Stoke on Tern facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Stoke on Tern
St Peter's church, Stoke on Tern
Stoke on Tern
Population	2,034 (2011)
OS grid reference	SJ639278
Civil parish	Stoke upon Tern
Unitary authority	Shropshire
Ceremonial county	Shropshire
Region	West Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	MARKET DRAYTON
Postcode district	TF9
Dialling code	01630
Police	West Mercia
Fire	Shropshire
Ambulance	West Midlands
EU Parliament	West Midlands
UK Parliament	North Shropshire
List of places UK England Shropshire 52°50′49″N 2°32′06″W / 52.847°N 2.535°W / 52.847; -2.535

Stoke on Tern is a village in Shropshire, England. It sits right on the River Tern. The area around the village is officially called Stoke upon Tern.

A Look Back: History of Stoke on Tern

The old family symbol of the Lacy family, who were early lords of the manor.

Stoke on Tern was a very important place way back in the 1000s. It was even mentioned in the Domesday Book, which was a big survey of England made by William the Conqueror. A powerful family called the de Lacys owned the land. Records show there was a priest here in the 11th century, meaning a church likely stood here even then. This shows Stoke was a main home for the de Lacys and later for the de Say and Vernon families.

There are also signs of an old square moat near the church. This might have been around a large house where the lord of the manor lived in the 1200s or 1300s.

Vernon Family Symbol

De Say Family Symbol

The family symbols of two families who owned the manor after the de Lacys. Align =

St Peter's Church

The main church in Stoke on Tern is St Peter's Church. It is part of the Anglican faith. The church holds a Sunday service every other week. There is also a prayer meeting on Wednesdays, four times a month.

The church building itself was built between 1874 and 1875. It is considered a special historical building, known as Grade II listed. Inside the church, you can find a war memorial. This memorial lists the names of people from Stoke and Hodnet who died in World War I.

The Corbet Monument: A Link to Shakespeare?

The Corbet Monument. This tomb connects the church to the Geneva Bible, Shakespeare's family, and his play 'As You Like It'.

One of the most interesting things in the church is the Corbet family monument. This old tomb was made in the mid-1500s. It links Stoke on Tern to the family of the famous writer William Shakespeare. It also connects to his play As You Like It and even to the creation of the Geneva Bible.

Alice Corbet, whose family helped publish the Geneva Bible, is honored in the church.

The monument was built for Reginald Corbet (who died in 1566). He was an important lawyer during the time of the Tudor kings and queens. It also honors his wife, Alice Gratewood.

Alice was related to Sir Rowland Hill. He was a very important person who helped publish the Geneva Bible. Some people believe Sir Rowland Hill was the inspiration for a character named Old Sir Rowland in Shakespeare's play As You Like It.

This play is also thought to be inspired by the area around Stoke on Tern. This part of Shropshire is near the Forest of Arden, which is where the play is set.

It is thought that Rowland Hill might have inspired the character Rowland de Bois in As You Like It.

The connections to Shakespeare continue! One of Reginald and Alice Corbet's daughters, Elizabeth Corbett, married a son from the Arden family. Shakespeare's mother, Mary, was also part of the Arden family.

Reginald Corbet owned several important areas, including Stoke.

Sir Rowland Hill

Reginald Corbet

Two important people from the 1500s connected to the manor.

Where is Stoke on Tern?

The village is located on the River Tern. This river flows through the southern and western parts of the village. The wider area, or parish, includes smaller places like Eaton upon Tern, Ollerton, Stoke Heath, and Wistanswick.

In 2001, about 1,740 people lived in Stoke on Tern. By 2011, the population had grown to 2,034 people. In 2019, it was estimated that about 2,431 people lived here.

Village Life: Amenities and Transport

The village's old bus stop, no longer in use.

Langley Dale, a main street in Stoke on Tern.

Stoke on Tern has a primary school with four classes and a nursery. The school was rated "good" by Ofsted in 2018.

For medical help, the closest health center is in Hodnet, about 2.6 miles (4.2 km) away. The nearest shops and other services can be found in Market Drayton, which is about 6.5 miles (10.5 km) from the village.

Since 2020, there has been no bus service directly serving Stoke on Tern. Before 2016, buses ran between Market Drayton and Telford. People have asked for the bus service to return. Now, the closest bus stop is in Hodnet, which has bus connections to Shrewsbury and Market Drayton.

The main roads, the A53 and A41, pass near the edges of the parish.

Famous People from Stoke on Tern

• William Hill (died 1585): He was a priest in the village in the mid-1500s. He was also the brother of Sir Rowland Hill, who helped publish the Geneva Bible.
• Benjamin Whichcote (1609–1683): He was an important religious leader. He was born at Whichcote Hall in Stoke on Tern.