LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
Durleigh, a single
tithing in Andersfield hundred until the 16th
century, had been united by 1640 with Duke Fee
or Dukesse tithing, (fn. 1) which lay partly in the
parish and was recorded in 1569; (fn. 2) it probably
represented the jurisdiction of the former Duchy
of Lancaster estate. (fn. 3) The name Duke Fee was
in use in 1674. (fn. 4) In 1670 part of the parish was
in Haygrove tithing in Bridgwater. (fn. 5)
The Duchy of Lancaster held a manor court
at Durleigh in 1536-7. (fn. 6) Suit was claimed of a
tenant by East Chilton manor court in 1721. (fn. 7)
In 1732 the parish vestry agreed to appoint two
churchwardens and two overseers of the poor. (fn. 8)
The part of the parish located within Bridgwater
borough appointed two separate overseers in the
1830s. (fn. 9) The parish was divided for rating purposes between the main part, referred to as
Durleigh, and the parts around Chilton Trinity
village, known as Chilton Limit. In the mid 18th
century the parish received rent from a parish
garden. (fn. 10) A cottage on part of the site was used
as a poorhouse until 1837 when it was sold. (fn. 11)
The parish became part of Bridgwater poor-law
union in 1836, of Bridgwater rural district in
1894, and of Sedgemoor district in 1974. (fn. 12)
Footnotes
| 1 |
S.R.O., DD/SG 58-9. |
| 2 |
S.R.S. xx. 243. |
| 3 |
Above, Andersfield hundred. |
| 4 |
Dwelly, Hearth Tax, ii. 219-20. |
| 5 |
Ibid. i. 42-3. |
| 6 |
P.R.O., SC 6/Hen. VIII/3073. |
| 7 |
S.R.O., DD/SAS (C/59) 24. |
| 8 |
Ibid. D/P/durl 4/1/1. |
| 9 |
Ibid. 13/2/1. |
| 10 |
Ibid. 4/1/1. |
| 11 |
Ibid. 13/2/1. |
| 12 |
Youngs, Local Admin. Units, i. 424-5, 671, 676. |