Thurloxton: Local government

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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'Thurloxton: 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. 321. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/som/vol6/p321 [accessed 25 March 2024]

LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

The parish formed a single tithing in North Petherton hundred. (fn. 1) Court rolls for the manor survive for 1319-20; (fn. 2) courts were held three times a year in 1437-9 at Christmas, Hockday, and Michaelmas. In 1438 the cellarer of Taunton priory attended two courts with the steward. (fn. 3) Tenants owed suit to the Portmans' court for the manor in 1815. (fn. 4)

The stocks of the tithing were out of repair in 1650 (fn. 5) and the churchwardens provided a lock and iron for them in 1777. (fn. 6) Two churchwardens and two sidesmen were appointed in the early 17th century (fn. 7) but by the later 18th century only one warden and one overseer. (fn. 8) The church house may have been used as a poorhouse in the 18th century. (fn. 9) About 1843 the vestry ordered the poorhouse to be sold. Roads were maintained by waywardens, and in 1838 the vestry agreed to employ a man for turnpike maintenance. (fn. 10) The parish formed part of Bridgwater poor-law union in 1836, Bridgwater rural district in 1894, and Sedgemoor district in 1974. (fn. 11)

Footnotes

  • 1. S.R.S. xx. 129; S.R.O., Q/REI 29/3.
  • 2. B.L. Add. Ch. 16332.
  • 3. Ibid. 16333, 25873.
  • 4. S.R.O., DD/PM 19.
  • 5. S.R.S. xxviii. 123.
  • 6. S.R.O., D/P/thu 4/1/1.
  • 7. S.D.N.Q. xvi. 268-71.
  • 8. S.R.O., D/P/thu 4/1/1.
  • 9. Below, church.
  • 10. S.R.O., D/P/thu 9/1/1.
  • 11. Youngs, Local Admin. Units, i. 671, 673, 676.