and the ringers of Stoke Albany and Wilbarson collaborated to compile Verses written in Memory of Samuel Harding (093).
1895. Marching Drill for both boys and girls was added to the curriculum at the school
Baker's Lane (aka Bakehouse Lane; later known as Green Lane)
Baker's Lane was where Horace Ingram made the villager's daily bread. He would make his way up the lane in the early hours of the morning and start his work by candlelight so that the fresh loaves would be ready for collection after sunrise. Every Sunday Horace would also cook the villagers' roasts and yorkshire puddings in his big oven; it was said that he was able to recognise every household's roasting pans. Horace also owned the first charabanc to be seen in the village, and used it to provide a local taxi service.
1903. Construction of the new Wesleyan Chapel, part-way up Chapel Lane.
Undated. The New Chapel, Chapel Lane (006)
1900s/10s? The Cricket Team (087)
~1910. No 4 Green Lane (017)
Mrs Watts with her daughter Maud (aged 10) who became Maud Loomes. Mrs Watts was a keen gardener and was well-known for her flowers. Note the geraniums in the window.
1910s/20s? George Watts and his wife Matilda (nee Freer) (051)
George (b.1864) and Matilda (b.1869) ran the Post Office on Desborough Road in 1903. They had 8 children, including Margaret (Madge) Bellamy who succeeded them as Post Mistress and was awarded the British Empire Medal for her service to the community (see 1985, below).
1910s/20s? Percy Watts outside Gladys Deacon's House (050)
Percy was a steadfast churchman (b.1900, d.1951). He was the son of George Watts who ran Stoke Albany Post Office.
1914. By this time there was no longer a working blacksmith's forge in the village.
WW1. Walter Robinson (son of George) (057)
Lance Corporal 28002 John Walter Seth Robinson died in France, 31 May 1919, aged 25. Son of John George and Mary Elizabeth Robinson of Wilbarston, Northants. In this photograph Walter is wearing the cap badge of The Northamptonshire Regiment, but he may well have been serving with 1st Battalion The East Yorkshire Regiment at the time of his death, according to one reputable online source. Walter is buried in the South-East Corner of St Botolph's churchyard in Stoke Albany, and his name is inscribed on the Stoke Albany War Memorial.
WW1. Harold Frisby (with commemoration scroll and medal) (075)
Private 15966 Harold S Frisby of the 6th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment died of wounds in France, 21 February 1917. He was born in Harringworth, Northants, enlisted in Northampton, and is buried in Civilian Plot 1 at Le Quesnoy Communal Cemetery, Nord, France. The medal in the photograph is the UK Victory Medal, showing its reverse side with the text: "THE GREAT WAR FOR CIVILISATION 1914–1919" surrounded by a laurel wreath. Harold's name is inscribed on the Stoke Albany War Memorial.
Undated. Poem by Evelyn Frisby (139)
1921. The War Memorial
The War Memorial was erected in 1921 to commemorate the men of the village who had died whilst fighting during the First World War. It was designed by the leading Northamptonshire architect John Alfred Gotch, and funded by public subscription. Details of those who fell in the Second World War were added at a later date. Repairs were carried out in 2010, funded by the War Memorials Trust. It was adopted by Historic England as a listed monument on 23rd July 2015. The names of the fallen are read out at the annual Remembrance Sunday Service.
Catalogue Entry with War Memorials Online
Catalogue Entry with Historic England
Undated. A peaceful moment (070)
- Looking up the Ashley Road. No 2 Lower Road is in the left background.
1921. The Inaugural Remembrance Service (071)
- Cross Hill Barn at 17 Ashley Road is in the right background.
1921. Wreath-laying (072)
1922. The Green Family (129)
From the left: Olive Mildred (1915-1993), James Frederick (1901-1993), William Thomas (also known as "Billy") (1909-2004), William (also known as "Stringer") (1875-1961) (father), Cecil (1905-1991), Florence Mary (nee Hunt) (1880-1968) (mother) holding baby Edward Alfred (1920-1982), Ethel Mary (1907-1966), May Elizabeth (1903-1985) holding child Louisa Jane (1917-2010), Reginald (1913-??). William senior and Mary were married in St Botolph's on 25th June 1901.
