THE HISTORY OF WINSHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Summaries of Parish Council business

1930-1933
 (RPI Index-43-see Introduction)

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1930

 

Spring 1930

The first meeting of the New Year was on 21 February in the Jubilee Hall.Revd Richardson acted as Chairman. Others present were Messrs J.Warren, C. Bishop, C. S. Appleby and the Clerk. A letter was read from Mr B. Cross asking whether the Parish Field could be let to Mr Cribb, the new owner of Maudlin Farm. The Council decided that the Chairman, Mr Bishop and Mr Warren should visit the field before a decision could be made. It was agreed to let the Jubilee Hall for Dress Making on Mondays for eight weeks at two shillings and six pence per week. It was also decided to charge outsiders more for the use of the Hall than local people. The Clerk agreed to ask Mr Churchill to repair the kitchen grate in the Hall. Various routine cheques were signed.

On 14 March the Council again met in the Jubilee Hall. There was a long discussion about the Parish Meadow, its fencing, gates, rent and fishing rights. It was agreed that the Chairman, Mr Pym and Mr Warren should see Mr Cross, the tenant, on 17 March at 10 am. A letter was read concerning the guarantee on the Telephone Call Office as from 1 July 1929.The amount due from the Parish Council from 20 March to 30  June was £3:16:6d. A Precept for £20 to cover expenses until 30 September was agreed, £14 being for the Burial Board and £6 for the Parish Council. The Council decided not to purchase the Allotment Ground (no details are given in the minutes).


There was a Special Meeting in the Jubilee Hall on 16 March after the Annual Parish Meeting. Revd Richardson was Chairman. Present were Messrs C. S. Appleby, F. Perry, C. Bishop, J.Pym and the Clerk. Cheques were agreed for Mr Grabham for £1:5:0d for two graves and for £2:10:7d for the Clerk (Sexton £0:7:6d,Minister £0:9:0d,Postage and Stationery £0:3:9d,Coal £1:10:4d). It was reported that the Trustees had visited the Parish Meadow, had agreed the necessary improvements, and would visit again.


The Statutory Meeting was held on 25 April. Present were Revd Richardson, Messrs C.S.Appleby, C. Bishop, F.Perry, J.Pym, J.Warren, and the Clerk. Revd Richardson was elected as Chairman with Mr Warren as Vice Chairman. The Chairman then gave a report on his visit to the Parish Meadow with Mr Pym and Mr Warren. They had met Mr Cribb the owner of Maudlin Farm who had offered £5 rent to include the Fishing Rights. After a long discussion the Council decided to see Mr S.Dommett of Hey Farm to hear if he would pay a higher rent. Mr Bishop suggested advertising .The Trustees agreed to pay Mr Grabham £4 for cutting the alders and bushes. The Council also agreed that Mr Martin should have the vacant allotment free of charge for the season as he had had to clear it before use. The Clerk was asked to write to Mr W. Paull, Caretaker of the Jubilee Hall, about the management of the Whist Drives and Dances. It was reported that the notice on the Recreation Ground about ball games had been obliterated.  Apologies were received from Mr Perry and Mr Fowler who were unwell. Revd Richardson chaired the meeting. The Council decided to accept the tender from Messrs Clarke and Watts for the Jubilee Hall and Cottage repairs. They also agreed to let the Parish Meadow to Mr B. Wheaton for £4 to Xmas 1930 and after that for £6 per annum. The Clerk was asked to write to Chard R.D.C. about the tidiness of the street and about a drainage problem in Poole’s Lane. He was also asked to write to Mr Herbert Wheaton “to know if he had a spot that could be used for a Dumping Place”.

Autumn 1930

On 23 September the Council met in the Jubilee Hall with Revd Richardson acting as Chairman. There was a long discussion over how the cost of the repairs to the Jubilee Hall and Cottage should be met. It was agreed that appeals should be made for subscriptions towards the expense. It was reported that the Village Cross had been badly damaged by a car. The Clerk was asked to write to Chard R.D.C. about it.

 
On 28 October the Council met in the Jubilee Hall. Revd Richardson was Chairman. It was agreed to launch an appeal to help towards the cost of the repairs to the Jubilee Hall and Cottage. These repairs had been completed satisfactorily. “The Chairman wished it to be noted in the Parish Council Minutes that the Deed referring to Holsworthys Charity was in the old Baptismal Register kept at the Vicarage. The Vicar then read abstracts from the deed which were very interesting”.

There was a short Council Meeting on 11 November at which it was reported that the Jubilee Hall Appeal had gone well. Revd Richardson chaired this meeting.

