Hilderstone

Location

The village is 8.6 miles (13.8 km) north of the town of Stafford, and 9.8 miles (15.8 km) south east of Stoke on Trent. The nearest railway station is 5.3 miles (8.5 km) west in the town of Stone. The village is situate on the B 5066. The nearest main roads are the A520 which passes the village 3.8 miles (6.1 km) to the west.

Population

The 2011 census recorded a population of 641 in 235 Households. The parish comes under the Stafford Non-Metropolitan District.

Etymology

The genesis of the village name are said to be of Saxon origin. The name Heldulvestone and its variant are of Saxon derivation. The origin of Hilderstone is Hildewulf’s ton meaning a warrior wolf and ton a place or town. Thus Hilderstone was the place of the warrior wolf.

Domesday Book

Hilderstone is listed in the Domesday Book of 1086. In the survey the village has the name Heldulvestone In the survey the settlement was described as quite small with only 6 households. Other Assets included 2 villager or villein, meadow of 1 acres, 2 smallholders and 2 slave. There was also 3 ploughlands (land for), 1 lord's plough teams, 1 men's plough teams. In 1066 the lord of the manor was held by Wulfric Dunning. In 1086 the lord of the manor was held by Vitalis of Hilderstone. The Tenant-in-chief in 1086 was Robert of Stafford.

Buildings and Structures

There are 16 listed buildings and structures within the parish. This includes a K6 Telephone Box designed in 1935 by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. All of these structures have been designated a Grade II listing.

The parish church of Christ Church

The Grade II listed parish church of Christ Church began construction in 1829 with the laying of a foundation stone. The church was designed by architect Thomas Trubshaw (1802–42) and was built using a local stone called Hollington stone. Trubshaw was a son of James Trubshaw, the head of a Staffordshire family of masons and church builders who had been involved in church building for many years. This church was designed and built in the gothic style. The structure is 72.0 feet (21.9 m) in length and has a central aisle and two side aisles. The church is 32.0 feet (9.8 m) at its widest. There is 40.0 feet (12.2 m) tall tower with a recessed spire at the north west with a single bell. Around the outside eaves of the church there are carved gargoyles which are said to depict the workmen involved in the building of the church. The church was completed in 1833 and opened on 31 July of that year.