Vestry Minutes
Description: From 1894 (Local Government Act 1894) the volume contains minutes of the Parish Meeting as well as of the Vestry. In general, the Vestry minutes contain regular parish business: appointment of officers; making the poor and church rates; examining and allowing the accounts; consideration of appeals from paupers for increased allowances, etc. The minutes also include:- f.9r Agreements by women paupers to undertake nursing in the parish whenever required, in return for parish relief, 1864; f.30v agreement concerning the winding of the church clock, 1866; ff.28v,30, matters concerning the Longbacked Houses, used as a workhouse: 78,79,81-84discussions on their repair, and whether to let or sell them, 1866-1870; ff.36v-37v gift of land by Lady Pechell to the west of the churchyard, which will be enlarged thereby, 1867; f.41v agreement by Walter G. Barker to act as medical officer to the parish, 1867; ff.48,78r decisions concerning £450 worth of bonds relating to East Preston Union, 1867, 1870; f.57r agreement by G. Worthington to act as medical officer, and to include the issue of medical certificates to those poor who belong to a Benefit Society; vaccinations to be an extra charge, 1868; f.75v minute concerning the election of two Trustees for the Olders Charity, 1869 [references to the Charity's accounts occur thereafter between 1888 and 1902, with balance sheets etc., and with occasional mention also of Smart's and Amoore's Charities, notably on f.161, 1895], f.88r decision to buy a new pair of handcuffs, "the old ones being too small", 1872; f.90r minute concerning the diversion of a footpath, 1873; f.93r minute concerning the stopping up of a highway, 1873; f.95r agreement to let a piece of land given by Lady Burrell for a churchyard and not yet required, 1874; f.107r agreement to appeal against the new basis for the county rate, 1878; f.108r decision to apply to the County Authority to take over certain roads, 1878; f.109r consideration of changes to the chancel in order to make an organ chamber, with a guarantee by Sir Henry Fletcher, to bear the whole expense [letter of guarantee attached to folio], 1879; f.122r resolution concerning the rating basis for owners and occupiers, 1883; f.123r decision to obtain an estimate for inspection of the church bells by Mr Holloway of Shoreham, 1883; ff.138-139 minutes concerning the celebration of the Queen's Jubilee, 1887; f.139r decision to accept estimate for building a wall in the ditch in Water Lane, 1887; f.150r minute of a public meeting of ratepayers held to consider a letter from the Sanitary Inspector regarding the village drainage, 1890; From f.160, onwards, parish meetings are held as well as vestry meetings:- f.160r minute of a meeting held to decide whether, taking into consideration the Parish Councils Act, the parish should be divided into wards, 1894; f.161r minutes of a parish meeting (Local Government Act 1894) at which the previously adopted Standing Orders for Parish Meetings were read; the accounts of Older's Charity, Smart's and Amoore's Charities were presented; 1895; f.174r report of a gift of a flag pole and white ensign for the tower, 1900; ff.174v-176 reports of parish meetings concerned with lighting part of the parish (according to the Lighting and Watching Act 1833), 1900; f.182r report of vestry meeting concerning an increase in the church's insurance, and collection for maintenance of the fabric, 1903; f.183r reference at annual vestry to expenses incurred over repairs to the tower, 1904
Date: 01/01/1864 - 31/12/1904
Last import: September 11, 2017