86 Bradford-upon-Avon. [ The Manor. 
that had not been properly tanned and dried. All such goods 
approved by the officers were sealed with a stamp, the impression 
of which was very much like that which shoemakers now put on the 
soles of shoes, consisting of three or four small concentric circles. 
From the following extract, it appears that the tanners were kept 
in tolerably strict order—If a tanner put to sale leather before it 
is searched and sealed according to the statute, he forfeits 6s. 8d. 
a hide, and for a dozen of sheep-skins 3s. 4d. besides the hides and 
skins, or value thereof, and if not sufficiently tanned and dried, he 
forfeits the whole.” 
The ‘Coroners oF THE Marxer’ had to see generally, that 
provisions exposed for sale were good in quality and sufficient in 
quantity ; that the weights and measures were up to the standard ; 
and, in case of the bread or meat being unfit for food, they had 
power to order it to be thrown away, and to inflict a fine on the 
offending bakers or butchers. The using false weights or measures 
incurred a forfeiture of double the quantity of grain or thing sold, 
and in some instances led to imprisonment. 
Formerly there was a separate officer called the ‘AtE-ConNER’ 
who had to look to the goodness and assize of ale and beer. For 
very many years no such special officer has been appointed, those 
just described exercising the general supervision of all things 
vendible by weight or measure. 
So well known are the duties of the ‘CryEr’ that we need not 
attempt to describe them. In Bradford there was one task that 
he was sometimes called upon to perform, that seemed hardly to 
belong to him: but as Five Shillings were allowed for his services, 
he did not stand upon ceremony. He had to officiate, when some 
young offender was ordered, for petty pilfering or other like 
transgressions, to receive a public whipping! 
The meetings of Court Leet were ordinarily held in olden times 
in the Town Hall, or Market-House. As early as 1715 however 
we find a Court held at ‘the sign of the Swan’ (apud signum Cygni). 
The old Town-Hall was a plain and unpretending building that stood 
in the centre of the Town,—(the surrounding site is still called the 
‘Old Market Place’)—and joined the block of houses which consti- 
