Stone (St. Mary)

STONE (St. Mary), a parish, in the union of Kidderminster, Lower division of the hundred of Halfshire, Kidderminster and W. divisions of the county of Worcester, 2¼ miles (S. E. by E.) from Kidderminster; containing 469 inhabitants. Stone was formerly a chapelry in the parish of Chaddesley-Corbet; it consists of 2326 acres, and is intersected by the road between Kidderminster and Bromsgrove. The spinning of yarn, connected with the manufactures of Kidderminster, is carried on in two mills. The living is a vicarage endowed with the rectorial tithes, in the patronage of the Crown, and valued in the king's books at £15; net income, £827. The old church, taken down in 1830, was replaced in 1831-2 by the present structure, and a spire has since been added by the incumbent, the Rev. John Peel, who has also presented a beautiful painted window for the chancel; the cost of both exceeding 400 guineas. The free school, founded pursuant to the will of the Rev. Mr. Hill, B.D., is endowed with 24 acres of land, let for £32 per annum. The parish possesses some land near Stourbridge, which, containing clay for making firebricks, &c, was let upon a lease of 14 years, and produced upon an average nearly £700 per annum; but the lease having expired, and the mines having been worked out, the surface rent is now not more than £40 a year. This sum, with the dividends of about £5000 three per cent, stock, is applied to repairing the church, and to charitable purposes.