Stokesay is a historic hamlet in Shropshire, England just south of Craven Arms on the A49 road, also fleetingly visible from the Shrewsbury to Hereford Welsh Marches railway line.
Less than a mile to the north is the small town of Craven Arms and 6 miles to the south east is the larger, historical market town of Ludlow. Stokesay was once a civil parish, which covered the land now taken up by Craven Arms. However it merged with Halford parish to form the modern day Craven Arms parish. As of 2012 these two older entities continue as parish wards, however a review of the governance of Craven Arms suggests these two wards will be soon abolished.[1]
The River Onny runs past Stokesay, on its way south, and the bridge which carries the A49 over the river is Stokesay Bridge. Within the former parish, to the south of the hamlet of Stokesay is Stoke Wood and the hamlet of Aldon (grid reference SO435795); to the northeast is the hamlet of Whettleton (grid reference SO441823).
Nearby, on the outskirts of Craven Arms, is the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, with its grass roof easily seen from the A49. Also in Craven Arms is the nearest railway station, which for over a hundred years was named Craven Arms and Stokesay, before a rename in 1974.[2]
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Stokesay is famous for Stokesay Castle, a fortified manor house and one of the best preserved and oldest examples of the type in the country.
The hamlet, which even today comprises just a church, dedicated to St John the Baptist and a rare example of the Commonwealth style (having been rebuilt during the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell's rule), a working farm and a few houses. It was previously known as simply "Stoke". This widespread English placename means 'enclosure'.
The film Atonement was filmed in part near Stokesay.[3]
In the mid 10th century the manor of Stoke was held by Wild Edric, a Saxon nobleman, notable for his strenuous resistance to the Normans immediately after the Norman Conquest of England. The Normans wrested the manor from his hands and granted it in their normal fashion to a notable Norman as a reward for his part in the Conquest, one Picot de Say, also known as William de Picot. It was this man who had a house and church built some time after 1068.[4]
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