Sarah
Hawkins Genealogy Site
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The West Somerset Free Press, and Williton and Watchet Journal. Saturday 15 Mar 1873
Page 5 Column 4
TAUNTON.
THE HOSPITAL. - The western wing of the Taunton, and Somerset Hospital is to be extended southwards, at a cost of £1,087. Mr. S. SHEWBROOKS has the contract.
TAUNTON CASTLE. - At a meeting of the Council of the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society, held on Thursday, the question of purchasing a considerable portion of Taunton Castle for use by the society was discussed, and several sums were subscribed towards that laudable object. Mr. LANGTON, M.P. For West Somerset, generously heading the list with £50.
A QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE. - At the County-hall, on Saturday, Robert HILL was charged with stealing 97lbs. of coal, the property of Mr. John HAMMET, Mr. TAUNTON defended. The prisoner was on Friday engaged with others to draw six boats laden with coal by canal from Bridgwater to Taunton, and while stopping at Creech he was seen to fill a basket of coal and carry it to a cottage. The defence was that a recognised custom existed for bargemen to take coal from the cargo to make a fire on the journey. This was borne out by the owner of the boat and the prosecutor, both of whom gave the prisoner a good character for seven years. He was, however, sent for trial at the assize, and bailed, himself in a surety of £10 and another person in a like sum. - George GOODLAND, pleading guilty to stealing potatoes from his master, Mr. John EVERY, of West Monkton, fourteen days. - Henry SMITH, aged thirteen, pleading guilty to stealing a waistcoat, the property of his father William SMITH, fourteen days and five years in a reformatory, the father to contribute 6d. a week. - James TUCK, charged on a warrant issued in 1865 with neglecting to pay arrears in bastardy to Jane OATEN, two months' hard labour. It was proved that he had recently received £140.
WEEKLY MARKET AT TAUNTON. - At the meeting of the Trustees on Friday last, the idea of a weekly market for Taunton was suggested. - Mr. PALMER said he wished to make a few remarks on a subject which, though not exactly before the meeting, was yet one of considerable importance. He said that in his opinion it would be beneficial to the town if steps were taken for holding a market every week instead of fortnightly; and he proposed that when the Somerset and Devon line of railway was completed, which he believed would be in the months of May or June, the substitution of a weekly market should be made. He thought they would have as good a weekly market as they now had fortnightly, for though many persons had foretold endless evils when the monthly markets had given place to fortnightly, yet they all knew the advantages which had arisen to the town, and so he looked forward to this proposed change as conferring great advantages on the agriculturists. - Mr. TURLE said he had been one of the first movers for a fortnightly market, and he thought the time was now come to alter it to a weekly one. - Mr. BRUFORD believed that the general feeling was in favour of a weekly market, and he considered it would be found most advantageous to the town and to the farmers and dealers generally. The proposition was received with favour by all present, and it was thought that simultaneously with the opening of the line in question the weekly market should commence, as some of the best agricultural districts would then be opened up to them, and by offering an opportunity of selling there they would prevent dealers carrying their goods through to other towns.
<NOTES: Jane OATEN daughter of William OATEN and Jane HOW, associated with James TUCK and William GRILLS>