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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A P Baggs, M C Siraut, 'Wembdon: Local government', in A History of the County of Somerset: Volume 6, Andersfield, Cannington, and North Petherton Hundreds (Bridgwater and Neighbouring Parishes), ed. R W Dunning, C R Elrington( London, 1992), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/vch/som/vol6/p332 [accessed 28 September 2024].
A P Baggs, M C Siraut, 'Wembdon: Local government', in A History of the County of Somerset: Volume 6, Andersfield, Cannington, and North Petherton Hundreds (Bridgwater and Neighbouring Parishes). Edited by R W Dunning, C R Elrington( London, 1992), British History Online, accessed September 28, 2024, https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/vch/som/vol6/p332.
A P Baggs, M C Siraut. "Wembdon: Local government". A History of the County of Somerset: Volume 6, Andersfield, Cannington, and North Petherton Hundreds (Bridgwater and Neighbouring Parishes). Ed. R W Dunning, C R Elrington(London, 1992), , British History Online. Web. 28 September 2024. https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/vch/som/vol6/p332.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
In the later Middle Ages and the 16th century the parish was divided between the tithings of Sandford, Perry, and Wembdon; Sydenham was grouped with other parishes in 1569. (fn. 1) The constable of Wembdon hundred mentioned in 1648 was probably the petty constable of the parish or of Wembdon tithing. (fn. 2)
Rolls survive for Perry Fichet manor court for 1579, 1588, 1594, 1600, and 1602-5, (fn. 3) and extracts for 1382-3, 1402-3, (fn. 4) 1423-4, and 1427. (fn. 5) Courts were normally held twice a year in the 15th century. (fn. 6) In the 18th lessees were required to attend the court when summoned. (fn. 7) In 1402-3 a neif was appointed manorial bailiff for life. (fn. 8) Unrepaired houses and an unscoured watercourse were reported in 1427. (fn. 9) Scouring and repair of ditches were required in 1579. (fn. 10)
A book of extracts from rolls of Perry Furneaux manor court covers the period 1653 to 1806. In the later 18th century the court was held at Wembdon Farm and elsewhere in the parish, and a special court to take a surrender was held at the tenant's house in Salisbury. (fn. 11) From 1586 the tenant of the capital messuage collected rents and provided food and lodging twice a year for the steward. (fn. 12) Bartholomew Allen (d. 1657) held the capital messuage in return for serving as manorial bailiff. Most court business concerned the admission of tenants, but repairs were demanded in the 1650s, 1740s, and 1790s, a pound was ordered to be set up in 1658, and absent freeholders were amerced in 1709. (fn. 13)
A survey court for Sydenham manor was held in 1623. (fn. 14) No court records for Sandford or Wembdon manors have been found.
Before the mid 18th century the parish was administered by two churchwardens and two overseers, all chosen by virtue of their holdings, and by four or fewer other ratepayers who comprised the vestry. In 1761 one warden was chosen by the vicar, the other by the parish. Highway surveyors were appointed from 1757. A select vestry of vicar, wardens, overseers, and 11 or 12 others met from 1823. A medical officer was appointed from 1829 and a salaried waywarden from 1839. From 1751 the parish officers had a table in church from which to give out parish pay. (fn. 15)
A poorhouse had been established by 1777 west of the churchyard on a site belonging to the lords of Wembdon manor. (fn. 16) It was probably the former church house, a two-storeyed building with an outside stone stair, which the parish had rented in 1747 or earlier. (fn. 17) The vestry agreed in 1801 to buy the site and in 1803 decided to rebuild part of the house. (fn. 18) The building remained in use until 1884 when it was demolished and its site taken into the churchyard. (fn. 19)
The parish became part of the Bridgwater poor-law union in 1836 and part of Bridgwater rural district in 1894. The whole ancient parish, including the parts that had been taken into Bridgwater borough, became part of Sedgemoor district in 1974. (fn. 20)