Undated. Cecil Green in later life (140)
Cecil Green lived for most of his life at what is now No 2 Middle Lane. It had previously been two separate cottages, both bought by Cecil's father William in 1909 for a combined price of £180. William took most of the rest of his life to pay off the mortgage. When the tin roof began to leak at No 2, Cecil replaced it with some "liberated" roofing tin from a demolished building at Corby Steel where he worked; there was apparently enough left over to re-roof The White Horse as well. Cecil was the last member of the Green family to reside at No 2, and despite a very unpleasant experience one night when a burglar tied him into his armchair, Cecil continued to live there until his death on 1st December 1991.
The Story of The Dodgy Milk
Ernest ("Budger") Almond milked his cows in the barns which later became the site of No 5 and No 7 Bottom Lane. On one occasion William ("Stringer") Green and his son Billy discovered Ernest watering down the milk in his dairy building at No 12 Bottom Lane. In return for their promise of no drunken tittle-tattle at the pub, Ernest agreed in future to give the Greens a discount on their milk. It seems that semi-skimmed milk made an early appearance in Stoke Albany!
1920s. Wedding of Bert Pitts and Ethel Green (020)
From the right: William Green Senior, Ethel's sister May?, Ethel, Bert, Bill Pitts, Bill's sister.
1923-1930. Miss Winifred Wickens was Headmistress at the school during this period. She never appeared in school photos because she didn't like having her picture taken.
1928. Sheep Shearing in the yard at Stoke Farm (065)
John Freer (b.1871) and his son Archie Freer (b.1912), with their hand-cranked shearing machine. In the middle background on the other side of Ashley Road is the school house. The crenellations of the church tower can just be seen above the trees in the middle background.
Undated. Archie Freer with his dogs at the entrance of Stoke Farm yard (067)
The schoolhouse is in the background.
Undated. Archie Freer with his working horses (068)
1930s. Properties in the village began to receive domestic electricity around this time.
1930s. Joseph Rysdale, Landlord, Outside The Talbot (150)
Joseph and his wife Alice were originally from Scunthorpe. Joseph had an accident at the steelworks in Scunthorpe 1927 which fractured his skull, and by 1939 the couple were known to be running a "beer house" (off license) in Kettering: which dates this photograph as sometime during that 12-year period. While at The Talbot the Rysdales were accompanied by their children, who possibly helped out in the pub: Violet (Vi), Kate (Kitty), Doris (Dolly), Frank, and Edith. Rysdale family legend has it that the piano from The Talbot moved out along with Joseph and Alice, and ended up at a family home in Rothwell!
1936. Children in costume celebrating the coronation of George VI (007)
2nd from Left: Doreen Watts (Pearly Queen), Roy Bellamy (Pearly King).
1936. Villagers celebrating the coronation of George VI (008)
Children: Audrey Hart, Doreen Watts, Roy Bellamy, Peggy Watts, Geoff Hill.
1936. A float in the procession for the coronation of George VI (009)
1938 November 18th. Drinks bill for a British Legion meeting at the White Horse (043)
- 3 dry gingers, 1 lemonade and 97 pints, all for £5!
1939. The Cricket Team (082)
Eric Goode is seated in the front row, 2nd from left.
Mrs Mary Harding
Mary Harding was mother to Alfred, Sid and John (see below). Although small in stature she was a strong lady. After her husband was killed falling off a cart, she continued to run the family farm, and raised her three sons single-handed at their home at No 17 Desborough Road.
Undated. Mary and her dog, outside her house (022) (Earlier than image 023)
Undated. Mary outside her house (023) (Later than image 022)
Undated. The Harding Brothers: Alfred, Sid, and John (044)
Alfred farmed in Stoke until his death c1955. He was father to Frederick who was killed in Singapore (see below). Sid farmed in Wilbarston from the house on the corner of Rushton Road and Barlows Lane. John settled in London.
Undated. Lunch-break during hay-making at the Harding Farm (097)
Alfred and Mabel Harding behind the picnic basket.
