Discover Stoke Poges

Stoke Poges can be explored through several specific themes: the building history of St Giles’ Church, the Memorial Gardens, the parkland and the heathland of Stoke Common. When planning your stay, it helps to consider these different historical and landscape features individually.

Church architecture and connections to Gray

St Giles’ Church dates back to Saxon times. Remnants of this building phase and Norman pillars have survived. Parts of the chancel wall and tower date from 1086, while the Early Gothic nave dates from 1220. The Tudor Hastings Chapel was built of red brick in 1558. These dates place individual parts of the building in their historical context and make it possible to trace architectural change over several centuries.

About 50 metres southeast of the church are the lychgate and its flanking walls; both are listed Grade II buildings. The lychgate itself was built in 1887 to designs by John Oldrid Scott. This makes it possible to place a later building alongside the church’s older features in time. Thomas Gray is buried in the churchyard of St Giles’ Church. Gray’s Monument stands near the church: it is five metres high, built of brick and faced with Portland stone.

Gardens and designed landscapes

The Stoke Poges Memorial Gardens are listed Grade I in English Heritage’s Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England. They comprise more than 500 individual, enclosed family gardens. The number gives a concrete sense of how the grounds are laid out; the designation indicates their standing in the register.

Another aspect of the area’s history is the parkland that originally belonged to Stoke Park. It was designed by Capability Brown and Humphry Repton. Together, these names offer a point of reference for the history of landscape design in Stoke Poges, while the Memorial Gardens, with their register designation and individual family gardens, form a distinct focal point.

Paths, views and Stoke Common

The Heritage Walk offers views of Stoke Park Mansion, the Manor House and other parts of the original estate. The Heritage Walk opened as a footpath in 2000. Visitors can explore the landscape inspired by Thomas Gray on foot and enjoy views across Stoke Park and the Manor House. As access to this landscape may change, it is advisable to check before visiting.

Stoke Common offers a different landscape experience. The area covers 80 hectares and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It is also the largest remaining heathland in Buckinghamshire. The many ground-nesting birds are another feature of the Common. Bridleways run through the area and may be used by cyclists and horse riders. In this way, the heathland and its designated uses add a distinctive nature and recreation element to the historic sites and designed parkland.

Visitors choosing Stoke Poges for a stay can focus on the themes that interest them: church architecture and connections to Gray, historic gardens and landscape design, or the heathland of Stoke Common. The specific building phases, the Gardens’ designation, the Heritage Walk’s viewpoints and the size of the Common offer different points of reference.

Discover more destinations: West Wycombe, Worminghall, Marlow, St Leonards, Ivinghoe, Wendover, Waddesdon, Taplow.

For the overarching travel guide: Buckinghamshire.