Church Lawford and King’s Newnham Timeline

Category: Governance

  • Rental Payments

    Antony Farmer

    Until the 1918 Sale, rental payments were made to the Lord of the Manor. In many cases the cottages were the subject of subletting, whereby a farmer would pay the annual rent on a property in order to accommodate one of his workforce, who would be charged a monthly rent by that farmer (or adjustment… Read more

  • Taxation – Land Tax

    Antony Farmer

    Land Tax was levied between 1692 and 1963. As the name suggests from the 1730s onwards it was levied mainly on land, based based on rental assessments made in 1692. The tax was collected locally but spent by the central government. Land Tax assessments for individual parishes generally provide the name of the landowner, the… Read more

  • Taxation – Poor Rate

    Antony Farmer

    The Poor Law Acts of 1597 and 1601 made it compulsory for parishes to levy poor rates on householders, in order to raise money to help the poor. The rates were collected by the Overseer of the Poor. Other parish officials, such as the Surveyors of Highways and the Constables, also began to levy rates… Read more

  • The Parish Council

    Antony Farmer

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    The Church Lawford Parish Meeting was first formally held shortly after a Bill was passed in Parliament to introduce them in 1894. Prior to that date the Parish (including King’s Newnham) was governed by the Church Vestry, which made decisions on local taxes as well as looking after those matters that the Lord of the… Read more

  • Law and Order in the Two Villages

    Antony Farmer

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    Although this archive deliberately avoids detailing stories of crimes or court cases. some reference to how Law and Order have been maintained over the centuries is appropriate. Early references in the written press from the 18th and early 19th Centuries detail the existence of local Tenants Associations from within the Manors of the Duke of… Read more

  • Hearth Tax / Window Tax

    Antony Farmer

    Back in the 17th Century there were a number of additional taxes levied on the village dwellers. In 1662 the Hearth Tax was introduced by the Government of King Charles II to raise funds for the King in his time of need. For the next 25 years or so this tax was levied on householders,… Read more

  • Marriotts Charity

    Antony Farmer

    Miss Marriott, in 1860, left £2 per annum for school purposes. The pledge was confirmed in a plaque in the Church thus :- Miss S.C. MARRIOTT, £100 (£93.19.lid. Consols) the proceeds to be applied to the support of the Parochial School, in such manner as the Trustees think fit. Distribution of the Charity Money continued… Read more

  • Crofts Charity

    Antony Farmer

    James Crofts (1773-1844), a village farmer who farmed at Mount Pleasant, had included in his will (dated 30 June 1830) a sum of £500 which was given to the minister and the parish officers of Church Lawford to apply yearly the sum of £10 (part of the interest from the money), in educating 5 boys… Read more

  • Edmonds Charity

    Antony Farmer

    The Rev. Robert Edmonds by his will proved on 17 August 1863 bequeathed to the rector and churchwardens of Church Lawford £500, the interest to be laid out on 25 March in every year in the following manner: viz. £5 towards the support of the Sunday School penny club, £2 for the purchase or towards… Read more

  • Social Governance At Parish Level

    Antony Farmer

    Over the years the Parish would have various Parish Officers, possibly including a Parish Clerk, Overseers, Surveyors and a village Constable. These would complement any Manorial roles appointed by the Lord of the Manor. The various parish roles were usually the responsibility of local farmers or tradesmen. An excellent resource discussing these various Parish and… Read more