Stock, Essex
Stock is a village and civil parish in the Chelmsford district of Essex, England. in south Essex, England. It is about south of Chelmsford, the county town, and about 2.5 miles north of Billericay. At the 2021 census the parish had a population of 2,156.
History
The origins of the village are uncertain and are subject to debate. Archaeological finds suggest that during the Iron Age period there was a settlement on the site. The Domesday Book of 1086 does not mention Stock.The first documentary evidence of the settlement dates from the 13th century. Until the 16th century, the village was known as Hereward Stock / Stoke or variations thereof.
Stock historically formed part of the ancient parish of Buttsbury, which had its parish church of St Mary's in an isolated location at the western edge of the parish. From at least the 12th century there was a chapel of ease dedicated to All Saints at Stock. Stock was more central to the parish and by medieval times had become the main village in Buttsbury parish. The chapelry of Stock subsequently became a separate parish. The area ceded to the new parish of Stock was relatively small, with north-eastern parts of the built up area of Stock around the High Street remaining in Buttsbury parish, forming part of a long salient of Buttsbury parish which skirted around the northern edge of Stock. As late as the 19th century, this area around Stock's High Street was where most of the houses in Buttsbury parish were located; the built up area was sometimes described as being Stock and Buttsbury intermingled.
The civil parish of Stock was enlarged in 1881 to take in the Crondon area north of the village, which had been a detached part of the parish of Orsett. The parish was further enlarged in 1936 when the parish of Buttsbury was abolished, gaining the parts of Stock village which had been in Buttsbury parish and the rural area to the west around Buttsbury Church as well. In 1955 the parish also gained rural areas to the east of the village from South Hanningfield and West Hanningfield.
Amenities
The village has three churches: the Church of England parish church of All Saints, the Catholic Church of Our Lady and St Joseph and Christ Church.There are three pubs in the village: The Bear, The Hoop, The Baker's Arms and a restaurant, The Harvard Inn Two further pubs lie on its outskirts: The Ship, near West Hanningfield, and The King's Head near Billericay.
There are 2 general stores, a coffee and tapas restaurant and a hotel and spa. The village has a common with a cricket pitch and a small playground.
Stock Windmill is located to the east of the village.
Stock Church of England Primary School was rated as Good by Ofsted in September 2022.
Transport
The B1007 runs through the centre of the village, providing a direct connection by road to Chelmsford, Billericay, Basildon and Stanford-le-Hope. It also links Stock with the A12 trunk road to the north via junction 15.First Essex operates frequent bus services on route 300 between Chelmsford, Galleywood, Billericay and Basildon. There are also two-hourly services on route 14 between Chelmsford, West Hanningfield and Wickford.
The nearest National Rail stations are at, on the Great Eastern Main Line, and, on the Shenfield-Southend line; Greater Anglia provides services from both stations to London Liverpool Street.
Governance
Parliamentary constituency
In the UK Parliament, Stock is in the constituency of Maldon. As of 2025, they are represented by John Whittingdale.Local government
Stock is a part of the City of Chelmsford district, and also has its own parish council.Notable residents
The poet William Cowper was a friend of Willam Unwin, who was the rector from 1769 to 1787. The Cowper poem that is most closely connected with Stock is Tithing Time at Stock or the Yearly Distress.Admiral Sir Vernon Haggard lived in the village.