P85/8/1

Vestry minute book

1844-1892

From: 1844 To: 1892

Routine business includes election of parish officers (Churchwardens, Constables, Overseers, and Surveyor), passing of accounts, rates and rating, Charity business etc. Some civil responsibilities passed to the Corporation when Luton became a Municipal Borough in 1876 but others remained with the Vestry. Occasional business includes: 1844 Appeal by Samuel Crawley Esq. and Benjamin Williams against the Poor rate; appointment of valuers, and payment of expenses. 1845 Sale of parish cages or "places of confinement" Lighting and Watching Status of Wellington Street, "lately made by the Marquess of Bute" 1846 Payment of compensation for land at the corner of Park Lane taken into the highway 1849 Consideration of inequality of the Poor rates New lock up house at Luton built by the County - old premises to be sold by auction 1850 New roads to be examined "with a view to their being repaired by the Parish" Diversion of footpath called the Church Causeway Consideration of the "Health of Towns" Bill 1852-5 Sale of charity premises on Tower Hill, investment of proceeds, erection of almshouses, and remodelling of charitable endowment 1853 Investigation of Charity accounts and or report of Committee - see also P 85/25/1/3 1854 Proposed new burial ground [Church Cemetery] 1855 Disposal of parish Burying Cart and shed 1856 Repairs to church clock by Messrs. Raban 1856-7 Letting of land at Stocking Bridge and Eaton Green Common to T. Gatward (see P 85/6/1), land in Rye Hill to J.D. Poulton, land in Maiden Common to W.Clarke. 1857 Statement of churchwardens' accounts of Luton Charities 1860 Report of Trustees of Tower Hill Property, giving an account of events from 1853-1860 1860-62 Proposed exchange of charity land with J.S. Leigh Esq. (see P 85/6/2-4) 1861 Objection to "Parochial Assessments Bill" 1862-3 Enclosing the burial ground and diversion of paths, and consideration of "flagrant and disgusting scenes by which it was daily and nightly desecrated" 1863 Stopping up of an alley from Langley St. to Park St. 1864 Dispute between the Vicar and Churchwardens. On 15 April the Vicar, Rev. James O'Neill, refused to sign the minutes 1865 Provision of homes for old people displaced by the sale of Tower Hill Cottages Lease of market tolls from J.S.Leigh Esq and erection of new market house 1867 Objections of J.S. Crawley & J.S. Leigh to appointment as churchwardens, and appeal of Vestry to the Bishop outlining complaints against the Rev. James O'Neill, Vicar [including copies of letters] 1870 Report on accounts of Assistant Overseer 1871 Enclosing churchyard with fence reserving rights of way 1877 Reference to Vestry minutes 1800-1844 [search made but no records found] 1877 Weights and Measures belonging the the manor - investigations regarding disposal 1881 Churchyard alterations - new paths and railings etc (see P 85/2/11/5-10) 1884 Local Government Board and proposed division of Luton into two or more parishes 1888 Asphalting churchyard paths Division of the parish into hamlets of Luton, Hyde, Stopsley and Biscot-cum-Leagrave 1891 New County Rate basis

item

Crawley, Samuel,
Williams, Benjamin,
Bute, John Crichton-Stuart, 2nd Marquess of,
Raban,
Gatward, T.,
Poulton, J.D.,
Clarke, W.,
Leigh, J.S.,
O'Neill, James

St. Mary Luton, Vestry, churchwardens, early constables, Overseers, surveyor of highways, parish rates, accounts, St.Mary charities Luton, general Poor Laws, parish cages, Luton Wellington Street, Luton Park Lane, lock ups, town & local roads, Luton Tower Hill, burial grounds, church clocks, agricultural leases, Luton Langley Street, Luton Park Street, churchyard, parish creation, HYDE, STOPSLEY, Biscot