During
the 16th century great changes took place for the church and Stanway
itself. Henry VIII set about the Dissolution of the Monasteries and
Tewkesbury, in common with other religious establishments, had its
land confiscated.
The manor
of Stanway (seen above) was leased 'at the request of Thomas Cromwell',
adviser to the king, to Richard Tracy, MP, younger son of William
Tracy of Toddington, and a man of some note and influence. The manor
was converted into a freehold by the Tracys in the late 16th century.
When
the Tracys took possession of their estate at Stanway their principal
buildings would have been the church, the tithe barn and the abbotts'
'fair stone house', recently improved, facing inward to a courtyard
and with the front door facing east.
Around
1590 Sir Paul, son of Richard, refenestrated the west front and moved
the door to this facade, so making this part of the house look outward
not inward.
Fifty
years later, circa 1630, his son Sir Richard, 2nd Baronet, did the
same for the south range and converted it into a royal apartment.
This south range is the most balanced, mellow and pleasing facade
of the house. He also added the charming gatehouse, the front courtyard
with its Mannerist gates and the garden wall with its 'spectacles'.
