A History of the County of Somerset: Volume 6, Andersfield, Cannington, and North Petherton Hundreds (Bridgwater and Neighbouring Parishes). Originally published by Victoria County History, London, 1992.
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'Over Stowey: Local government', in A History of the County of Somerset: Volume 6, Andersfield, Cannington, and North Petherton Hundreds (Bridgwater and Neighbouring Parishes), (London, 1992) pp. 168. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/som/vol6/p168 [accessed 27 April 2024]
LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
The parish lay in four tithings; Adscombe, Aisholt, and Plainsfield in Cannington hundred and Bincombe in Williton and Freemanors hundred, the last three including land outside the parish. (fn. 1) Aley was a division of Aisholt tithing by 1766, by which date Plainsfield tithing had been divided for land tax collection into Higher Plainsfield, containing the hamlet, and Lower Plainsfield, comprising the manor lands outside the parish. (fn. 2) The tithingman of Bincombe was from 1638 to be chosen from the tenants in rotation. (fn. 3)
Court rolls survive for Aley manor for the years 1423-4, 1426, 1459, (fn. 4) 1507, (fn. 5) 1579, 1582, 1592, and 1599-1604. (fn. 6) By the later 16th century, (fn. 7) and probably by c. 1400, the manor included land at Aisholt. (fn. 8) Court records for Plainsfield survive for various years between 1508 and 1522 and courts were held there annually. (fn. 9) The Athelney abbey estate of Adscombe was administered as part of Lyng free manor in the 14th century (fn. 10) and by 1535 with Hamp. (fn. 11)
There was a poorhouse by 1799, possibly the former church house. In 1816 it was decided to whitewash it and to inspect it each month. (fn. 12) It appears to have been no longer a poorhouse by 1838. (fn. 13)
The parish became part of the Bridgwater poor-law union in 1836, of the Bridgwater rural district in 1894, and of Sedgemoor district in 1974. (fn. 14)