WW2. Frederick John Harding in Army Uniform (047)
The single star on Frederick's epaulettes denotes his rank as Second Lieutenant. His cap badge is the Royal Cypher of King George (GRI: Georgius Rex Imperator) suggesting service as a staff officer. Frederick later served as an Acting Captain in Intelligence. He was hospitalised in Singapore after sustaining an eye injury, and sent a letter home in early February 1942 to say that he was to be sent back to India for recuperation, and that he was very much looking forward to seeing his wife and their baby, Stephen. However Japanese forces stormed the island on 8th February 1942. Tragically during the fighting a detachment of British forces used the hospital as a defensive position, which led to an assault by the Japanese on 14th February, in the aftermath of which many of the patients were massacred. Frederick's fate from this point is a mystery, and with no further information coming to light he was eventually declared dead about a year after the war ended. The date of his death was speculatively recorded as 15th February 1942, this being the day that Singapore had surrendered.
WW2. Stoke Albany Home Guard (069)
Front row seated: Officers (wearing ties) and NCOs; Percy Cecil Ashby Pridmore 4th from right. Farm workers were deemed essential to the economic war effort and hence were protected from compulsory call-up, but many of them volunteered to join The Home Guard instead. The number of officers and other ranks in this photograph suggests a small Company formation comprising two Platoons and a HQ element. The combined Wilbarston/Stoke Platoon was known to have been approximately 20-strong, commanded by Lieutenant Collins who lived at Stoke Albany House. It's possible that this photograph shows B (Desborough & District) Company of 5th (Kettering) Battalion of Northants Home Guard. All of the officers and most of the Senior NCOs are wearing medal ribbons denoting previous military service.
WW2. 1941 July 28th. Flying Fortress AN534 of 90 Squadron RAF crashed onto fields at Stoke Albany during a training flight out of Polebrook. All seven crew members perished, including 1st Lieutenant Laird Hendricks an American Air Force Officer. Lt Hendricks was presumably onboard in an advisory role as the USA had at this time not officially entered WW2. There is a memorial to the crew members in St Botolph's Church.
American War Memorials Overseas Entry
WW2. Nancy The Land Girl with Pam and David Jones (062)
Nancy was staying with the Jones family at The Lodge on Desborough Road while she served in The Women's Land Army.
WW2. Land Girls: Nellie Swingler and friend (073)
Undated. Mr Swingler scything a paddock (095)
WW2. Tom Jones in Army Uniform (064)
Tom served in The Eighth Army for 5 years, and was based in Cairo, Egypt. The cap badge (despite being slightly blurred), the black beret, and part of the shoulder title all suggest that he was most probably in the Royal Armoured Corps.
WW2. Eric Goode serving with the British Army in Egypt (074)
Eric's cap badge, although blurred, looks to be that of The Northamptonshire Regiment in which he was known to have served as a driver-mechanic. Eric fought through North Africa, Italy and Austria, so most likely served with the Regiment's 2nd Battalion.
Undated. Tom Jones giving a riding lesson (063)
After leaving the Army, Tom was groom to the Chaplin family who lived at Stoke House. In this photo he is teaching a young Mervyn Chaplin to ride, with Mervyn's sister Serena holding the bridle. The children's father was Major Richard Chaplin who became a stockbroker when he left the Army; their mother Susan (nee Ridley) descended from Northumbrian aristocracy. They had a fearsome Nanny at Stoke House who was known as "The Duchess".
Undated. Eric Goode The Milkman (130)
Apart from his time in the Army (see the WW2 entry above), Eric lived for most of his life in Bottom Lane. After being demobbed in 1946, he returned to Stoke Albany and became an agent for the Prudential insurance agency, travelling all around the Welland Valley on his bicycle to visit customers. He took over the tenancy of No 3 Middle Lane when his father died in 1947. In 1949 Eric started a milk delivery business, buying milk from Ernest ("Budger") Almond (see "The Story of the Dodgy Milk" above). Eric would bottle the milk at home at No 3 and fit cardboard tops to the bottles. He would then deliver the milk around Stoke Albany and Wilbarston, helped by his family, with his son John eventually joining him in the business. In later times Eric sourced his milk from Summerfield Dairies in Irthlingborough, and then from Express Dairies. In 1965 Eric bought the freeholds for Nos 3 and 6 Bottom Lane for £1000 and modernised them both. He eventually moved into No 6 Bottom Lane in the Late 1970s. The milk delivery business finally closed in 2002 when Eric's son John retired.
