LOCAL GOVERNMENT
In 1299 Mary of
Bassingbourn claimed to hold the view of frankpledge and the assize of bread and of ale in
Westwick under the honor of Richmond. (fn. 50) In
1334 three customary tenants of Westwick answered for the vill at the honor of Richmond's
court at Toft, where an aletaster was appointed
for Westwick. (fn. 51)
In the 17th century the inhabitants paid poor
rates to Cottenham, (fn. 52) but by the late 18th century
levied and spent the rate themselves. Nine people
out of a population of 33 were relieved in 1803,
at a cost of almost £33, though by 1813 there
were only two parish paupers, paid £5 a year
between them. (fn. 53) Although the cost of relief
later rose, it never again reached £1 a head of
population under the old poor law. (fn. 54) Westwick
was belatedly added to Chesterton poor-law
union in 1840, (fn. 55) and later lay in Chesterton rural
district (1894-1974) and South Cambridgeshire
district (from 1974). (fn. 56)
Footnotes
| 50 |
Plac. de Quo Warr. (Rec. Com.), 104, where the entry
for 'Wyk' follows that for Oakington. |
| 51 |
P.R.O., SC 2/155/71, esp. m. 1. |
| 52 |
Ibid. E 134/18 Chas. I Trin./4, dep. of John Cave to
interr. 12, dep. of Wm. Vale to interr. 16. |
| 53 |
Poor Law Abstract, 1804, 34-5; 1818, 28-9. |
| 54 |
Poor Rate Returns, 1816-21, 10; 1822-4, 37; 1825-9,
15; 1830-4, 15. |
| 55 |
C.R.O., P 158/19/9 (from cat.). |
| 56 |
Census, 1891, 1971. |