Stringston: Local government

LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

A court book for Stringston manor records intermittent courts baron from 1651 to 1797. (fn. 1) Business included changes in tenancies and orders for the maintenance of buildings, ditches, and fences and for the administration of the commons. From 1578 the tenant of the capital messuage acted as collector of rents, which he was required to deliver to the lord at Parnham (Dors.), and had to provide hospitality for the steward when he held courts twice a year for two days. (fn. 2) By 1672 rents were to be paid at the capital messuage, for the lessee was then a member of the Strode family. (fn. 3) The lessee from 1807 was obliged to provide the lord and his steward with sufficient hospitality for a day and a night once a year to keep courts. (fn. 4) One court c. 1730 was held at Parnham. During a dispute over a right of way in 1657 tenants were ordered to meet in the churchyard at 6 o'clock in the morning. A hayward was mentioned in the 17th century. (fn. 5)

No court rolls or records have been found for Lymber or Lymbards manor, but courts were held there c. 1535, (fn. 6) and suit was required of tenants until 1665. (fn. 7) A tenement in Stringston village, and probably another in Dyche, were held in the 17th century of the Palmer family for suit of court twice a year at Fairfield. (fn. 8)

Two wardens and two sidesmen held office each year in the 17th century, (fn. 9) but there was usually only one warden in the 18th century, and often only one in the 19th. There were two overseers by the 1760s who distributed to the poor weekly pay, house rent, clothing, and tools. There was a vestry of seven in 1765, six including the rector and Langley St. Albyn in 1829, and five in 1846-7. In 1767 and 1773 the parsonage house was used as a poorhouse. (fn. 10) The parish became part of Williton poor-law union in 1836 and of Williton rural district in 1894. In 1974 it formed part of West Somerset district. (fn. 11)