ALLER
The ancient parish of Aller, known often in the
14th century as King's Aller, (fn. 1) had an area of
3,605 a. in 1901, (fn. 2) of which 555 a. were allotted to
Aller from King's Sedgemoor in 1792. (fn. 3)
The parish lies 2½ miles west from Langport and
9 miles south-east from Bridgwater. It is highly
irregular in shape, stretching 4½ miles from north
to south, 2½ miles from east to west, but is only
⅓ mile in breadth at the edge of King's Sedgemoor
in the north. The boundary to the south and southwest with Curry Rivel and Stoke St. Gregory is
formed by the river Parrett, with the exception of
Oath, an elliptical addition across the river. The
original northern boundary at Beer Wall follows
the river Cary, and that to the north-east and east a
ridgeway along the summit of Aller hill.
The high ground in the parish known as Aller hill
lies on the Keuper Marl along its eastern limit, the
highest point being 325 ft. near Beer. Aller 'island'
in the centre of the parish and Oath hill across the
Parrett to the south are outcrops of Keuper Marl,
but most of the parish, comprising the 'moors',
lies on the alluvium. (fn. 4)
In addition to the Cary and Parrett the 'moors'
are drained by a complex system of rhines, the
construction of which dates from the 14th century. (fn. 5)
The parish is protected from flood by the Great
Wall or Aller Wall along its southern boundary,
by Callis Wall on the west, and Beer Wall to the
north, all evidently medieval in origin. (fn. 6) Standing
on the edge of the 'moors', the parish presents a
somewhat bleak and isolated aspect, particularly
in winter with periodic flooding. In c. 1583 Francis
Hastings found 'no great cause of commendation
of the site because it standeth low and unsavoury
by reason of the ditches of the moor'. (fn. 7) A rector,
Ralph Cudworth, wrote in 1618 that 'the air is very
bad, especially in the spring, so that I have been
often in danger of death by reason of agues, etc.,
which makes me desirous to remove'. (fn. 8) To Camden
it was 'a little village of few small huts'. (fn. 9)
The original settlement was probably made in
the area of Aller Court Farm on Aller 'island', where
the parish church also stands, but the village developed along the lower slopes of Aller hill between
the 25 ft. and 50 ft. contours. By the later 16th
century much of its present area was already built
up, (fn. 10) further expansion being restricted by the open
arable fields, the 'moors', and the steepness of
Aller hill. By the 19th century improved drainage
had led to the erection of houses south-west of the
village along Church Path, and cottages were also
built on the steep slope at Penny Hill, (fn. 11) although a
number of these were derelict in 1972. Most of the
manorial tenement farms lay on either side of the
main street in the village. (fn. 12) On the south side at
the Cross Tree stands the White Lion public house.
This was first built on a plot of waste in 1571, (fn. 13)
had become one of two tippling houses in the parish
by 1653, (fn. 14) and was known by its present name in
1756. (fn. 15)
At Oath settlement had developed around the
north-western and south-eastern limits of the hill
by the 16th century, (fn. 16) although none of the present
dwellings exhibits any early features. Two farms
at Beer are recorded from the early 14th century, (fn. 17)
and references in 1322 to Nicholas and William of
Bagenham and Robert le Coumbe (fn. 18) suggest that the
sites of Bagenham Farm, on the western boundary
with Othery, and Combe Farm, on the eastern boundary with Huish, had already been settled. From a
tenement called the Boathouse near Bagenham there
was a ferry by 1561 across the rhine dividing Aller
from Othery. (fn. 19) In 1653 it was stated that a temporary
bridge was annually laid over this rhine at Pathe
for the removal of hay from Aller moor, but that
at all other times the ferryman might charge for
passages. (fn. 20) Improved drainage during the 19th
century also enabled the building of Withybed
(now Willow) Farm on the banks of the Parrett
opposite Stathe to the south, and also Longstone
Farm in Aller Great drove. (fn. 21) Modern dwellings
have been erected on individual plots in the village,
principally in Beer Road.
The main road through the parish, known initially
as the Street in c. 1577, and in the 19th century as
South Street or Langport Street, (fn. 22) enters Aller in
the east from Langport, runs below Aller hill
through the site of South field and the village to the
Cross Tree. Thence as Beer Road it turns northeast through the former North field towards Beer.
Finally it bears west from Beer Cross beside Beer
Wall, leaving the parish for Othery. This road was
turnpiked throughout its length in 1828, a tollgate and house being erected at Plotstream, near
the eastern end of the parish, and another soon after
at Beer Cross. (fn. 23) Only the former survives. Church
Path runs south-west from the Cross Tree, crossing
Weir bridge (mentioned in 1761) (fn. 24) to the church and
Aller Court Farm. A ridgeway along the summit of
Aller hill was described as a procession way in 1572
and 1653, (fn. 25) and was known as Wood Lane by 1885. (fn. 26)
Penny Hill Lane runs north-east from the northern
end of the village up Aller hill. An elaborate network of droves, all established by c. 1577, (fn. 27) serves
the entire area of the 'moors' and also links the
village with Pathe and Oath. Oath is reached by a
footbridge, mentioned in 1808 and 1811 when it
was swept away by floods. (fn. 28)
Arable land within the parish was largely restricted to the Keuper Marl. Of the two open fields
attached to Aller manor North field lay immediately
north of the village, forming an elongated rectangle
on either side of Beer Road. South field lay immediately south-east of the village, stretching from
the summit of Aller hill to the north to below the
Langport road southwards. (fn. 29) There was a single
open field, Beer Court field, in the area of Beer
Farm in the north of the parish, (fn. 30) and Oath hill
was divided into two open fields, East and West,
which served Oath manor by c. 1577. (fn. 31) Early
meadowland was more scattered. Open meadows
known as Landmeads, mentioned in 1322, (fn. 32) lay
along the western edge of the North field and in
the South field. (fn. 33) Other meadows mentioned in
1322 but not located were known as 'Nywelondmede' and 'Mormede'. (fn. 34) The remainder of the
parish, comprising the low-lying 'moors', was devoted to pasture. The area south of Aller Great
drove formed Aller moor; North moor lay south
of Beer Wall and west of North field; Leaseway
(Lesfee in c. 1577) extended west of North moor and
north of Aller Great drove. (fn. 35) Aller wood lies between the former North field and Wood Lane on the
upper slopes of Aller hill.
