Papworth St. Agnes: Local government

Local government

In the 1270s Sir John Russell was said to hold view of frankpledge. (fn. 1) By then the view over the Beaumes' fee had been annexed by the earls of Gloucester, (fn. 2) with whose overlordship the right to a leet at Papworth was said to descend until c. 1350. (fn. 3) In 1299 the prior of Huntingdon claimed view of frankpledge by prescription. (fn. 4) The priory was still apparently holding courts baron for copyholders c. 1540. (fn. 5)

Though small, the parish had the usual apparatus of parochial government. William Cater, bequeathing £40 for the poor in 1631, forbade its use to reduce the weekly assessment for their relief. (fn. 6) The overseers were mentioned in 1682. (fn. 7) In 1825 the only four inhabitants eligible as churchwardens served in rotation. (fn. 8) The annual expense of poor relief rose from £12 in 1776 normally to £60-90 in the early 19th century. About 1814 over £150 was spent and seven people were regularly relieved. (fn. 9) Large families had allowances from the rates until 1830, and in 1834, when a vestry of the six ratepayers ran the parish, some labourers were still being apportioned among the farmers, while others worked on the roads. (fn. 10) From 1835 the parish belonged to Caxton and Arrington poor-law union. (fn. 11) It was transferred in 1934 from Caxton and Arrington rural district to Chesterton rural district and from 1974 was in South Cambridgeshire district. (fn. 12) No parish council was set up in the 1890s, and in the 1970s local business was still managed by an annual parish meeting chaired by the lord of the manor. (fn. 13)