History

Stanway as a settlement existed long before the Romans came to Britain. Extensive archeological work has identified sites of international importance within the parish's old boundaries. The name of the village however is believed to be derived from the remnants of two Roman roads (Stone ways) or the fact that there were two Stanways (Great & Little).

At least six manors had major landholdings in the parish and William De Lannvallei, one of the Barons who was keeper of Colchester Castle, also held Stanway Castle in 1217. The site of this ancient structure has never been identified but it may have been a small and simple affair like nearby  Birch Castle which stood on what is now a mound in the Vicarage garden there. 

Great & Little Stanway appear to have been amalgamated sometime during the early 17th century when villagers no longer specified which village they came from (Great or Little) and ceased to specify which churchyard they wished to be buried in (All Saint's or St Albright's). 

The church at Great Stanway, All Saint's, the ruin of which still stands in the grounds of Stanway Hall (Colchester Zoo) ceased to be a parish church and St Albright's in what was formerly Little Stanway became the main parish church for the adjoined villages.

Throughout the 15th, 16th, and 17th century there are numerous historical documents still preserved in the Essex Record Office which detail both the times and the people of the parish. Inhabitants were not adverse to rustling sheep from the common, selling goods in  short-measure, keeping illegal alehouses, causing affrays and committing highway robbery. The lawlessness of those centuries is reflected in the inhabitants.

Like most other parishes, the holders of official office waged a thankless battle to get local men to perform their statutory duty repairing the roads, maintaining the bridges and keeping the ditches clear. Tragedy sometimes spurred them on, as when an inhabitant drowned in the pond alongside the Maldon Road which should have been fenced off from the highway.

By the end of the 18th century, only one Manor survived, the rest of the parish being held by freehold owners. Vestry government maintained local services and the Lexden and Winstree Hundred Courts dealt with more serious matters.

Stanway, being two villages, never had a centre from which to develop and small settlements occurred at points around the edge of the once extensive heath. The heath was then enclosed and over the last century the farmland has been lost to development.