In 1676 a decoy pool was made in Aller moor by
five tenants. The lord gave materials for its construction and allowed those tenants royalty for
fowling over the 'moor'. In return they were to
stock the decoy and render a quarter of all birds
taken. (fn. 36) The pool was still there in 1838. (fn. 37)
The houses in the village are principally of 18th
and 19th century date, of lias or brick, with thatched
or tiled roofs. The Manor House and Chantry Farm
have mansard roofs and are both of the 18th century.
Aller Friendly Society, known also as the Aller
Schoolhouse Benefit Society, was founded in 1849
and reformed in 1870. It held its annual dinner
and club walk on Whit Monday, (fn. 38) but was disbanded in 1940. (fn. 39) The society's banner was held in
the church in 1972.
There were 124 communicants in the parish in
1548. (fn. 40) The population was 389 in 1801 and rose
gradually to 559 in 1841. It remained relatively
stable until 1871 and thereafter, in common with
other rural parishes, fell steadily from 533 in that
year to 347 in 1911. (fn. 41) The number of inhabitants has
changed little during the present century, amounting to 339 in 1961. (fn. 42)
During the Interregnum John Northover, tenant
of Aller Court and an ardent royalist, was accused of
having supplied two men for the King's army and,
on a Sunday evening after church, of inciting the
parishioners to join Goring's forces at the siege of
Taunton. (fn. 43) After the battle of Langport on 9 July
1645 the royalist army fled to Bridgwater across
Aller moor, making a brief stand at Aller Great
drove. There they were routed. Many horses 'were
lost in the ditches . . . and the riders got into the
meadows hoping to escape, but could not'. (fn. 44) Northover was accused of laying a bridge over a rhine to
aid their flight. (fn. 45) Sir Thomas Fairfax spent the
night after the battle at Aller before proceeding
towards Bridgwater. (fn. 46)
Ralph Cudworth (1617–88), son of an Aller rector,
was born in the parish and educated by his stepfather, John Stoughton, who had succeeded Cudworth's father as rector. He subsequently became the
leader of the Cambridge Platonists and served as
Regius Professor of Hebrew from 1645 until his
death. His principal work, The True Intellectual
System, was published in 1678. (fn. 47)
Manors.
The manor of ALLER was held by
Ulward in 1066 but by the time of Domesday had
passed to Ralph de Limesy. (fn. 48) The overlordship
evidently descended with the barony of Cavendish
(Suff.) to Ralph de Limesy (II) (d. c. 1129) and
Ralph's son Alan (d. by 1162). (fn. 49) Alan was succeeded
by Gerard (d. by 1185), whose son John de Limesy
died without issue in 1193. (fn. 50) The overlordship of the
manor passed to his sister Basile, wife of Hugh de
Odingselles (d. 1239), for in 1284–6 and 1303 it
was held by her grandson Hugh (II) (d. 1305),
son of Gerard de Odingselles (d. 1267). (fn. 51) Hugh's
son John (I) (d. 1336) held it in 1312, (fn. 52) but subsequently it passed from the Odingselles family to
John de Stouford, to whose daughter Joan and her
husband William FitzWarren of Brightleigh (Devon)
the immediate lord of Aller manor did homage in
1363. (fn. 53) In 1408 homage for the manor was done to
Sir Thomas Brook, then stated to have purchased
the Odingselles fees in Somerset formerly held by
John Brightleigh (d. 1407) son of William FitzWarren. (fn. 54) Brook (d. 1418) still held the overlordship in 1412, (fn. 55) but by 1462 it had passed to John
Launcy, evidently in right of his wife Joan, who
also held it in 1478. (fn. 56) By 1489 the manor was stated
to be held in chief (fn. 57) and by 1496 of the honor of
Somerton. (fn. 58) The overlordship has not been traced
thereafter.
