| Stoke Row | |
|---|---|
 St John the Evangelist parish church | |
  Stoke Row Location withinOxfordshire | |
| Area | 6.08 km2 (2.35 sq mi) |
| Population | 651 (2011 Census) |
| • Density | 107/km2 (280/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | SU6884 |
| Civil parish |
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| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Henley-on-Thames |
| Postcode district | RG9 |
| Dialling code | 01491 |
| Police | Thames Valley |
| Fire | Oxfordshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| UK Parliament | |
| Website | Stoke Row |
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Stoke Row is a village andcivil parish in theChiltern Hills, about 5 miles (8 km) west ofHenley-on-Thames inSouth Oxfordshire and about 9 miles (14 km) north ofReading. The2011 Census recorded the parish population as 651.[1]
The earliest known surviving record of the name is from 1435. Stoke is a common place-name derived fromOld English, typically meaning a secondary settlement or outlying farmstead. With the affix "row" it means a "row of houses at Stoke".[2] Stoke Row was a hamlet divided between the ancient parishes, and latercivil parishes, ofIpsden,Newnham Murren andMongewell. It was made achapelry in 1849.[3] From 1932 it was divided between Ipsden andCrowmarsh, into which Newnham Murren and Mongewell were merged.[4] In 1952 Stoke Row was made a new civil parish.[5]
TheChurch of England parish church of StJohn the Evangelist was consecrated in 1846.[6] It was designed in 13th-century style by the architectRC Hussey[7] and is built of knapped flint with stone dressings. The church has a northtower with an octagonalbelfry and shortspire with awood shingle roof.[8] Theecclesiastical parish is now a member of The Langtree Team Ministry: aChurch of Englandbenefice that also includes the parishes ofCheckendon,Ipsden,North Stoke,Whitchurch-on-Thames andWoodcote.[9]
The history ofDissenters meeting in the village dates from 1691.[10] Stoke Row Independent Chapel was built in 1815. It is aGeorgian building withflint footings and ahipped roof ofslate.[11] In 1884 a Sunday school room was built at the back of the chapel.[12] An extension was built in 1956.[12] In 2015 an outdoor service was held to celebrate the chapel's bicentenary.[13]
Edward Anderton Reade, the localsquire atIpsden, had worked with theMaharajah ofBenares in India in the mid-nineteenth century. Under Reade's leadership, a well was sunk in 1831 to aid the community inAzamgarh. Reade left the area in 1860, and after his departure, the Maharajah decided to make a contribution to Reade's home area in England. Recalling Reade's help in creating the Azimgurgh well in 1831 and his stories of water deprivation in his home area ofIpsden[citation needed] the Maharajah commissioned the well at Stoke Row and it was sunk in 1863.[7] TheWallingford firm of RJ and H Wilder made the well mechanism in 1863[14] and completed the pavilion over the well in 1864.[15] Thepavilion is open-sided with acupola on top and a golden-coloured elephant above the well mechanism. The well and pavilion can be seen in a small park on the north side of the main road through Stoke Row village.
Another Indian aristocrat,Maharaja Sir Deonarayun Singh, probably motivated the Stoke Row project, donated a well to the nearby village ofIpsden.
The village has two 17th-centurypubs: the Cherry Tree Inn, aBrakspeartied house[16][17] and the Crooked Billet[18] afree house.[19] Built in 1642 the pub is reputed to have once been the hideout of highwaymanDick Turpin, who was said to have been in love with the landlord's daughter, Bess.[20] It was England's firstgastropub and was the venue forTitanic starKate Winslet's wedding reception. In June 1989 the Britishprogressive rock bandMarillion played its first performance withSteve Hogarth as frontman at the pub; a documentary DVD calledFrom Stoke Row ToIpanema – A Year In The Life was subsequently produced.[21] In the1851 Census the head of the household at No 1 Stoke Row was George Hope, who built "The Hope" public house.[22] This was later called "The Farmer" and today is Hope House, at the junction of Main Street with Nottwood Lane. The parish has aChurch of Englandprimary school.[23]
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