West Stockwith, c.1910.
West Stockwith, c.1910.
Church of St Mary the Virgin, West Stockwith in 2011. © Copyright Alan Murray-Rust and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Church of St Mary the Virgin, West Stockwith in 2011. © Copyright Alan Murray-Rust and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

WEST STOCKWITH. It is like a quayside where the Chesterfield Canal comes into the Trent, which is a tidal river here and is joined by the Idle. Its old windmill has lost its cap and found a gabled roof, now housing people instead of grinding corn. Its houses line a dingy street on a bank of the river, looking across to Lincolnshire on the other side; but the village keeps its red brick church neat and clean within. Built over 200 years ago in memory of William Huntingdon, it has a marble monument with his lifesize figure in a half-reclining attitude, showing him holding a drawing of a sailing ship. The inscription describes him as a ship's carpenter, and tells of the charities he left to this village where he worked. The reredos and altar rails are in memory of 17 men who did not come back.