It is not known when the manor was subinfeudated, but Raher of Aller, whose family subsequently owned the manor, is mentioned between
1166 and 1187, (fn. 59) as is his son Ralph of Aller between
1201 and 1232. (fn. 60) Ralph's son Sir John of Aller
(d. c. 1272) presumably held the manor which after
his death was divided between his daughters Margaret and Elizabeth. (fn. 61) Margaret married John
de Acton (I) and was succeeded by John (II)
(d. 1312). (fn. 62) In 1335 John (III) (d. after 1360), son
of John (II), granted the remainder, failing male
heirs, of his moiety, then known as the manor of
ALLER ACTON, to his cousin John of Clevedon, (fn. 63)
owner of the second moiety. (fn. 64) Elizabeth, second
daughter of Sir John of Aller, married Raymond of
Clevedon (d. by 1280) and held the other moiety
of the manor in her own right in 1284–6. (fn. 65) By 1303
she had been succeeded by her son Matthew (II)
of Clevedon (d. by 1332), during whose tenure
the moiety was known as the manor of ALLER
CLEVEDON. (fn. 66) Sir Matthew's son Sir John (III)
(d. c. 1373), who reunited the two moieties, was succeeded by his granddaughter Margaret (d. 1412),
daughter of John of Clevedon (d. before 1348), (fn. 67)
and wife successively of Sir John St. Lo (d. 1375)
and Sir Peter Courtenay (d. 1405). (fn. 68) She was succeeded by her grandson William, Lord Botreaux
(d. 1462), son of her daughter Elizabeth (d. 1389). (fn. 69)
Botreaux's widow Margaret (d. 1488) and her second
husband Sir Thomas Burgh (d. 1496) retained a life
interest in the manor, which passed on their deaths
to her great-granddaughter Mary, daughter of Sir
Thomas Hungerford and wife of Edward, Lord
Hastings (d. 1506). (fn. 70) Lady Hastings subsequently
married Richard Sacheverell, who received a life
interest in the manor and was still holding it in
1545. (fn. 71)
The manor was known by 1532 as ALLER AND
ALLERMOOR, (fn. 72) and from 1589 as ALLER AND
ALLER CHANTRY. (fn. 73) The reversion descended
to George Hastings (cr. earl of Huntingdon 1529,
d. 1545), son of Edward, Lord Hastings, and then
to his son Francis (d. 1560). (fn. 74) Thence the manor
passed in turn to Francis's sons Henry (d. 1595)
and George (d. 1604), the latter being succeeded by
his grandson Henry, earl of Huntingdon (d. 1643). (fn. 75)
The last sold it to Sir John Davis in 1612, excluding
the manor-house, demesne lands, Combe farm, and
Aller moor, (fn. 76) and Davis conveyed it to John (later
Sir John) Stawell of Cothelstone in 1623. (fn. 77) During
the Interregnum Stawell's estates were sequestered,
ALLER manor being purchased by Maj.-Gen.
Thomas Harrison in 1653. (fn. 78) From Harrison the
manor evidently passed to John Aubrey of Low
Ham, who conveyed it in 1658 to Walter Long,
possibly his father-in-law, and Mary Long, widow. (fn. 79)
Sir John Stawell's lands were restored to him at the
Restoration, (fn. 80) and after his death in 1662 the manor
descended in turn to his sons George (d. 1669) and
Ralph (cr. baron Stawell of Somerton 1683, d.
1689). (fn. 81) Ralph's son John, Lord Stawell (d. 1692),
encumbered his estates with heavy mortgages and
the manor was vested in trustees. (fn. 82) Under a Chancery decree of 1697 it was sold in 1706 to Anne
Mowrie of Low Ham and William Harrison of
North Petherton. (fn. 83) Many of the manorial lands
were sold off soon after this conveyance, the lordship and residue of the estate descending to William
Mowrie (d. 1745), son of Anne. (fn. 84) William devised
his estate to his nephew John Pyne of Charlton
Adam (d. 1791), whose sons William and John sold
it to James Hyde in 1793. (fn. 85) Hyde was evidently
uncertain whether or not he possessed the manor
and in 1830 procured a conveyance of the lordship
from John, Lord Sherborne, heir of the Stawell
family. (fn. 86) This grant included no lands but led to the
Hyde family naming their residence the Manor
House. (fn. 87) On James Hyde's death in 1832 his lands
in the parish passed to his five sons and eventually
to his son Charles. (fn. 88) After the death of Charles's
widow in 1879 the 'Aller manor estate' was split
up and auctioned in 1880. (fn. 89) The lordship was sold
in the following year to T. H. Gent (d. 1898) for
£5, and his sons, T. C. and W. F. Gent, conveyed
it in 1910 to Aller parish council, the present lords
of the manor. (fn. 90) The only property allied to the
title from 1880 was the village pound. (fn. 91)
The manor-house is first mentioned in 1312, (fn. 92)
and was held with the moiety of Aller Acton in
1322. (fn. 93) The house and demesne lands, known as
Aller Court by 1533, were then leased for 70 years
to Nicholas Thorne (d. 1546), a Bristol merchant. (fn. 94)
Thorne bequeathed the lease to his widow Bridget, (fn. 95)
and by 1559 it had passed to Mary, widow of his
son Robert Thorne. (fn. 96) Before 1565 it had been
assigned to John Wake who transferred it in that
year to William Northover. (fn. 97) The Northover family
continued to occupy the property during the 17th
century. (fn. 98) The freehold was evidently acquired by
the Stawell family and sold by their trustees to Sir
Thomas Wroth (d. 1721) of North Petherton, being
then known as the manors or reputed manors of
ALLER AND OATH. (fn. 99) On Wroth's death his
estates were divided between his two daughters, the
Aller property passing to Elizabeth, wife of Thomas
Palmer of Fairfield, Stogursey. (fn. 100) She was succeeded
in 1737–8 by her sister Cecily, married first to Sir
Hugh Acland (d. 1728) and second to Thomas
Troyte. (fn. 101) Thence the manor passed to Cecily's second
son, Arthur Acland (d. 1771), and subsequently to
his son Sir John Palmer Acland (d. 1823) and to his
grandson Sir Peregrine P. F. P. Acland (d. 1871). (fn. 102)
Sir Peregrine had evidently settled the property on
his son-in-law Sir Alexander Acland-Hood by
c. 1860. (fn. 103) Acland-Hood with the Acland trustees sold
the farm to the occupier, Henry Munckton (d. 1890)
in 1872. (fn. 104) The manorial status of the estate was not
mentioned in the conveyance. By Order in Chancery
of 1893 the premises were awarded to the surviving
holders of Munckton's undischarged mortgage, B. B.
