SHENSTONE and HOO were regarded as manorsduring the 17th century. (fn. 59) Landat Shenstone was held in 1431 by Richard Folliott, lord of Stone, by knightservice, (fn. 60) andboth manors passed with Stone from the Folliott family to Sir WilliamCourteen. (fn. 61) Theyare not mentioned after 1636. (fn. 62)
A mill at Stone worth threeounces of silver belonged to the manor in 1086. (fn. 63) Anothermill in the parish called 'the water mill of Stone' appears to have belonged tothe manor of Dunclent, for it was given by Edmund de Dunclent to his brotherJohn in 1351. (fn. 64)
A disused paper-mill at Hoobrookis the only mill at present in the parish.
CHURCH
The church of ST. MARY consistsof a chancel, nave with a western gallery and a western tower and spire. Thewhole building is modern, and was built in 1831, when the old church wasdestroyed. A pencil drawing of the latter, still preserved, shows this to havebeen of some interest. The sketch does not give much detail, but the proportionof the tower and the general appearance of the belfry lights suggest a12th-century date for this part of the church, while the east windows of thechancel appear to have been three grouped lancets. Prattinton, who visited thechurch, also mentions 'a Saxon door on the north wall,' a further suggestion of12th-century work. (fn. 65)
The present church is ostensiblydesigned in 15th-century style, but is poor in both design and detail. Thetraceried east window of the chancel is of three lights, and in the south wallis a two-light window. There is no chancel arch, and the nave is lit by sixtwo-light windows, three on either hand. At the west end of the nave is anorgan gallery. The tower is of three stages, with lancet belfry lights and anembattled parapet, above which is a stone spire. The lowest stage serves as aporch. The belfry contains six bells, cast by Thomas Mears of London in 1832.The font is of 13th-century design, with a square bowl. Affixed to the northwall of the chancel are two small brass plates, the only relics of the oldchurch, both removed from a monument. One is to Will Spicer, died 1656, andbears the inscription:
'Drawn from a martyrs bloud, from a generous line
Decended was this meek, this grave divine.'
Below are the arms, a battled fesse between three lions rampant. The secondbrass is to Ursula wife of the above, died 1663, and bears the Spicer armsimpaling a cheveron between three roses with the difference of a crescent uponthe cheveron. Over the west door is a small late 18th-century carving of theroyal arms with the unusual arrangement of England quartering Scotland,Ireland, and France.
The church plate consists of asmall three-legged salver of 1800 and a modern set of a chalice, paten,standing salver and flagon, presented in 1862 by the Rev. John Peel, vicar ofStone and Dean of Worcester.
The registers before 1812 are asfollows: (i) all entries 1601 to 1709; (ii) baptisms and burials 1709 to 1785,marriages 1709 to 1752; (iii) baptisms and burials 1786 to 1812; and (iv) aprinted marriage book 1754 to 1812.