STOCK, 2½ miles E. of Ingatestone, is a village and parish adjoining and intermixed with Buttsbury, as noticed above. It is sometimes called Stock-Harward, and it contains 657 inhabitants and about 2620 acres of land, lying in the same manors as Buttsbury, and belonging to Lord Petre and many smaller proprietors .
The soil is mostly light, resting on a stratum of white sand and gravel; but on and near the Common, which extends northward nearly to Galleywood, a stiff loam prevails, called brick and pot earth, because it is well suited for the manufacture of those articles. The name Stock (a block of wood) is supposed to indicate that in the Saxon era the parish had abundant remains of an ancient forest.
Lord Bayning compounded with the Crown for disafforesting Bushy Lees(70 acres ) , Stoock-Mead, and other lands in this parish, parcel of the manor of Blunts. Lilleystone Hall, formerly called Woodlands, was built in 1847, at the cost of about £7000, in the Grecian Doric style. It was the seat of W. P. Johnson, Esq. , and was occupied, in 1862, by the Hon. Arthur C. A. Petre, now of Coptfold Hall.
The village, swelled by most of the houses and inhabitants of Buttsbury, is considerable, and has several neat mansions. It is situated on a bold eminence commanding extensive views of the surrounding country. Stock Church (All Saints) is an ancient brick structure, except the tower and spire, which are entirely of wood. The tower consists of thick planks fixed into deep grooves between the studs, and has three bells and a clock. The chancel was rebuilt in 1847, and the nave was at the same time thoroughly repaired, and newly fitted up with open benches, and a new roof. The new windows, doors, arches, mouldings, &c. , are admirably executed in the decorated style which prevailed in the reign of Edward III. , so as to correspond with the original portions of the edifice. Stock Rectory, valued in K.B. at £10, and in 1831 at £658, with that of Ramsden Bellhouse annexed to it, is in the patronage of J. Edison, Esq. , and incumbency of the Rev. E. J. Edison, M.A., who has a large and handsome Rectory House, in the Tudor style, recently much improved. The tithes of Stock were commuted, in 1839, for £435 per annum. National Schools for 200 children were built here, in 1839, of red and white brick, in the Tudor style. In the village is an Independent Chapel. Here are four Almshouses for four poor men, two of this parish and two from Boreham, founded by Richard Tweedy, who, in 1574, endowed them with a farm called Prentises, in Stow Maries ; but this now valuable farm was purchased in 1788, by John Strutt, subject only to the yearly payment of £13. 12s. to the almspeople. In 1601, Edward James left, for the equal benefit of the poor of Stock and Buttsbury parishes, a cottage and 4A. of land at Downham, now let for £10. In 1833, £30, derived from the sale of timber, was expended in rebuilding the cottage.
STOCK AND BUTTSBURY.
Those marked * are in Buttsbury, and + are land owners .
POST OFFICE at S. Knightbridge’s. Letters via Ingatestone.
*Callaway John, tailor
*Clark Arthur, surgeon
Clark Mrs and Miss
Davey Mrs
Croyden Hy. B. relieving officer & registrar
Durham Captain R. B. Stock Lodge
Edison Rev. Edw. Jno. M.A. Rectory
Hearn Edward, police officer
Henderson Hy. gardener & parish clerk
Hewitt John, painter, plumber, &c.
*Lomax Mrs
*Neale Mrs
Makings G. saddler
Pullen Mr
+Mott Mr Wm. M. Greenwoods
Nicholl Arthur, druggist, &c.
Peach Rev. Charles, curate
Pertwee John, corn miller
*Tuck Whitbread Harrison, grocer,draper, &British wine, &c., dealer
Warner John, wheelwright and coach builder
West Jph. school
Wood Mr Thos.
FARMERS.
Archer James Brazier John +Bridge Thomas
Brewitt Mrs. Exors.
*Clark John
Double Joseph
Collard Joseph
*Haines Miss
Hardy Benjamin, White’s Tyrell
+Jordan Mrs
*Hempleman Fras.
+Moss Wm.
Knightbridge Sus.
Norris Thomas
Pate John
Porter Mrs
Scott John
Wright William, Crondon Park
INNS AND TAVERNS.
*Bear, Joseph Barrett
Cock, Harry Offord
King’s Head, James Jordan
BAKERS.
Adkin John
*Cottee John
Lowe William
Norris Isaac
BEERHOUSES.
*Bacon John
*Smith Mary
BLACKSMITHS.
*Brown William
*Makings Wm.
BRICKLAYERS .
Jarvis Henry
Jarvis James
BUTCHERS .
Finch Thomas
Knightbridge Ss.
Pate John A
CARPENTERS .
*PlumeGeorge
*Plume Jesse
SCHOOLS.
Corker Miss
Palmer Elizabeth
West Jph. & Mrs
SHOEMAKERS .
*Bacon John
*Cramphorn C.P .
SHOPKEEPERS .
Jarvis Henry
*Jarvis James
Norris Thomas
*Poulton Wm.Js.
Tuck W. H.