Recollections by John and Brenda Goode
John and Brenda, children of Eric Goode, can remember growing up at No 3 Bottom Lane when it had no running water or inside toilet. After the washing was done on Mondays, the family would all bathe in the tin bath which used to hang up outside. Their Dad would be last one in, by which time the water had usually become a bit grubby and cold. The children can also remember cold winters when there would be icicles hanging down from the bedroom lamp, and ice would have to be scraped off the inside of the windows.
~1940. The Football Team (052)
Back Row: Revd Copeman, Unknown, Unknown, Ben Ingram, Ernest Ingram.
Middle Row: Unknown, Unknown, Frank Robinson.
Front Row: Harry Ingram, J Wilford, Unknown, Unknown, Unknown.
1940s. The Football Team (033)
Back Row: G Blisset, E Sanders, G Hill, S Green, W Dennison, R Ingram, H Pitts.
Front Row: E Tirrel, A Tirrel, C Patrick, W Pitts, W Green.
1941. Margaret & Brian Green as children in Baker's Lane (053)
1940s. Pam Jones outside The Lodge with her dollies (061)
1940s. Girls outside The Lodge on Desborough Road (040)
Margaret Green (later Kilbourn) and Pam Jones (later Winn).
1946. The Cricket Team (032)
Back Row: J Loomes, S Pridmore, C Frisby, W Green, D Watts, E Vye.
Front Row: C Brown, J Timson, F Harding, A Tirrel, R Ingram, Eric Goode.
1947? The Cricket Team (083)
Eric Goode is seated in the front row, 2nd from left.
1947. School Photo (100)
Miss Close was Headmistress until December 1947. Mrs Margaret Brooks then joined as a temporary teacher.
1947 June. Mrs Margaret Brooks became permanent Headmistress at The School. She remained in post for 2 years.
1949 May 2nd. May Day Festivities (025)
Brian Green and Roger Brooks in costume.
1949 November 21st. The first street lights became operational in the village.
1950s. Mains water supplies became available in the village.
1950 January. Mrs Margaret Brooks left her position as Headmistress at The School.
1950 May 31st. Mrs Marion Mobbs became Headmistress at The School. She remained in post for 11 years.
1950. Candle procession girls in the Church Nativity Play (019)
Muriel Watts, Margaret Green, Molly Aston, Jill Price, Janet Hume, Janet Muggleton, Susan Freer, Doreen Bradshaw, Barbara Green, Pam Chambers, Cilla Bradley, Judy Tye, Pam Jones, Judy Ingram.
Early 1950s. A gathering in the garden of The Old Rectory (021)
Reverend Nesbitt in attendance. Barbara Tann among the children.
1950s. "Teddy Boys" outside The Talbot pub (001)
1950s. "Teddy Boys" at Stoke Fair (002)
On Ashley Road, by the water fountain of No 2 Green Lane.
1950s. Young ladies in costume (077)
Pam Jones (later Winn), Margaret Green (later Kilbourn), Judy Ingram (later Stratford (b.1937)).
Bunting, flags, and fancy dress suggest that this photo may have been taken during celebrations for the coronation of Elizabeth II.
1952. School Photo (121)
Mrs Marion Mobbs as Headmistress.
1953. Children in costume celebrating the coronation of Elizabeth II (004)
Outside the School House. From the left: Pamela Robinson, Molly Aston, Susan Freer, Muriel Watts. The cowboy on the right is Roderick Aston. Others unknown.
1953. The Wesleyan Chapel on Chapel Lane ceased to be a place of worship, and was rented out by the Wesleyan Trustees to be the village hall.
1954. Stoke Wood was declared a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
~1954. Children in costume (featuring "Bill & Ben") (027)
Outside the School House. From the left: young Miss Robinson, Mrs Robinson, Naomi Aston. Others unknown. The little girl's costume on the far right suggests that the occasion might have been May Day. The BBC TV Series starring Bill And Ben was first transmitted in 1952.
~1955. The May Queen (005)
Denise Veasey with her flower girls in De Roos Way.
1957. School Photo (122)
Mrs Marian Mobbs (far left) was Headmistress. Neville Brooks is second from the right in the back row. Neville attended the school from 1953 until 1959. His sister Jennifer had also been a pupil and later became a teaching assistant there under Miss Mobbs while Neville was still a pupil; he had to call his sister "Miss Brooks" during school hours. Neville had the dubious honour of being the subject of the final entry in the school's Punishment Book dated September 15th 1958: "N.Brooks. 'Persistent Disobedience'. One stripe."