Greene and Sir William J. W. Baynes, Bt., who
sold the farm to C. R. Morris of North Curry in
1894. (fn. 105) In 1918 Morris's executors conveyed it to their
tenant T. H. Jeanes, who sold it to L. S. Garner
in 1947. (fn. 106) A year later it was purchased by Mrs. E. M.
Haywood who conveyed the farm to the present
owner, Mr. P. C. Maltby, in 1969. (fn. 107)
The house was described in 1633 as 'an ancient
castlelike house, highly seated in a low place', (fn. 108)
but the old building was largely demolished in 1812
and 'a modern farm' built for the tenant. (fn. 109) Both
wings of the present farm-house are at least of 17thcentury origin, but the principal range which connects them dates from the Acland rebuilding. The
earliest element of the group is the great barn,
originally a large medieval domestic building, part
at least of two storeys. An outbuilding west of the
farm is of c. 1500 and was probably a self-contained
house.
There was a manorial chapel dedicated to the
Blessed Virgin Mary in which a chantry was
founded in 1263 by Sir John of Aller where masses
were to be said daily for the souls of his late wife
and other members of his family. (fn. 110) The patronage
descended with the lordship of Aller manor, passing
during the early 14th century with the moiety of
Aller Clevedon. (fn. 111) The bishop collated by lapse in
1463, (fn. 112) and the last presentation was made in 1533
by the lessee of Aller Court. (fn. 113) In 1546 the incumbent had a silver chalice, parcel gilt, a pair of vestments, and a corporal with case. (fn. 114) In 1548 the
chantry was dissolved, its possessions then being
a chalice weighing 19 oz., ornaments, and 40 lb.
of bell metal. (fn. 115) The chapel was then roofed with
stone. (fn. 116) The lands belonging to the chantry,
valued at £6 a year, comprised 42 a. of pasture,
18 a. of arable, and a dwelling-house, all leased.
A parlour and chamber in the same house, evidently
at one time occupied by the chaplain, were also
leased. (fn. 117) The chapel was described as lying 'in the
manor of Aller' in 1473, (fn. 118) 'in the base court of the
manor place' in 1548, (fn. 119) and was still standing in
1561. (fn. 120) The chantry and its lands were granted in
1550 to Francis, earl of Huntingdon, and Thomas
Hazlewood and subsequently formed a leasehold
estate within Aller manor now known as Chantry
farm. (fn. 121)
Lands in 'Oht' held with Aller property by the
Acton family were mentioned in 1288, and Oath
hermitage lay in Aller parish in 1328. (fn. 122) A moiety
of OATH manor was held by Sir John de Acton
(III) in 1346, (fn. 123) indicating that it was then held
with Aller. William Mowrie of Low Ham, described as lord of Oath in 1725, (fn. 124) sold the manor
to trustees of John and Mary Webb of Wilton in
1732. (fn. 125) Two years later it was held by the widowed
Mary Webb for life with remainder to James
Syndercombe of Stratton (Dors.). (fn. 126) Syndercombe
held the manor in 1741, but by 1743 it had passed
to John Broadway of Oath and Langport. (fn. 127) There
is evidence of enfranchisement by Broadway in
1743, (fn. 128) although most of Oath remained in possession of his family. No subsequent reference to
the manor has been found, but John Broadway
held property there in 1791 and was succeeded by
Susannah Michell of Langport, probably his
daughter, who died c. 1822. (fn. 129) She left her lands at
Oath to her nephew Joel Broadway Horsey, with
remainder to his sons Joel Broadway and John
Horsey. (fn. 130) These sons were holding Oath farm jointly
in 1838, when it comprised 99 a. (fn. 131) No manor-house
has been traced. Oath Farm, the only likely property,
was a copyhold tenement c. 1577. (fn. 132)
Lands in the north-east of the parish probably
formed part of the estate or manor of Beer in High
Ham in the 13th century. In 1314 Gilbert of Beer,
whose family had held lands in High Ham for at
least three generations, conveyed to John de Knolton
a messuage and two carucates of land in Aller and
Beer. (fn. 133) This grant appears to relate to the manor of
BEER held by John de Knolton in 1316 and 1322. (fn. 134)
John de la Slo conveyed another messuage and two
carucates to John de Knolton in 1324, also stated
to lie in Aller and Beer. (fn. 135) In 1338 Knolton's son
John (II) was stated to hold tenements in Aller of
Sir John of Clevedon by knight service, and Beer
continued to be held as a freehold of Aller manor
at least until c. 1665. (fn. 136)
By 1369 the manor of BEER NEXT ALLER
was held by Sir William Bonville. (fn. 137) On Bonville's
death in 1408 it passed to his grandson William
(cr. Lord Bonville 1449, d. 1461), who settled the
manor on his daughter Margaret, wife of Sir William
Courtenay (I). (fn. 138) Their eldest son Sir William (II)
(d. 1512) defended his title to the manor or manors,
then known as BEER AND BURGH or BEER
WITH BURGH against his younger brother
Peter Courtenay, temp. Henry VII. (fn. 139) The double
place-name possibly has its origin in the two separate acquisitions made by John de Knolton (I). (fn. 140)
The property passed to James Courtenay (d. 1546),
a younger son of Sir William (II), and in 1548 was
held by his son James (II) (d. 1592). (fn. 141) On the
latter's death his heir was given variously as his
son James (III), or brother Edward Courtenay. (fn. 142)
By 1599 it was held jointly by James and Sir
William Courtenay, (fn. 143) and in 1617 by Sir William
Courtenay of Powderham (Devon) and his son
Francis. (fn. 144) In 1617 the estate was mortgaged to
Simon (later Sir Simon) Leach (I) of Cadleigh
(Devon) and others. (fn. 145) By 1630 the freehold had
evidently passed to Leach who, at his death in
1637, devised it to his grandson Simon (II) (d.
