Shipston-upon-Stour (St. Edmund)

SHIPSTON-upon-Stour (St. Edmund), a market-town and parish, and the head of a union, in the Upper division of the hundred of Oswaldslow, Blockley and E. divisions of the county of Worcester, locally in the Kington division of the hundred of Kington, county of Warwick, 16 miles (S. by W.) from Warwick, and 83 (N. W. by W.) from London; containing 1846 inhabitants. This place was formerly a township in the parish of Tredington, from which it was separated by an act of the 6th of George I. It is said to derive its name from having had one of the largest markets for sheep in the kingdom. The town is situated on the river Stour, in a fertile and rather hilly country, about two miles from the Stratford and Moreton railroad, to which a branch was opened in 1836. A library and reading-room were founded in 1837. The manufacture of shag was at one time largely carried on, but the place has now little trade of any description. The Dean and Chapter of Worcester, who possess the manorial rights, hold a court annually, at which a constable is appointed. The powers of the county debt-court of Shipston, established in 1847, extend over the registration-district of Shipston. The market is on Saturday; and there are fairs on the third Tuesday in April, June 22nd, the last Tuesday in August, and the Tuesday after October 10th. The parish comprises 1159a. 36p. of land. The living is a rectory, with that of Tidmington annexed, valued in the king's books at £33. 5.10.; net income, £700; patrons, the Dean and Chapter of Worcester, and Jesus College, Oxford, the former presenting to every third vacancy. The church is an ancient edifice with a tower, and contains several monuments: a gallery was erected in 1790. The Baptists, Society of Friends, and Wesleyans have each a place of worship; and at Foxcote, in the parish, is a Roman Catholic chapel. A national school is endowed with about £130 per annum; and various small bequests are distributed among the poor. The union of Shipston includes 37 parishes or places, 20 of which are in the county of Warwick, 13 in that of Gloucester, and 4 in that of Worcester; and contains a population of 19,685.