From Chicklade And Pertwood, A Short Parish History by E.R. Barty, M.A., Chicklade, Old Rectory, first published December 1955:
FUNCTIONS OF THE VESTRY
Each parish had its Vestry and churchwardens occupied with the maintenance of the church fabric.
Each Vestry had also to appoint an Overseer of the Poor in accordance with the famous Poor Relief Act (Elizabeth I., 1608).
Poor Rates were instituted in each parish on the precedent of the former Church Rates levied by the Vestry.
One of the churchwardens who served for many years was Richard Randall II. He also acted as Overseer. He died in 1810.
Robert Candy was a churchwarden from 1800 to 1813.
John Candy, his son, was sole churchwarden in 1829 and in 1832 signed the important Presentment along with Charles Millett, “We present the old church taken down and the new one in a forward state of building.”
As far back as 1555 an Act was passed which made every parish responsible for the highways passing through it. A Surveyor of Highways was elected each year.
Vestry Book 1832-79
March 25, 1836. “Agreeable to an Act of Parliament lately passed it was agreed that John Candy do assume the office of Surveyor of the Highways for the year ensuing.”
In 1831 an epidemic of cholera led to the establishment of temporary Boards of Health under a central Board of Health. In 1834 as we have seen, the Poor Law was reformed, parishes being united into Unions, each Union having a Board of Guardians. Over-all control was exercised by the Poor Law Commissioners.
March 25, 1839. John Candy was appointed as a Waywarden and Guardian.
The office of Constable had originally a military significance. Each village had its petty Constable, each Hundred its High Constable. In time Constables came more under the control of the Justices of the Peace, their function the maintenance of order.
Vestry 1834. Thomas Portnall was appointed Constable of Chicklade Parish.
Vestry 1867. The Rev. J.C. Faber was appointed Waywarden and Guardian.
The activities of the Vestry and of the Parish Officers were supervised by the local Justices of the Peace. The Justice of the Peace had to sanction the raising of the rate and to approve the appointment of the Surveyor of Highways.
Vestry 26th March, 1877. “At this Vestry attention was called to an encroachment on the highway leading from hence to Hindon by the bringing forward of a fence in front of the land occupied by Mr. Hocker which reduces the space over which the public have a right of passage as laid down in the Award. The Waywarden is requested to bring the matter to the notice of the Highway Board with a view to its amendment.”
And does that not bring to our mind our own difficulties today with Rights of Way and the Highway?
From the Parish Organisation described above the modern system of local government has evolved.
The 19th Century was a period of great reform. A new public spirit was awakening. We need only mention
(1) Parliamentary Reform (1832). William Cobbett had made it a popular cry in 1816.
(2) The Poor Law Amendment Act (1834).
(3) The Abolition of Slavery in the British Colonies (1834).
(4) and, earlier, the Catholic Emancipation Act (1829).
Colt Hoare in dedicating his Dunworth volume to Lord Arundell to whose help he made acknowledgment, stated that this last Act must have brought him satisfaction and the hopes of happier relations with Ireland.
We have digressed somewhat from the history of Chicklade but all these Acts of Reform passed on the threshold of the great Victorian Age would sooner or later directly or indirectly affect the lives of the parishioners.
Before finally closing the Vestry Book (1832-79) we should note that certain repairs are recorded in 1872 and alterations as regards the placing of the pulpit, reading desk and Communion table in 1878.