The last meeting of the year was on 29 December in the Jubilee Hall. It was chaired by Revd Richardson who also wrote up the minutes. Various routine cheques were signed and it was agreed to pay Messrs Clarke and Watts bill as soon as it was received.

Spring 1931

The first meeting of the New Year was on 7 January in the Jubilee Hall. The Chairman, Revd Richardson, told the members that he had received a letter from Major Davies complaining about the state of the Recreation Ground. The Council was told that the notice prohibiting ball games had been removed and that the turf was being damaged by the young lads playing football. The Clerk was told to police the area to prevent this continuing. The Chairman said that Major Davies would be prepared to buy the lower part of Mr Phillips field to provide a sports area if Mr Phillips was willing to sell it. The Council agreed to find out. Mr Northcombe missed this meeting and the one held on 23 January in the Schoolroom chaired by Revd Richardson. At this meeting the Chairman reported that he had received an anonymous gift of £15 towards the cost of the Jubilee Hall repairs and that he had written to Mrs Hall seeking her help to reduce the debt. The Council decided to hold a Whist Drive and Dance to raise further money. The Chairman called a further meeting for 27 January to make the necessary arrangements for the Whist Drive and Dance on 6 February.

On 8 March the Council met in the Jubilee Hall, Revd Richardson acting as Chairman. He gave an update on the profit made on the Whist Drive and Dance. The Council decided to ask Mr Smart to mark out some flowerbeds on the Recreation Ground as a way of stopping the youngsters from playing football there.

On 23 March the Council met in the Jubilee Hall .Mr Northcombe was back as Clerk and wrote the minutes. Revd Richardson was Chairman. Some routine cheques were signed and there was a discussion about the flowerbeds planned for the Recreation Ground. 

The Statutory Meeting was held on 15 April. Present were Revd Richardson, F. Perry, G.Bishop, C.S. Appleby, J.Pym, J.Warren and the Clerk. Mr Florey sent an apology for non-attendance owing to illness. Revd Richardson was re-elected Chairman with Mr J. Warren Vice Chairman. Mr G. Bishop and Mr J. Pym were chosen as School Representatives and Revd Richardson and Mr Warren as Representatives on the Rural District Council for Rating Purposes. Mr C. S. Appleby and Mr J. Pym were re-elected Trustees of the Charity. A Precept of £20 was signed, £14 for the Burial Board and £6 for the Parish Council. It was agreed to reduce the rent for Allotments from fifteen shillings to fourteen shillings a year. The Council decided to create three flowerbeds in the Recreation Ground and Mr Pym was authorised to get roses for one of the beds. It was also agreed to erect lattice wire just over two feet high around the bed of roses.

Summer 1931

The Council met on 1 May in the Jubilee Hall. Present were Revd Richardson (Chairman), Messrs G.Bishop, C. Appleby, J.Pym and the Clerk. An apology for non-attendance was read from Mr Florey through illness. Cheques were signed for Messrs Clarke and Watts on the Jubilee Hall Account for £10:17:1d and for repairs to the Jubilee Hall chairs for £1:15:0d.The Clerk was asked to see whether Mr Clarke would allow the old “ Lyme Kiln” to be used as a rubbish dump. It was agreed to allow Mr Cooper to use the Jubilee Hall for his band to practice, one shilling a night without the piano, two shillings and sixpence with the piano.

On 12 June the Council met in the Jubilee Hall. Revd Richardson was Chairman. The Clerk was asked to put up notices asking for someone to collect rubbish in the village. The Chairman agreed to write to the Police Authorities at Chard about having a policeman stationed in Winsham. Various routine cheques were signed.

On 21 June Mr Pym chaired the Council Meeting in the Jubilee Hall.Revd Richardson and the Clerk were chosen to attend the Assessment Committee at Chard Union on 14 July to appeal against the assessment of the Jubilee Hall. The Council agreed to write to Chard R.D.C. and to Shepton Beauchamp Parish Council about the collection of rubbish. The Clerk agreed to ask Mr Fred Paul to put his allotment in order. He also agreed to ask Mr Loaring to give an estimate for building a shed for the bier behind the Jubilee Hall and to make a Parish Council Notice Board for the Jubilee Hall wall.

On 27 July Revd Richardson chaired a meeting of the Parish Council in the Jubilee Hall. The Clerk was asked to write to Chard R.D.C. for permission to have a Village Dump in Mr Wheaton’s field on Western Way. The cost of collecting rubbish was discussed. Cheques were signed for £0:12:6d to Mr Pym for roses for the Recreation Ground and for £5:14:8d for rates. Mr Northcombe reported that the Assessment Committee had refused to alter the assessment of the Jubilee Hall. The Clerk was asked to write to Messrs Andrews, Bishop and Paull about their allotments being kept in proper order. He was also asked to see Mr Loaring to get him to repair the Churchyard gates and to “make the place in the Cemetery suitable for storing the bier”. The Council agreed to have the Jubilee Hall lit by electric light.

