Lamyat Parish history
Introduction
Note that whilst the village is called Lamyatt, spelt with two ‘t’s, the wider parish area was historically Lamyat, with one ‘t’
At the time of the establishment of the Lamyat parish meeting in 1894, the population in Lamyat was around 180. (1891 Census). The parish then, as now included all the outlying properties and farms such as those at Arthurs Bridge. Lamyatt already had its ‘National School’ in the building now used as the village hall. The original school building was built in 1829. The village and farms sourced water from various springs and wells, and few in the village would have been educated beyond primary school level with the main occupation being agricultural labourer.
The Local Government Act 1894 established the rules for Parish Meetings, Councils and Committees.
Powers and duties
The parish councils were given various powers and duties including:
⦁ Appointment of overseers of the poor
⦁ Maintaining and repairing closed churchyards
⦁ Holding or maintaining parish property (including village greens, allotments, recreation grounds) for the benefit of the inhabitants
⦁ Election of allotment managers
⦁ Acquisition of buildings for parish purposes
⦁ Acquisition of land for allotments, public walks and recreation grounds
Expenditure
Parish councils were generally limited to a rate of three pence in the pound, although this could be increased to sixpence in the pound with the permission of the parish meeting.
Rights of way
No right of way could be extinguished or diverted without the permission of both the parish and rural district council. Parish councils could take over the maintenance of public footpaths within their parish, other than those along the edge of highways.
Charitable trusts
Where a charitable trust (other than an ecclesiastical charity) existed in a parish, the Charity Commissioners could provide for the parish council to become the trustees. Annual accounts of the charity were to be laid before the Parish Meeting.
We are fortunate that the Minute book of the Lamyatt Parish Meeting is retained in the village and is almost a complete record of the matters discussed and decisions taken by those who assembled since 1894. Electronic records have been kept since c2015. Note: Some minutes from the more recent years from the mid-2000’s to mid-2010’s are missing.
A summary & excerpts from the Minute book will be added to this page.
1894-1918 Minutes of the Lamyatt Parish Meetings
Lamyatt - Somerset 