1960. Good friends drinking in The White Horse (045)
John Ingram, Phillip Watts, Trevor Tann, Mick Stratford.
The Story of Fred The Stag
Fred The Stag turned up one day at the family home of Barbara and Trevor Tann, and despite various efforts to re-wild him, Fred decided to make it his own home too. The Tann children Tim and Trudy would entertain Fred by giving him someone to chase up and down the garden, occasionally being caught by Fred depending on how quickly they ran. Fred became part of the family and part of the Stoke Albany village heritage. He lived to a ripe old age and was buried in the grounds of the place he chose to live.
Young Fred in the snow (034)
Young Fred (035)
Young Fred in the garden (036)
Grown-up Fred (037)
Fred's Adopted Home on Ashley Road (038)
Tim and Trudy as youngsters (039)
1961 July 26th. Mrs Marian Mobbs left her post as Headmistress at The School after 11 years.
1961 September 5th. Mrs Townsend became Headmistress at The School.
1966. The school closed on 20th July 1966. The school house was then gifted to the village by the Diocese of Peterborough for use as a village hall, under the stewardship of a committee of charity trustees.
1970s. Snow in Bram Hollow (003)
1970s. Stoke Albany Tug of War Team (088)
The Annual Tug of War contest between the parishes of Stoke Albany and Wilbarston commemorates their opposing affiliations during The English Civil War (Stoke Albany being on the Royalist side). The contest is conducted with the two teams starting either side of the stream which marks the boundary between the parishes; the losing team ends up with wet feet. The chimney and roof of Pendle Cottage can be seen on the right edge of this photograph.
1977. Celebrating the Queen's Silver Jubilee (138)
From the left: Sarah Harding (later Champion), Ruth Bates (later McKinnell), Christine Walters
1978. The Wesleyan Chapel on Chapel Lane passed into private hands and was converted into a dwelling.
1979. St Botolph's Church Bell-Ringers (049)
John Hill, Colin Watts, Ivon Green, William ("Billy") Green, Brian Freer, Frank Robinson, Albert Ingram.
Frank Robinson
Frank was born in Middle Lane and lived in Stoke Albany for most of his life. He was a farm labourer, drover and shepherd. In his youth he would drive the livestock to market, sometimes taking two or three days to get there. He was also a keen bell-ringer (049). Frank never stopped working, and he was gardening and managing sheep well into his 80s. On the day of Frank's funeral his hearse was stopped in its tracks on the way to the crematorium, fittingly because of a flock of sheep in the road. Perhaps they had come to say goodbye?
- Frank and unknown assistant, sheep shearing (056)
- Frank tending to a cow and her calf (058)
- Frank in later life, hedge trimming (059)
- Frank's shepherding crook on display at his funeral in St Botolph's (060)
Undated. George Robinson, father of Walter, Frank and Harry (054)
Undated. Frank and Harry Robinson (055)
Undated. Harry Robinson with his sheep dog (080)
Like his brother Frank, Harry was born at No 6 Middle Lane and became a shepherd. His nickname was "Cocky" and Middle Lane was sometimes known as "Cocky Lane". Often seen shearing sheep in his yard, Harry also took the opportunity to offer cheap haircuts to passers-by.
Early 1980s. Stoke Feast on the Upper Green (108)
Early 1980s. News Clipping: Stoke Feast Organisers (099)
From the left: Margaret Barlow, Alice Green, Gladys Deacon (1900-1985), Beryl Watts.
1980s. Cliff Clements The Milkman (048)
Cliff lived in Desborough and was a milkman for Stoke Albany. He used to give Stoke villagers a lift to and from Desborough; this was forbidden by the dairy so male passengers had to hide in the back of the truck; ladies however were able to ride up front on the pretext that they were Cliff's wife. The 'X' Registration number plate indicates that this photograph was taken sometime after August 1981.
1980s. Karting event for children at Park Farm
Music was provided by the National Girobank Panorama Steel Band who released a 7-inch vinyl EP in 1982 when they were at the height of their fame.
(132) (134) (135) (136) (137) (131)
1982. Stoke Wood was purchased from the Rockingham Estate by the Woodland Trust with help from the Countryside Commission and the World Wildlife Fund.
1982. The Nativity Play
A joint production between the parishes of Stoke Albany and Wilbarston, hosted by the Busy Bees Playgroup.