On 14 August the Council met in the Jubilee Hall. Mr C. S. Appleby was Chairman. It was reported that Mr Paull had attended to his allotment but that those belonging to Messrs Andrews and Bishop had not been touched. The Council agreed to have the swings in the Recreation Ground re-painted and to ask Mr Loaring to erect the Notice Board outside the Jubilee Hall as soon as possible. There was a long discussion about housing in the village, the only house not being occupied being the one formerly occupied by the Police. It was agreed to place the notice received from Chard R.D.C. about housing in the Jubilee Hall window asking for any applications by 18 August.

Autumn 1931

Revd Richardson chaired the Parish Council Meeting on 11 September in the Jubilee Hall. Present were Messrs C. Bishop, F. Perry, C. S. Appleby, J. Florey, J.Warren and the Clerk. The Chairman agreed to write to the Police Authorities about a Police Constable for Winsham and the Clerk was asked to write to Chard R.D.C. about the Village Dump. He also undertook to contact the Electric Company about the lighting of the Jubilee Hall.

On 14 October the Council met in the Jubilee Hall, Revd Richardson acting as Chairman. A letter was read from Mr Manning offering to become the new Clerk but for a salary of £10 per year rather than the £5 being offered. (This is the first indication in the Minutes that Mr Northcombe intended to resign). The Council agreed to advertise the job at £8 per annum in the hope of attracting other applicants. Cheques were signed for Mr Grabham £1:5:0d (Two graves, one costing fifteen shillings, the other ten shillings), Mr Gawler for Rates £2:8:4d and the Electricity Company £10:15:0d.


The Council met in the Jubilee Hall at 7pm. on16 November . Revd Richardson was Chairman. The Chairman read letters he had received from MrA.R.J.Dommett, Clerk to Chard R.D.C. refusing to allow Mrs Wheaton permission to have a Village Dump on part of her land. Mr Warren and Mr Pym agreed to see Mrs Wheaton at Axminster. If their visit was unsuccessful it was thought that Mr Adcock would provide a place. Mr Perry proposed and Mr Bishop seconded that Mr Joe Cross be appointed Clerk to the Council, his duties to start on 1 January 1932.The Council agreed to pay Mr Peacocks bill for repairs to the Recreation Ground for £2:19:10d.The Clerk was asked to write to Beaminster R.D.C. about the state of Park Lane, Ford Abbey.

The Meeting on 27 November was in the Schoolroom. Revd Richardson was Chairman. It was reported that Mr Adcock had agreed to provide a site for the Village Dump. Messrs Pym, Warren and Perry consented to help organise it. The last meeting of the year was on 18 December in the Jubilee Hall. Revd Richardson acted as Chairman. The Clerk was asked to see Mr Paul about his behaviour at Whist Drives and Dances. Various routine cheques were signed. This was the last meeting attended by Mr Northcombe as Clerk to Winsham Parish Council. He had been the Clerk since the Councils first meeting on 13 December 1894. The original minutes of the meeting on 18 December contain this tribute by the Chairman:

“This being the last meeting of the Council at which Mr Northcombe would be present as Clerk, the Chairman said he would like it to be placed on the minutes, and he was sure the other members of the Committee would be of the same opinion, that the Council was very sorry to part with Mr Northcombe after so many years faithful service, and they, one and all, felt that they were losing an excellent Clerk and a true and trusted friend from their meetings.”
Carried Unanimously
F.D.Richardson.

Spring 1932

There was a Parish Council Meeting on 14 January in the Jubilee Hall.Revd Richardson was Chairman .Mr Joe Cross acted as Clerk for the first time. Others present were Messrs Warren, Pym, Perry and Bishop. Mr Perry proposed and the Chairman seconded that “the best thanks of the Council be given to Mr Warren and Mr Pym for their work in connection with the Dump”. The Council agreed to buy a stove for the Jubilee Hall and cheques were signed for Mr Robbins£1:8:0d (for coal) and for Mr Northcombe £1:16:5d (£1:5:6d Fire Insurance, £0:10:11d Workman’s Compensation). A Deputation from the Boys Club negotiated to use the Jubilee Hall four evenings a week on the understanding that they pay half of each member’s monthly subscription. This was to start on 1 February and was to last the season.

