Following the Norman invasion, and the property share out by the Norman conquerors, the village and the surrounding area were given to Bishop Odo, and later Peter de Goldington, whose grandson decided to change the name from “Stoches” (as it was known in the 1086 Domesday Book) to Stoke Goldington in the early 13th Century
In 1265 Isabel de Goldington, sole heiress of Sir Peter’s grandson, married Sir William de Nowers of ‘Gaithurst’.
Isabel’s dowry included Stoke Goldington and so the two villages were joined, for the next six hundred and fifty years.
The property remained in the ownership of the de Nowers family until 1408 when it was acquired by the Nevill family.
In 1408 the sole heiress and sister to Almaric de Nowers married Sir Robert Nevill from County Leicester and the estate then stayed in the Nevill family for 173 years bringing the date to 1581.
It was probably the Nevills who built the oldest, Tudor part of the existing house in about 1500.
In January 1581 a patent was granted by Queen Elizabeth 1, conferring on Sir Francis Drake (amongst other property) the reversion to:-
“the Manor of Gothurste otherwise Gayhurste and Stoke Goldington. And also the advowsons gifts and rights of patronage of the Churches of Gothurste otherwise Gayhurste and Stoke Goldington aforesaid” – should it become forfeited to the Crown.
Sir Francis Drake
This deed was dated 13th January 1581. On the following day 14th January 1581 Drake sold this reversion to William Mulsho.
Subsequently the ownership changed, as detailed below:-
- Mulsho Family 1581-1596
- Digby Family 1596-1704
- George Wrighte (1) 1704-1724
- George Wrighte (2) 1724-1766
- George Wrighte (3) 1766-1804
- Anne Barbara Wrighte 1804-1830
- George Thomas Wyndham 1830-1837
- Maria Anne and Cecilia Wyndham 1837-1842
- Lord Robert Carrington 1842-1877 (Leased)**
- Lady Maria Anne Macdonald (nee Wyndham) 1877-1882
- James William Carlile 1882-1909
- Sir Walter Carlile 1909-1950
** In 1850 the whole estate was put up for sale by Lady Macdonald but the sale did not take place, however, and a further 21 year lease was granted to Lord Carrington.
The Estate was later sold by Lady Macdonald to James W. Carlile in 1882
The Carlile’s were most generous patrons of Stoke Goldington:
- Starting in 1882, when they created and funded The Stoke Goldington Water Company, providing the village with a good supply of drinking water from the numerous springs on the high ground.
- In 1884 the creation of the Reading Rooms, which gave the villagers a place to meet.
- In 1903 with the gift of the Recreation Ground, the Village Green and also funds to renovate St Peters Church.
- In 1912 Walter Carlile put the Stoke Goldington part of the Estate up for sale to allow the tenants to buy their properties at a reasonable cost. read more...
(click here for a more detailed history of North Bucks)