1660), son of Sir Walter Leach. (fn. 146) The manor was
held in 1691 by Sir Simon Leach (III) (d. 1708),
son of Simon (II). (fn. 147) It is not mentioned thereafter,
although lands formerly of the manor are referred
to as late as 1772. (fn. 148)
The two messuages mentioned in the early 14th
century formed part of the manor in 1384 and
1391. (fn. 149) One of these probably became the manorhouse known as Beer Court Farm in 1747, (fn. 150) more
recently as Beer Farm, and now as Nightingale
Farm. By 1747 the farm had been acquired by
James Smith (d. 1748) of St. Audries, who left it
to his daughter Lavinia, wife of William Fellows. (fn. 151)
It was subsequently purchased by William James
of Forton, Chard, probably before 1770, (fn. 152) and in
1832 the farm was held by Mrs. James, probably
his widow. (fn. 153) By 1838 it had passed to Richard
Bridge, (fn. 154) and c. 1860 was owned by George Jeremy
of Lea Combe House, Axminster (Devon). (fn. 155) On
his death in 1874 Jeremy left the farm to his first
cousin, Charlotte Ann, wife of the Revd. A. H. F.
Luttrell of Minehead. (fn. 156) It was purchased by W. J.
Lockyer from the Luttrells in 1925 and was held
by his son Mr. W. E. G. Lockyer in 1972. (fn. 157) The
farm-house is a long stone building with a thatched
roof. It is at least of 17th-century origin but appears
to have been considerably altered internally in the
19th century.
Economic History.
At the time of Domesday Aller manor comprised two hides, of which
three virgates were held in demesne and five were
cultivated by the tenants. The figures given for the
land use of the demesne, 15 a. of meadow, 200 a. of
pasture, and 10 a. of wood, indicate that Aller moor
was not included in the assessment. There were then
5 villeins, 12 bordars, and 2 serfs on the manor,
with 12 beasts, 6 swine, and 16 sheep. (fn. 158)
By 1322, when the manor was held in divided
moieties, the number of tenants had increased to 7
freeholders (one holding Beer manor), 22 villeins
or customary tenants, and 24 cottars. (fn. 159) Apart from
Beer the freeholds were small, producing total
rents of 39s. 8d. (fn. 160) By 1573 the number of freeholders had fallen to two, (fn. 161) and by c. 1665 only
Beer manor remained. (fn. 162) Of the villeins of 1322 19
held one ferdel each and 3 held half a ferdel. Their
customary payments and works accounted for nearly
one sixth of the total value of the manor. These
works comprised principally labour on the demesne
lands for between two and four days a week,
although one tenant was obliged to cart the lord's
corn in autumn and another carted for the lord
up to 20 miles from the manor. Villeins also paid
Peter's Pence at Lammas, a rent called beaupleader,
and church scot at Martinmas rendered in chickens.
The cottars paid rent for their holdings but owed no
services. (fn. 163)
The demesne was considerably extended in the
years following Domesday. In 1312 the Acton
moiety of the demesne comprised the capital messuage, 60 a. of arable, 20 a. of meadow, pasture
in severalty, and a granary, valued together at
£5 19s. 4d. (fn. 164) By 1322 this moiety had increased in
value to £6 11s. 2d., its total extent being estimated
at 316 a. (fn. 165) The Clevedon demesne in 1322 totalled
624 a., of which 390 a. represented pasture in
the 'moors', the whole being valued at £13 13s. (fn. 166)
The income derived from both moieties of the
manor at this date totalled £38 1s. 2d. (fn. 167) In 1489 the
value is given as 200 marks. (fn. 168)
The recovery and exploitation of the 'moors' is
the principal feature of the economy of the parish
in the Middle Ages. Until 1234 Aller moor evidently extended westwards into the present parish
of Othery, but in that year the abbot of Glastonbury
secured a moiety of the 'moor' from Ralph of
Aller. Ralph attempted to forestall the inclosure by
bribing the abbey steward with 'a most noble
cockerel'. (fn. 169) The erection of the Great Wall around
Aller moor along the Parrett was probably taking
place in 1280, when John de Acton obstructed the
towing of boats up river. (fn. 170) Drainage of pasture land
evidently began at about that time with the construction of Pathelake, a rhine between Aller and
Othery, the maintenance of which was the joint
responsibility of Glastonbury abbey and the lord
of Aller. (fn. 171) Beer Wall is thought to date from the
same period. (fn. 172) Aller moor and North moor were
described in c. 1310 as recently inclosed and divided
by rhines. (fn. 173) By the 16th century an elaborate
system had evolved whereby wall works and fixed
sums of wall money for the repair of the Great
Wall had been allotted to each individual close of
pasture. (fn. 174) A series of 71 leases of closes in Aller moor
for 21 years were granted in 1552, all of which
placed upon the tenants the responsibility for maintaining rhines around and through their inclosures
and for paying a workman to repair the wall for
one day each year. (fn. 175) Surveys of the 'moor' at this
time show that a significant proportion of the pasture was held by out-dwellers, in many cases from
adjacent parishes, but also from as far afield as
Ilchester and Chard. (fn. 176)
From 1533 the manor-house and demesnes were
let on long leases, (fn. 177) and by 1577 the manor and
'moors' were being administered as separate entities. At that date the manor comprised 612 a.,
principally arable in the open fields, let for
£61 7s. 2½d., and the 'moors' totalled a further
2,028 a. let for £211 16s. (fn. 178) The tenants of the
'moors' were then paying £11 15s. 8d. in wall
money and owed 53 days wall work. (fn. 179) In c. 1583
Sir Francis Hastings, representing the interests of
his brother the 3rd earl of Huntingdon, stated that
