Hucclecote
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Hucclecote : Local Government Frankpledge jurisdiction over Hucclecote and Elmbridge
was exercised by the court held at Churchdown by the lords of the barony of
Churchdown. That court in which the Hucclecote and Elmbridge homages made their
presentments separately, also acted as the court baron for Hucclecote manor, and
court rolls, including one for a court of survey in 1426, survive for many years
in the periods 1423-57, 1486-7, 1497-1549, and 1590-1600. The maintenance of
watercourses, roads and lanes, and bridges was an important part of its
business. The Hucclecote homage in 1516 elected a constable. 82 In
the 18th century and the early 19th the court sometimes
met in one of Hucclecote's inns. 83 Court rolls for Elmbridge manor,
which had its own court, survive for 1442, when the rental was renewed, and for
several years in the period 1457-89 when its work included the maintenance of
watercourses and rights of way. In 1489 it dealt with the destruction of hedges
and forcible pasturing of sheep and oxen among crops growing on the demesne. 84
There are also court rolls for 1664-1702 and estreat rolls for
1664 and 1684-5. 85 The tenants of the Hucclecote rectory estate in the
early 16th century owed suit to Parton mnaor court in Churchdown. 86 Hucclecote hamlet had its own churchwarden, one of two
for Churchdown parish, 87 and his account for 1684 has survived. 88
The hamlet maintained its own poor and highways by the 1670's and in 1675 was
involved in a settlement dispute with Churchdown. 89 Expenditure on
poor relief rose from £52 in 1783 to £110 in 1803, and £398 in 1813. The
number of persons receiving regular help was 9 in 1803 and 34 in 1813. 90
Annual expenditure fell after 1813 and averaged £204 in the late 1820's and
early 1830's. 91 Hucclecote joined the new Gloucester poor-law union
in 1835. 92 Later it was in Gloucester rural district, and that part
not absorbed by Gloucester city in 1967 93 was included in Tewkesbury
district in 1974. Notes
:- Source: Quoted from the Victoria
County History, Gloucestershire, volume 4, page 436, by permission of the
General Editor. Submitted by Alan Longbottom
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