434 (including Godington, the population is less and likely to be similar to as in the 2001 census when the figures were not confidential and the population was 393 people)[1]
The Audley family became tenants of the manor by marriage in 1244 and built a moated castle there by 1263.[2] Stratton remained in the Audley family until Hugh Audley, Earl of Gloucester died in 1347 leaving the manor to his daughter Margaret, wife of Ralph de Stafford, 1st Earl of Stafford. The castle does not survive, but its remains were excavated in 1870.[2]
The present manor house was originally 16th century.[3] It was altered in the latter half of the 17th century and partly rebuilt in the 19th and 20th centuries.[3]
In 1552 the church had three bells plus a Sanctus bell.[2] The bells were re-hung in 1636.[2] Richard Keene of Woodstock[5] cast the present third, fourth and fifth bells in 1693 and re-cast the Sanctus bell in about 1699.[6] Henry III Bagley of Chacombe[5] cast the tenor bell in 1721.[6] Pack and Chapman of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry[5] cast the treble bell in 1779,[6] completing the present ring of five bells. The ring was re-hung in 1902 but part of the disused 1636 frame is preserved in the church.[2]
There was some enclosure of land in the parish in the 16th century, and by 1779 the enclosed land totalled 300 acres (120 ha).[2] Arable farming continued on an open field system until Parliament passed an inclosure act in 1780 to enable all Stratton Audley's open fields and common lands to be enclosed.[2]
