Stanwick St John

These massive fortifications are believed to have enclosed the ancient fort of Rigodunum,[5] the capital of Brigantia and possible seat of Cartimandua, Queen of the Brigantes, or of Venutius her rival and former husband.[6][7] Traces of early human occupation of the ancient site now known as Stanwick Camp are obviously apparent: the snaking dykes enclose a roughly triangular area of 300 hectares (740 acres) with an internal defensible sector, now a meadow known as "The Tofts" south of the church.The Romans established stations at Catterick to the south and at Piercebridge on the river crossing to the north but at about the same time (circa 70 AD) building activity seems to have stopped at Stanwick.A section of the defences was recreated by Wheeler (now an English Heritage visitor site near the village of Forcett) which shows how the ditch was at this point actually cut down into the sandstone to form a wall on the inner side.Traces of a small Iron Age village have been identified a little to the north-east of the church, and particularly in wet conditions early cultivation patterns are clearly visible in all the surrounding fields.Some very early carved stones with Viking ornamentation are visible set into the walls of the chancel and the porch, and an Anglo-Saxon cross-shaft with Celtic scrollwork stands in the church.The new Hall included a splendid summerhouse and was set in a deer park, as depicted in an oil painting now at Syon House by George Cuitt the Elder (1743–1818), born at nearby Moulton.She drove off to Stanwick in her brougham with a single pair of horses, and was received at her favourite home, which will be her future country residence, with the respectful and silent greeting of her tenants in the quietest and most unostentatious manner possible.[21]She did not pause; soon the church was rebuilt from its parlous condition, to the designs of Anthony Salvin, with many of the ancient stones from the older building and tombs being set in its walls and porch.The Dowager Duchess Eleanor lived to the age of 90, spending about half the year at Stanwick, when she saw to the spiritual needs of the community, reducing the number of pubs to one, supporting the school and dispensing charity to the deserving.
Church of St John the Baptist set within its ancient circular churchyard
Remains of a 9th-century cross-shaft, now located in the church tower
Probable remains of a cross-shaft, located in the churchyard
One of at least two pre-Norman carved stones re-set into the exterior walls of the church
Carved and coloured stones re-set into the interior entrance walls of the church
Augmented arms of Smithson Baronets of Stanwick: Or, on a chief embattled azure three suns proper . The ancient arms of the Smithsons were: Argent, a chevron engrailed sable between three oak leaves erect slipped vert [ 10 ]
Monument and effigies of Sir Hugh Smithson, 1st Baronet (died 1670) and his wife, St John the Baptist's Church, Stanwick. Sculpted by (William) Stanton of London. [ 11 ] Inscription:  : Certa resurgendi fide cryptam subtus dormitoria sibi sulso(?) ad inhumandi ritus suo solius sumptu curari jussit Anno 1670 Hugo Smithson Miles et Baronett ("In certain faith of rising again, in the year 1670 Hugh Smithson, Knight and Baronet, ordered to be undertaken at his sole expense the rite of burial in the crypt below as his dormitory")
Mural monument to Sir Hugh Smithson, 3rd Baronet (1657–1729), who married Elizabeth Langdale, daughter of Marmaduke Langdale, 2nd Baron Langdale , Church of St John the Baptist, Stanwick
Stanwick Hall , as rebuilt by Hugh Smithson ( alias Percy), demolished 1923
North YorkshireUnitary authorityCeremonial countyRegionYorkshire and the HumberCountryEnglandSovereign statePost townRichmondPostcode districtPoliceAmbulanceYorkshirecivil parishRichmondshireDarlingtonScotch CornerPiercebridgeOld NorseChurch of St John the BaptistAnthony Salvinlady of the manorDowager Duchess of Northumberlandmanor houseStanwick ParkNorman ConquestStanwick Iron Age FortificationsIron Agehill fortRigodunumBrigantiaCartimanduaVenutiusMortimer Wheelerround housesoppidumSamian wareTacitusBrigantianCatterickRiver SwaleRiver TeesGainford, County DurhamEnglish HeritageBritish MuseumDomesday BookcarucatesKnights TemplarKnights Hospitallermonumental brassAugmentedSir Hugh Smithson, 1st BaronetSir Hugh Smithson, 3rd BaronetBaron LangdaleHugh SmithsonbaronetRestoration of the MonarchyCity of LondonWorshipful Company of HaberdashersPlaistowWorshipful Company of Merchant TaylorsMarmaduke Langdale, 2nd Baron LangdaleStanwick HallSir Hugh Smithson, 4th BaronetGodfrey KnellerAlgernon Seymour, 7th Duke of SomersetPetworth HouseEarl of NorthumberlandAlnwick CastleSyon HouseMiddlesexspecial remainderDuke of NorthumberlandDere Streetdeer parkGeorge Cuitt the ElderAlgernon Percy, Lord PrudhoeDecimus BurtonFrench RevolutionEleanor GrosvenorRichard Grosvenor, 2nd Marquess of WestminsterWestminster AbbeyDowager Duchess EleanorFirst World WarHistoric EnglandNational Heritage List for EnglandVictoria County History