News Clipping (118)
Original Photo (114)
The Cast: Mary (front and centre) played by Claire Freeman aged 4; The Angel Of The Lord (standing behind Mary) played by Hannah Crown aged 3; Joseph played by Mark Squires aged 3; Shepherds played by Nigel Claypole aged 3 and Charlotte Baker aged 4; Baby Jesus played by Tiny Tears.
1984 December 31st. Sub-Postmistress Margaret Bellamy BEM
At the age of 78, Margaret was awarded the British Empire Medal (Civil Division) in the Queen's New Year's Honours list, in recognition of her outstanding community contribution at Desborough Road Post Office where she had worked since 1926.
News Clipping: Pictured Outside the Post Office (092)
News Clipping: Presentation by the Lord Lieutenant (091)
Extract from the Supplement to The London Gazette 31/12/1984 (090)
(Unfortunately the second of the news clippings above erroneously reports that Margaret was awarded the MBE, which is an entirely different honour from the BEM)
1986 December. News Clipping: Golden Wedding of William & Alice Green (111)
1988? Young Morris Dancers at Stoke Feast on the Upper Green (101)
1988. Donkey Rides during Stoke Feast (105)
Undated. Stoke Feast on the Upper Green (107)
Late 1980s. Choristers in The Church at Christmas Time (113)
The nativity scene model can be seen in the background on the left.
1990s? Village Hall event on the Lower Green (106)
Undated. Girl Guides in The Village Hall (109)
1990. Mains gas supplies became available in the village.
1995. Construction of Denman Close.
1995 September. A comprehensive species survey was undertaken in Stoke Wood. For full details see pages 16-21 of "Stoke Albany 1996: Portrait of a Country Village".
1996. News Clipping: The Church Renovation Project (085)
Church Warden Stephen Harding, with renovators Neil Meikle and Harry Mellon. The renovation cost approximately £20,000.
2016. Superfast fibre-to-the-property broadband first became available in the village, supplied by Gigaclear. The fastest connection on offer was 1000 Megabits per second.
2021 May 21st. The census recorded 415 people living in Stoke Albany (55 fewer people than in 1751).
2022. St Botolph's Church gate decorated for the Platinum Jubilee (012)
2022. Cross Hill Barn at 17 Ashley Road decorated for the Platinum Jubilee (014)
2022. Ashley Road / Lower Road during the Platinum Jubilee (015)
2022. Pendle Cottage gate decorated for the Platinum Jubilee (016)
2023-2024. Construction of 18 new houses at Chestnut Edge (later to be known as Deer Park Road). Tragically the centuries-old horse chestnut tree which gave its name to the site fell down in a gale soon after construction of the houses.
Undated. Two photos of Ashley Road looking North/downhill: (018) (081)
No 2 Middle Lane is in the left foreground, with its water fountain visible. Beyond on the left are Chapel lane, then Bottom Lane.
Undated. Desborough Road, looking North (022)
No 1 Desborough Road is in the distance on the right.
Undated. The Post Office on Desborough Road (028)
By the gate are sisters-in-law Matilda Watts (wife of George) and Amelia Watts (wife of Richard), with some of their children. The man with a bicycle on the left of picture may be a postman.
Undated. The Green family, outside the Village Hall (041)
Back row: Derek, John, Ivon, Brian
Seated: Diane Margaret, Val, Joyce.
Undated. Pam and Judy Timpson taking tea at a Garden Fete (042)
Undated. Stoke & Wilbarston Mothers Union outing (046)
The lady in the grey dress is Mrs Jones. Others unknown.
Undated. Nativity Play in The Church (103)
Undated. The May Queen and Her Attendants (104)
Undated. The May Queen and Her Attendants (110)
Undated. Children outside No 2 Bottom Lane (078)
Part of the house was later demolished and the thatch was removed.
The following photographs have been supplied by parishioners but are of unknown provenance. If you have any information as to their dates, context, location, or names of individuals, please inform the webmaster.
Children on a horse and cart (094)
A scything team and two children (096)
Man with penny-farthing bicycle (102)
Woman and young girl outside a house (112)
A large indoor gathering of mostly young people (115)
Children in nativity costume (116)
Hanging out the laundry: man, woman, child (and duck) (128)
Adults at a country show (133)
