LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
In 1253 Warin de
Munchensy obtained a grant of free warren in
his Fordham land. (fn. 10) He also withdrew three men
and a reeve from the sheriff's tourn. By 1274
Reynold Argentine had withdrawn one suit of
court from the hundred court, from Richard of
Fordham's tenement in Great Fordham, and
held view of frankpledge and took fines for
breaches of the assizes of bread and of ale. (fn. 11) In
1395 the lord of Fordham held the assizes of
bread and of ale and view of frankpledge. (fn. 12)
There may have been a village pound at Pound
field south of Fordham Hall. (fn. 13)
Records survive of courts baron for Fordham
Hall manor from 1765 until 1917 and for Great
Fordham manor from 1837 until 1878 for rou-
tine business such as transfers of holdings. (fn. 14)
Further administration is recorded until 1928
for Fordham Hall manor. (fn. 15)
Incomplete Mount Bures manor records sur-
vive from 1393 indicating that courts baron and
leet met annually for the Fordham part of the
manor until 1649; 2 to 9 men were sworn. (fn. 16) Four
night watchmen served Fordham and Aldham
in 1587. (fn. 17) Two constables were appointed for
the Fordham part of Mount Bures manor from
1625. (fn. 18) By 1912 there was a village police
constable. (fn. 19)
There were two unendowed almshouses. (fn. 20)
In 1775 two parishioners obtained Tyburn
tickets. (fn. 21) In 1795, during the Napoleonic Wars,
Fordham was combined with six neighbouring
parishes to provide three men to serve in the
navy. (fn. 22) The parish owned Heath meadow in
1838, which was apparently used for the benefit
of the poor. (fn. 23)
Fordham's poor relief costs per head of popu-
lation were about average for the hundred. Net
expenditure in 1776 was £220 and over the
period 1783-5 averaged £228. (fn. 24) Costs were
exceptionally high in 1802 at £896 and then
between 1803 and 1808 increased from £225 to
£591. In the period 1809-17 they ranged
between £684 and £950, except for 1813 when
they were £1,193, equivalent to 39s. 3d. a head. (fn. 25)
Expenditure ranged between £1,137, or 32s. 8d.
a head, and £711, or 19s. 7d. a head, between
1818 and 1832, showing a downward trend, (fn. 26)
and averaged £677 in 1833-5. (fn. 27)
Fordham parish council was established in
1894 with seven members, including one
woman, responsible for allotments, footpaths,
footbridges, and the administration of Love's
charity. Between 1907 and 1921 a technical sub-
committee provided classes in arithmetic, draw-
ing, citizenship, and carpentry, and organized at
least one ploughing match. The council encour-
aged residents to find odd jobs for the unem-
ployed in 1933, a time of economic depression.
From 1936 there were quarterly refuse disposal
collections. An invasion sub-committee met
during the Second World War concerned with
the home guard, emergency food rations, casu-
alties, informing the public about anti-gas meas-
ures, and listing all tractors and motors. After
the formation of Eight Ash Green parish council
in 1949 the number of Fordham parish council-
lors was reduced to five, together with a rural
district councillor. (fn. 28)