By the Rev. F. H. Manley. 



329 



The Parish Award, 1809. 

 " An Act for Inclosing Lands in the Parish of Great Somerford 

 otherwise Broad Somerford, in the County of Wilts," was passed 

 46 George III. Some thirty years before, efforts had been made 

 to bring about an agreement between those interested in this 

 matter, but without success. The commissioners appointed to 

 carry out the Act were John Davis, of Bloxam, Francis Webb, 

 of the Close, New Sarum, and Thomas Davis, the younger, of 

 Horningsham, and they issued their award in August, 1809. 

 Under the Act the Hector was given land in lieu of tithe which 

 was reckoned to be equal in value to one-fifth part of the open and 

 enclosed arable lands, one-eighth part of the common grazing land, 

 — " The Breaches " and " The Marshes,"— -and of the waste lands, — 

 " The Heath," " Startley Common," and " Seagry Heath," — one- 

 seventh part of the meadows, pastures, messuages, &c. The owners 

 of ancient cottages, not held under any lord of the manor, which 

 numbered fourteen, were allowed waste land sufficient to make up 

 with their gardens two roods, and the Eector, churchwardens, and 

 overseers were yearly on Easter Tuesday to re-allot this land to. 

 each of the ancient cottagers. In the case of cottages held under 

 any lord of the manor, viz., ten cottages under William Eandell, 

 the garden land was also made up to two roods, but without any 

 restriction. For poor cottagers some eight acres was vested in the 

 Eector, churchwardens, and overseers, to be let out free of rent 

 yearly on Easter Tuesday. Both these trust arrangements led to 

 difficulties. The owners of ancient cottages after some years 

 claimed full liberty of action with regard to the land allotted to 

 them, and the trustees renounced the trust. In the case of the 

 poor land the tenants in possession gradually objected to the 

 interference of the trustees more and more, refusing to admit to 

 the benefit of the trust some of those legally entitled to it. Matters 

 remained in an unsatisfactory condition until in 1897, with the 

 consent of the Charity Commissioners, the trust was handed over 

 to the parish council. Proceedings were then taken against a 

 prominent offender, and the trust is now impartially administered. 

 A slight alteration of the boundary of the parish on the Dauntsey 



