To the Poor Law Commissioners

Gentlemen

We beg to forward a Copy of Resolution passed at a Vestry Meeting of this Parish on the 19th inst.

"That the Act 13 and 14 Vict., chap. 57, so far as relates to Vestry Meetings and providing a room wherein to hold the same, be adopted by this, parish."

In conformity with this Resolution we beg to apply for permission to borrow upon the security of the Poor Rates of this Parish a sum not exceeding 300£ for the purpose of Building a Room in which to hold Vestry Meetings.

We beg to inform you that the population of this Parish according to the last Census was 2221 – for many years Parish Meetings have ceased to be held in the Church and been assembled in an old School House formerly used as a Poor House adjoining the Church Yard – this building having now become dilapidated & the Church being under Repair the Parishioners have no place in which to meet in Vestry – We Therefore pray your Honourable Board to grant permission for the immediate erection of a Room for Parish Meetings – we have the honour to be Gentlemen

Your obedient Servants
Signed
Fredk Sartoris
R O Butcher Churchwardens
Wm Colson

The Board wrote asking for a copy of the “notice concerning the meeting at which the Resolution was Passed”. A letter was duly sent on the 5th January, and on the 13th the Board wrote again to ask “on what site it is proposed to build the Vestry Room, and how the site is to be acquired by the Churchwardens and Overseers.” On the 24th another reply “that it is proposed to build the said Room on a piece of ground adjoining the Church Yard, & at present occupied by an old dilapidated Building in which Vestry Meetings have been held for the last 15 or 20 years – It is proposed to take down this old Building, & use the materials so far as they will go in the new one.

His site & the old Building are considered, for there are no documents regarding them nor any in which they are mentioned, to belong to the Parish – So far as the memory of man extends this old Building was used as a poor house – since the passing of the P L Union Act it has served as a place for paying the ... ... Paupers, for Vestry Meetings |& for several years a Parish School was held in it. The scanty Repairs which of recent years have been done to it appear to have been mentioned by the Vestry & paid for out of Moneys in the hands of the Waywarden from the letting the herbage on the sides of the Road. The Building is now is a state of irrepairable decay &the materials are liable to be destroyed or carried away.

The Parish is unanimous in the desire to erect a new Vestry Hall on this site as at once the most conveniently situated & the best that can be procured & prays the Board for power to proceed at once with the work & relieve the Parish of the great inconvenience of having no Room in which to transact Parish Business.

We have the honor to be
Your obedient Servants

Fredk Sartoris
R O Butcher
William Colson
Geo H Skinner

Rev J T Barker received a letter from the Board asking them to forward a copy of the Resolution by which the Vestry sanctioned them “to borrow a sum not exceeding £300 upon the security of the Poor Rates”.

A letter of authority to build came, but

On the 1st of June 1874

The Board wrote again “to enquire whether plans and estimates have been procured” and if so “the Board wish to be furnished with the particulars thereof in detail”.

Sir

In accordance with the direction contained in your letter of the 1st June 1874 we have the honour to forward herewith for the Inspection of the L G Board, the plans &c of the proposed Vestry Hall at Rushden.

The Tenders for the same which have been accepted are

Mr Piggott mason £142.10.0
Mr S Knight carpenter £87.10.0
Mr Laughton plumber £22.0.0
Total £242.10.0

The work is to be put in hand forthwith. We have therefore to beg that if the Board take any exception to their Plans the same may be notified to us without delay.

We have the Honour to be
Sir
Your obedient Servants

Fredk Sartoris
R O Butcher
William Colson
Geo H Skinner

Wellingborough Union. Parish of Rushden.

To the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of the Parish of Rushden, in the county of Northampton:—

And to all others whom it may concern.

WHEREAS the population of the parish of Rushden, in the county of Northampton, according to the last census, exceeds two thousand persons;

"That the Act 13 and 14 Vict., chap. 57, so far as relates to Vestry Meetings and providing a room wherein to hold the same, be adopted by this, parish."

"That the Churchwardens and Overseers be instructed to send the foregoing resolution to the Poor Law Commissioners, and apply for leave, to build a room for Vestry Meetings, under the powers of 13 and 14 Vict., chap. 57, and to borrow for the same a sum of money not exceeding £300."

And whereas the Churchwardens and Overseers of the said parish of Rushden have made applica¬tion, in writing, to the Local Government Board, for authority to borrow a sum not exceeding three hundred pounds, for the purpose of building a room in which to hold Vestry Meetings:

Now, therefore, we, the Local Government Board, under the authority of the several Statutes in that behalf, hereby order and direct that so much of the Act passed in the fourteenth year of the reign of Her Majesty, intituled "An Act to prevent" the holding of Vestry or other Meetings in Churches, and for regulating the Appointment of Vestry Clerks," as relates to the providing of a room or suitable buildings for the purpose of holding Vestry or other Meetings, shall forthwith be applied to and be put in force within the said parish of Rushden.

And we do authorize the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of the said parish to borrow a sum not exceeding three hundred pounds, and to charge the poor rates of the said parish with the repayment of the sum so borrowed by equal annual instalments not exceeding ten, together with the interest which shall from time, to time accrue on the respective balances; and we order and direct the Churchwardens and Overseers to apply such sum, when so borrowed, to defray the cost of erecting anew Vestry Room for the said parish.

And we do hereby order and direct that a copy of this order shall be published in the London Gazette.

Given under the Seal of Office of the Local Government Board, this eleventh day of May, in the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.

G. Sclater-Booth, President.
H. Fleming. Secretary.