The settlement of East Stockwith lies along the Trent bank, opposite West Stockwith across the river and the mouth of the River Idle and the Chesterfield Canal. It appears earliest documented in the 12th century, however little can be made of medieval population levels since it is commonly returned with Morton and Walkerith. There was a great increase of population in the mid and late 19th century. The morphology suggests planning and regularity, based on a main street along the Trent bank and long narrow properties finishing on Back Street. This element may have been added to a more compact nucleus at the north-east end as it appears to overlie an earlier field system. A parochial chapel was built and endowed by William of Stockwith and his men in 1292, but the church of St Peter (1846) found room only outside the earlier layout. {1}