On 25 February the Council met in the Jubilee Hall.Revd Richardson was Chairman. It was reported that a new stove had been bought for the Jubilee Hall for £4 and that a complaint had been made about the village water. The Clerk was asked to write to Chard R.D.C. to investigate this. The Clerk was also asked to write to Mr Geoffrey Roper asking him to alert Dorset R.D.C. to the state of Park Lane.

On 23 March the Council met in the Jubilee Hall.Revd Richardson acted as Chairman. The main business concerned the Recreation Ground. It was agreed to:

(a) Have the wall and hedge repaired.
(b) Fit a lock on the door.
(c) Erect a notice banning football.

Afterwards the Council agreed that Mr Bishop should be asked to plough the vacant allotment. A cheque was signed for £3:15:0d for Income Tax on the Jubilee Hall.

The Statutory Council Meeting was on 18 April. Present were Revd Richardson, Messrs F.Perry, G.Bishop, Appleby, Florey, Warren and the Clerk. Revd Richardson was re-elected Chairman. It was reported that the maintenance work on the Recreation Ground was in hand .The Clerk spoke of the poor state of the allotments and of the arrears in rent. He was asked to take “all necessary steps” to collect these arrears. Various routine cheques were signed.

Summer 1932

The Council met on 20 May in the Jubilee Hall.Revd Richardson was Chairman. There was a discussion about the allotments at the end of which the Council decided to offer back half an acre to the owner Mrs Phillips and to write off the rent arrears of Messrs G.Bishop, G.Phelps and Paul. In other cases the Clerk was asked to take recovery action. The Clerk drew attention to the omission from the minutes of the last Council Meeting of his agreed salary of £8 per annum. This was duly noted. Cheques were signed for:
Mr Northcombe £9 Salary and Sundry Payments
Somerset Electricity Company £1:2:3d
Chard R.D.C. Rates £2:5:0d
Harrington and Co Chard £0:14:0d
J.Cross £3:14:4d (Audit Stamps £2,Car Fares £0:13:0d,Papers
£0:7:4d,Rubber Stamps and Pad £0:6:6d,Stamps and Stationary £0:7:6d)

On 4 July the Council met in the Jubilee Hall.Revd Richardson was Chairman. The Clerk reported on his dealings with Mrs Phillips over the allotments and the Council agreed to ask Mr C. Lawrence to cut the grass on the vacant ones. It was reported that the Caretaker of the Cemetery had requested new grave planks and webbing. The Council agreed to buy both. The Chairman was granted permission by the Council to open the pathway in the Churchyard in order to lay underground cables for the lighting of the Church. Mr Bishop proposed a vote of condolence to Mrs Loaring on the death of her husband Mr Thomas Loaring, a former Chairman of Winsham Parish Council. This was carried unanimously.

Autumn 1932

On 5 September the Council met in the Jubilee Hall. Messrs Appleby, Bishop, Florey and the Clerk attended with Revd Richardson as Chairman. A letter was read from Mr Phillips saying that Mrs Phillips would be unwilling to take back part of the allotments but would take back the whole under the terms of the “ Original Agreement” between the late Charles Phillips and the Parish Council. The Council decided to hold a Special Meeting on 19 September to decide what to do about this, the Recreation Ground and the use of the Jubilee Hall by the Boys Club. Cheques were signed for a number of expenses .One was for Mr J. Loaring for new oak gates for the Churchyard for £3:7:6d.

The Special Meeting planned for 19 September took place with Revd Richardson acting as Chairman. The Council decided to obtain a copy of the Allotment Tenancy Agreement before getting in touch with Mrs Phillips again and to ask Mr C. Lawrence to cut the grass on the vacant allotments for five shillings. The Clerk was asked to see Mr W.Paul to find out if he would become the Caretaker for the Recreation Ground. The subject of the Boys Club was left to the next meeting arranged for 26 September.

Rev. Richardson chaired this next meeting (26 September) in the Jubilee Hall. Present were Messrs Warren, Bishop, Pym, Appleby, Perry, Florey and the Clerk. It was agreed that the Clerk should write to County Council to obtain a copy of the Original Allotment Agreement and that Mr James Loaring should be asked to repair the Recreation Ground wall. The Clerk also undertook to ask Mr George Clark to tidy the Village Dump. The subject of the Boys Club was raised again and the Council decided to invite the Club Members to a meeting at a time to be arranged! A precept of £30 was signed.

 On 26 October the Council met in the Jubilee Hall.Revd Richardson was Chairman. He agreed to investigate the cost of providing electric street lighting in the village following a request from Mrs Pyne. The Council decided to pay Mr George Clark £1:12:0d for work done at the Village Dump.

