Reference
P99/8/1
Title
Vestry minute book
Date free text
1858-1946
Production date
From: 1858 To: 1946
Scope and Content
Mainly election of parish officers, rates and rating, letting of Town Lands, passing accounts etc. Minutes of Annual Easter Vestry from 1895-1930. Includes (pp. 28-9 and 70) List of Overseers 1850-1891, and (pp.28-9) list of Constables 1860-1873 "after which date the parish Constables were dispensed with altogether".
Also includes:
1858-63 Carting of gravel and dirt let by contract by surveyors
1860 Animals straying on the roads to be impounded. Thomas Rutt appointed impounder. 1s. per animal to be charged.
1864 Lease of Town Land (2a.) to John Walker [renewed 1866] Appointment of sexton and assistant - duties listed
1866 Ditches and drains to be cleaned Advice sought from Charity Commissioners re Poor's Gift
1869 Lease of sward ground on Henlow Road adjoining the River Ivel to Charles Capon Cottage rating amendment Act.
1870-71 Enlargement of school. Tender of Mr. Foster, builder, Kempston, accepted for £535 1872 Poor's Gift distribution - certain landowners and occupiers excluded
1874 Re-roofing the church, new floor of wood and encaustic tiles, sixteen old oak seats to be retained, and the rest of the church to be seated with chairs
1875 New parish Clerk appointed [duties listed]
1876 Adjustment of rates (schedule of 20 properties) Sward ground let to John Pryor for 5 years
1880 Agricultural depression and crop failure - rent reduction on Town Land. Arrears of rent by John Pryor to be settled with Mr. Bluffield of Potton "from whom Pryor grows seed" Purchase of 1¾p. of land for road
1883 Letter of condolence to widow and family of Mr. Barker who had acted as Assistant Overseer for 28 years. J.F.Barker (his son) appointed in his place.
1884-5 Various rating alterations entered in minutes
1885-6 Parish land called "The Walletts". Investment of Mr. Veasey's gift of £20, income for Bread Charity Fund.
1887 Overseers to purchase Poor's Bread by contract Purchase of Iron Chest for parish documents Lease of the Pound to Mr. King 1888 New Valuation
1890 Cleaning of Adams ditch which interferes with all the drains between the Ford and the Boot Inn. Highway Board to be asked to take over all drains
1891 County Council, Highway Board, and parish on roads
1894 Consideration of adoption of private roads by Highway Board
1898 New curtains in church
1912 Restoration of church windows
1915 Path 6 feet wide to be made in new part of Churchyard
1931-33 No minutes recorded
1939 Death of Mr. C. Cross, sidesman since 1921, and Vicar's Warden since 1927.
1947 Note that later Easter Vestry minutes and P.C.C. minutes were to be recorded together in the P.C.C. minute book.
Level of description
item