The 17th Century Village: Who was in charge?

Debbie Hayter from Oxford University’s Department of Continuing Education gave a well received talk offering fascinating insights into the way local government operated.

At the top of the hierarchy were the Crown’s County Lord Lieutenants and below them unpaid JP’s mainly local noblemen.

Local ecclesiastical Parish Vestry , the preserve of the “middling sort” controlled village government. Parish officers were elected by non-gentry local families and the church minister. These officers included Churchwardens who presented to the Archdeacon’s Court in cases of for example church absenteeism and fornication.

The Parish Constable {remember Dogberry in “Much ado about Nothing”} policed the alehouses and paid travelling pregnant women to leave the parish before giving birth! More significantly were the Overseers of the Poor tasked with setting the poor rate on landowners and dispensing relief to the needy, an effective system unique in Europe , until superseded by Victorian workhouses.

Our next meeting is on Friday 21 April 7.30pm at Church Hall Church St Bidford B50 4DA when Stephen Laing will speak on “Women and Motor Cars”. Non members welcome.

ROGER LEESE