Spring 1933

The first meeting of the New Year was on 6 January in the Jubilee Hall. Present were Revd Richardson (Chairman), Messrs Bishop, Pym, Perry, Warren, Appleby, Florey and the Clerk. Mr Warren reported that work on the Recreation Ground Wall had been completed. The Chairman then proposed that there should be a Public Meeting later in the year to discuss Street Lighting. This was agreed. It was decided that the Band should pay five shillings for the use of the Jubilee Hall on 18 December. Various routine cheques were signed.

On 4 March the Council met in the Jubilee Hall.Revd Richardson was Chairman. The Annual Parish Meeting was arranged for 21 March at which it was agreed the subject of the Allotments should be discussed. Cheques were signed for £2:19:9d(Somerset Electric Company), £3:15:0d(Income Tax), £8(Clerks Salary). The Council agreed that the Clerk should be paid half-yearly.

Summer 1933

The Statutory Parish Council Meeting was held on 25 April. Revd Richardson was re-elected Chairman with Mr Pym Vice Chairman. It was reported that complaints had been received about boys playing football on the Recreation Ground. It was agreed that the Clerk should ask Mr Perrott to act as Caretaker. Mr Perry and Mr Pym agreed to get an estimate for repairing and relaying the Churchyard path. Various cheques were signed.

On 2 June the Council met in the Jubilee Hall.Revd Richardson was Chairman. The Council agreed to appoint Mr J.Perrot of West Street as Caretaker of the Recreation Ground at the salary of thirty shillings a year from 25 March 1933.A letter was read from Mrs Ewins (?) complaining about a broken gate in one of the fields towards Ammerham. Responsibility for its repair was discussed and it was agreed to consult Chard R.D.C. In the meantime the Clerk was asked to get Mr Churchill to repair it. The Chairman offered to contact Mr Jim Long about getting on with repairing the Churchyard path and a vault. His offer was accepted. The Council agreed to recommend Messrs Grabham, Down, Clark and March to Chard R.D.C. for the new Council Houses.

On 24 July the Council met in the Jubilee Hall.Revd Richardson was Chairman. He explained to the members that the Parish Council was responsible for the repair of the gate raised at the last meeting. The Clerk was asked to arrange for Mr Loaring to repair the roof of the Jubilee Hall kitchen.

Autumn 1933

On 25 September the Council met in the Jubilee Hall.Revd Richardson was Chairman. There was a discussion about the comments made in the Audit about the management of the Cemetery and in particular the Register of Purchased Graves, Certificates of Grants of Rights and a Cemetery Plan. The Chairman agreed to investigate the problem and to report back at the next meeting. The Clerk was asked to chase the arrears in Allotment rents. It was agreed that Mr Bridle should be asked to clean the vacant allotments. The Council decided that the Young Men’s Club members should pay one shilling a month each to use the Hall four nights a week. The Clerk was asked to convey by letter the sympathy of the Council to Mrs Northcombe following the death of her husband Mr Walter Northcombe. Various routine cheques were signed.

On 13 November the Council met in the Jubilee Hall.Revd Richardson was Chairman. He opened the meeting by giving the results of his investigations following the audit. The Clerk was asked to purchase the necessary stationery to put matters in order. This amounted to a Register Book of Purchased Graves, a Book of Certificates of Grants of Rights and a Cemetery Plan. The Clerk was asked to speak to Mr Clark about the state of the Village Dump and Mr Appleby agreed to see Mrs Phillips about the Parish giving up part of the Allotments Field. A request from the Hospital Committee to use the Jubilee Hall kitchen for about half an hour a week was agreed at a nominal rent of £0:2:6d a year.

A Special Meeting of the Parish Council was held on 30 November in the Jubilee Hall.Revd Richardson was Chairman. The purpose of this meeting was to be told of the plans for a new Water Scheme for Winsham. Chard R.D.C. was represented by Mr Adcock, its Chairman, and Mr J.Dommett. The details of the scheme were that the water would come to Court Street from Paul’s Ash Farm, owned by Mr J.Warren, via Broadenham Fields and Malthouse Lane. After a long discussion it was agreed that the water should be brought to Fore Street rather than to Court Street. This new route would be via Ebben Lane and Mr Caters field. The higher area of Fore Street would ensure a good supply for the whole village. Mr Adcock and Mr Dommett were thanked for their visit. The Clerk was asked to place a notice on the Jubilee Hall Notice Board asking for those villagers wanting help from the Winsham Charity Fund to apply by 13 December1933.

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