the demesne was 'good and large'. The 'moor' he
considered 'a very commodious thing', although
dependent on the strength of the river wall, which
was being repaired after being seriously damaged
in the preceding winter. (fn. 180) When the earl's debts
mounted in 1592 Hastings so valued the manor that
he hoped the earl would 'never so much as once
imagine of the sale of Aller'. (fn. 181) But the desperate
state of the Huntingdon finances led to the sale of
Chantry farm in 1608 (fn. 182) and the manor in 1612, (fn. 183)
excluding the 'moor' and other properties which
were sold piecemeal in the years up to 1620. (fn. 184)
The manor as purchased by Sir John Davis in
1612 had suffered from neglect owing to delay in
completing the transaction. (fn. 185) The 'moor' held
with the manor had been reduced to 377 a. although
the manorial income, despite enfranchisement, still
stood at £274 7s. 0½d. (fn. 186) One of the largest purchasers from the earl of Huntingdon was Sir
Edward Hext (d. 1624) of Low Ham, who acquired
about 400 a. of meadow and pasture in 1620. (fn. 187)
On Hext's death this passed to his son-in-law Sir
John Stawell (fn. 188) and was thus reunited with the
manor. Most of the 'moor' was subsequently held
in fee by the former occupiers, although 626½ a. were
still held with the Stawell manor in c. 1665. (fn. 189) This
period also saw the rise of the fortunes of the Northover family, occupiers of Aller Court farm by 1565 (fn. 190)
and of Chantry farm by c. 1577. (fn. 191) In the absence of
resident lords the Northovers became recognized
as leaders of the community, purchasing Chantry
farm with lands of 252 a. in 1608 and receiving a
grant of arms in 1614. (fn. 192)
In c. 1665 the extent of the manor and those
parts of the 'moor' held with it totalled 1,441 a.,
producing an income of £1,430. (fn. 193) The holdings of
individual tenants were relatively small, the only
tenements over 45 a. in area being Combe farm
(107 a.) and Bagenham farm (60 a.). Conversion
to leasehold had been slight, a mere 11 holdings
compared with 48 copyholds, including the whole
of Oath. (fn. 194) The sale of the manor to pay Stawell's
debts in 1706 was followed by extensive enfranchisements. In 1707 at least fifteen tenements with over
400 a. of land were sold. (fn. 195) Oath manor was sold in
1732 (fn. 196) and subsequently split into two farms of
about 100 a. each with a number of smallholdings. (fn. 197)
Beer manor also became a smaller farm in the
earlier 18th century, losing much of its lands by
enfranchisement. (fn. 198)
The principal farming unit in the parish by the
early 18th century was Aller Court. The land attached to this property c. 1583 had comprised about
207 a. (fn. 199) and between 1706 and 1709 Sir Thomas
Wroth added a further 185 a. from Aller manor to
form an estate of nearly 400 a. (fn. 200) The Aclands further
augmented the farm and by 1799 owned 720 a.
in the parish, of which 596 a. were held with Aller
Court. (fn. 201) The gross annual value of the estate increased from £330 in c. 1766 (fn. 202) to £675 in 1806. (fn. 203)
The rent from the farm alone rose from £214 in
c. 1766, (fn. 204) to £660 in 1806, (fn. 205) and to £1,150 in 1817. (fn. 206)
By 1838 the extent of Aller Court had fallen to
362 a. and that of the estate to 465 a. (fn. 207) This diminution was probably due to the sale of isolated plots
which in 1755 had been leased on lives to 21
tenants. (fn. 208)
By 1838 (fn. 209) Beer farm was the second largest holding, comprising 275 a., followed by Chantry farm
with 180 a. There were two farms in the village
with lands of 174 a. and 167 a., but the other six
farms in the parish all had between 40 a. and 100 a.
of land. There was little regular pattern to the
ownership of the 'moor', much of it held in small
scattered closes as in the 16th century, the largest
group comprising 112 a. owned by the Trevillians
of Midelney. (fn. 210) The herbage of the droveways, in
1653 enjoyed by the occupiers of the 'moors', (fn. 211)
was let out by the vestry during the 19th century. (fn. 212)
The predominance of grassland in the parish has
continued, and in 1905 of 2,895 a. only 483½ a.
were cultivated as arable. (fn. 213) The creation of new
farming units has reduced the average acreage
attached to individual holdings and in 1939 there
were only four farms of more than 150 a. (fn. 214) Thus
Nightingale (formerly Beer) farm comprised only
130 a. in 1972, 94 a. having been taken to form Dairy
House farm. (fn. 215) In contrast the lands attached to
Aller Court were extended and totalled 437 a. in
1972. (fn. 216)
The only major change in the agrarian pattern of
the parish was the inclosure of the former open
fields and those 'moors' formerly beyond the parish
limits. In 1322 there were 106 a. of arable land on the
demesne of one moiety of the manor and 80 a. on
the demesne of the other. (fn. 217) A two-field system
was practised by 1552. (fn. 218) Customs recorded in 1653
imply that each field lay fallow every other year. (fn. 219)
Under an Act of 1797 the two fields, then including
280 a., were inclosed and allotted the following
year. (fn. 220) In c. 1577 Oath manor included 127 a. in
the two fields on Oath hill. (fn. 221) By 1642 the breach
of these fields traditionally belonged to the tenants
of Curry Rivel manor whose cattle were subsequently driven off once the crop of grass had
been eaten. (fn. 222) Oath fields were probably inclosed
privately shortly before 1820. (fn. 223) In the mid 17th
century the one arable field belonging to Beer
manor was breached by a land reeve appointed in
Aller manor court, who then took a prey or drive
through both it and Aller North field. (fn. 224) No reference
to its inclosure has been noted.
