Stoke Poges - Encyclopedia

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES

STOKE POGES, a village in the south of Buckinghamshire, England, 3 m. N. of Slough, famous for its connexion with the poet Thomas Gray. The church of St Giles has portions of Norman, Early English, and later dates, and contains a fine Decorated canopied tomb and brasses of members of the family of Moleyns. A passage or cloister leading towards the ancient manor-house contains some good original stained-glass windows. Gray is buried beside his mother in the churchyard, and there is a monument to his memory in the adjacent Stoke Park. The churchyard is generally considered to be the original of the poet's Elegy in a Country Churchyard; and the manor-house finds mention in his Long Story. West End Cottage, where he often stayed, remains in altered form as Stoke Court. Burnham Beeches, now preserved to public use, and a favourite resort of the poet, are 3 m. distant to the north-west.