Meadow lands totalled 190 a. in 1322, all on the
demesne. (fn. 225) Only the Landmeads remained uninclosed by c. 1577, when they comprised 24 a. in
the North field and 23 a. in the East field, leased to
a number of individual tenants. (fn. 226) By the mid 17th
century these meadows were mown annually at
Lammas and thereafter were thrown open with
the arable fields for common grazing. (fn. 227) Efforts to
inclose them and so double their value were made
between 1614 and 1616, but were forcibly resisted
by the tenants. (fn. 228) In 1615 James Northover and
others, claiming ancient custom, broke down the
gates and hedges and put their cattle into the
meadows. (fn. 229) The steward suggested that the lord
should convert the copyholds to leaseholds, thus
extinguishing their common rights, 'and then
their custom will never be worth a button'. (fn. 230) The
Landmeads evidently remained open with the
arable fields until 1797. (fn. 231)
The inhabitants of Aller had common of pasture
in King's Sedgemoor by the early 17th century. (fn. 232)
Tenants of Beer manor paid 8d. and a pair of
gloves to the tithingman of Aller for their pasture
there. (fn. 233) When King's Sedgemoor was inclosed under
an Act of 1791 the parish was allotted 555 a. in
respect of 82 rights of common. (fn. 234) The tenants of
Aller manor had common pasture in Common moor
with Langport and Huish, (fn. 235) which was inclosed by
private agreement between the three parishes in
1797. (fn. 236) Aller was allotted nearly 24 a., subsequently
leased by the vestry with the droves. (fn. 237) The tenants
of Oath had common of pasture in West Sedgemoor
and Week moor in 1653, (fn. 238) although their enjoyment of the latter was regulated by Curry Rivel
manor court during the 17th century. (fn. 239) At the inclosure of Week moor in 1820 freeholders at Oath
received an allotment of 7 a. in return for 180 ft.
of wall maintenance along the southern bank of the
Parrett and the repair of Oath clyse. (fn. 240) When West
Sedgemoor was inclosed in 1822 the parish was
allotted 14 a. in respect of common rights exercised
by the inhabitants of Oath. (fn. 241)
The fishery of the Parrett and fowling within the
manor were leased by the lord of Aller manor in
1552, and were thereafter generally held with copyhold grants of withybeds lying between the Great
Wall and the Parrett. (fn. 242) Leases of the 16th and 17th
centuries invariably reserved ground birds and swans
for the lord. (fn. 243)
A shipmaster or mariner, mentioned in 1555 and
1559, (fn. 244) witnesses to trade along the Parrett with
Bridgwater and Langport, but the parish has always
been principally concerned with agrarian pursuits.
In 1821 72 families out of 85 were employed in
agriculture (fn. 245) and few earlier references to occupations unconnected with the land have been noted.
A road contractor and a machinist occurred in 1906,
and an insurance agent in 1910. (fn. 246) A milk factory had
been set up by 1926, as had tea-rooms by 1939. (fn. 247)
A small pottery had been established in the village
by 1972.
In 1322 the lords of Aller manor shared a horsemill worth 26s. 8d. (fn. 248) A mill which had ceased to
grind was mentioned in 1437. (fn. 249) A mill occurs in
c. 1583, (fn. 250) and in 1614 and 1623 two water-mills. (fn. 251)
The manor of Beer with Burgh also included two
mills between 1678 and 1691. (fn. 252) No mill sites in the
parish can be identified, but a close called Windmill Ground in Aller moor was mentioned in
1796. (fn. 253) Closes on the east bank of the Parrett south
of Callis Wall were known as Stathe Mill in 1838, (fn. 254)
and Thomas Baker owned and occupied Stathe
Mill in Aller from 1868 to 1884. (fn. 255)
Local Government.
Courts for the manors
of Aller and Oath were held jointly by the 16th
century, although Oath's presentments were made
by its own homage jury. Rolls survive for the years
1563, 1566, 1571–3, (fn. 256) 1576–7, (fn. 257) 1589–91, (fn. 258) 1632. (fn. 259)
The court was generally held twice, sometimes three
times, a year and was described principally as
curia manerii but very occasionally as curia baronis.
The chief business was the scouring of rhines, the
observance of grazing customs in the 'moors', and
the repair of clyses and buildings. Other concerns
included the maintenance of the river walls, grants
of timber for the repair of tenements, and the
ringing of pigs. A hayward, mentioned in 1338, (fn. 260)
was elected annually by the 16th century, with two
housewardens to report on dilapidations. A land
reeve, mentioned in 1653, breached Beer Court
field. (fn. 261)
Suit to the manor court of Beer with Burgh was
mentioned in 1548, (fn. 262) as was suit to Oath court baron
in 1743, after the separation of Oath manor from
Aller. (fn. 263) The owners of Aller Court were evidently
holding courts in respect of their property in the
early 18th century. (fn. 264)
Churchwardens and 'posts' are mentioned in
1554 (fn. 265) and lists of churchwardens and overseers
survive for the period 1719–50. These served for their
estates in rotation. (fn. 266) In 1750 it was agreed that four
permanent overseers should serve annually for
£1 10s. a year each. (fn. 267) By the mid 19th century the
vestry was appointing two overseers, with a salaried
assistant, two waywardens, two wall-wardens, an
expenditor for Sedgemoor (appointed from 1797),
and a molecatcher. (fn. 268) The two rate-collectors were
assisted by a salaried collector from 1858. (fn. 269)
In 1730 a cottage was leased by the parish, probably as a poorhouse. (fn. 270) In 1807 the poorhouse 'having
lately fallen down', a newly-built cottage on the
west of the lane leading to the church was purchased. (fn. 271) This was still in use in 1815. (fn. 272) The parish
joined the Langport poor-law union in 1836. (fn. 273)
Church.
The baptism of Guthrum, king of the
Danes, at Aller in 878 (fn. 274) is strong presumptive evidence for the existence of a church in the parish
at that date. Possession of a baptistry and the later
payments of church scot by the tenants of the
manor (fn. 275) suggest that in origin the church was a
minster, probably of royal foundation. A rector
was mentioned in c. 1200. (fn. 276) By 1325 the advowson
was held with the Clevedon moiety of Aller manor
and descended with that estate. (fn. 277) Margaret, countess
of Richmond and Derby, and Sir Reynold Bray
presented in 1497 after a grant of that presentation. (fn. 278)
In 1586 the patronage was conveyed by the lord
of Aller manor to Emmanuel College, Cambridge,
although the title to the advowson was in dispute
with the earls of Huntingdon in the early 17th
century. (fn. 279) The college continued to present until
1947. (fn. 280) The Crown presented in 1809 and 1954
and the bishop in 1958 and 1961, in all cases by
lapse. (fn. 281) The benefice was sequestered in 1969 and
was united with Langport in the following year.
The archdeacon of Wells became patron of the new
benefice. (fn. 282)
The church was valued at £13 6s. 8d. in 1291 (fn. 283)
and the first fruits were sold for £15 13s. 4d. a
year in 1329–30. (fn. 284) By 1535 the income had risen to
£36 14s. 10d., (fn. 285) and by c. 1668 to £120. (fn. 286) It was
estimated at about £300 in the late 18th century, (fn. 287)
and the net income in 1835 was £623. (fn. 288) The
predial tithes were worth £11 6s. in 1535 and the
personal tithes and oblations £21. (fn. 289) The great and
small tithes were commuted for £608 in 1838. (fn. 290)
The glebe was worth £5 in 1535. (fn. 291) In 1623 it
comprised 3 a. attached to the parsonage house,
25¾ a. of arable and 40 a. of meadow. (fn. 292) It amounted
to nearly 67 a. in 1838 (fn. 293) and was valued at £120
a year in 1840. (fn. 294) All but 4 a. was sold in 1920. (fn. 295)
There was no glebe in 1972. (fn. 296)
The parsonage house was in decay in 1554, (fn. 297)
and the rector was presented in 1606 for not sufficiently repairing it. (fn. 298) A dovecot was mentioned in
1783–5. (fn. 299) The house is set back from the west side of
Beer Road and is a predominantly stone building
of c. 1500. The main range was originally of two
storeys with the parlour and the principal chamber
at the north end. Projecting from the north-west
corner is a turret containing a stair and garderobes,
and at the north end of the east wall a short wing
containing a room on the ground floor which was
formerly connected to the parlour by an open stone
arch, and above it a chamber with timber-framed
walls. The central and southern parts of the house
were extensively altered in the 19th century but
presumably once contained the hall and service
rooms. The south-east block, which has been
largely rebuilt, may have been the original kitchen.
The house passed into private hands in 1957. (fn. 300)
Raher of Aller (rector c. 1200) and Matthew of
Clevedon (rector from 1330) were evidently both
related to lords of Aller manor. (fn. 301) During the later
15th and earlier 16th centuries the benefice was
served by a succession of distinguished clergy.
Thomas Mannyng (rector 1453–62), a noted
pluralist, was chaplain and secretary to Henry VI
and dean of St. George's Chapel, Windsor. (fn. 302) He was
attainted in 1461 and charged with holding the
rectory in plurality without sufficient dispensation. (fn. 303)
John Amersham (rector from 1475) was a monk
and former archdeacon and sacrist of Westminster
abbey. (fn. 304) Richard FitzJames (rector 1485–97), who
was warden of Merton College, Oxford, chaplain
to Edward IV and Henry VII, and held many other
preferments while at Aller, resigned to become
bishop successively of Rochester, Chichester, and
London. (fn. 305) His successor was Christopher Bainbridge (rector 1497–1506), who held a number of
appointments during his incumbency, including
that of Master of the Rolls, and later became bishop
of Durham and archbishop of York. (fn. 306) He was followed by William Hone (rector 1506–22), former
fellow of All Souls, Oxford, who held many other
livings in plurality, (fn. 307) and John Chamber (rector
1522–?49), warden of Merton College, Oxford, and
personal physician to Henry VII and Henry VIII. (fn. 308)
From 1609 until 1905 every incumbent presented
by Emmanuel College was a former fellow of that
house. (fn. 309) Walter Foster (rector 1633–c.1646, 1660–7),
a mathematician, remained in the parish after his
deprivation and replacement by John Moore (rector
c. 1646–60). (fn. 310) Foster served as parish clerk from
1646 (fn. 311) and as parish register from 1654, but was
replaced the following year 'having absented himself'. (fn. 312) He successfully petitioned for restoration in
1660 (fn. 313) and died in 1667 'in opposition to all popish
corruptions and fanatical enormities so rife now
amongst us'. (fn. 314)
The tenure of the benefice by nationally-known
figures in the 15th and 16th centuries suggests that
the living was probably served by assistant clergy.
Curates are mentioned regularly from 1528 until
1633 (fn. 315) although some rectors, such as William
Radberd (rector from 1556 at least until 1575) (fn. 316)
and Ralph Cudworth (rector 1609–24) (fn. 317) were
occasionally resident. 'I am seated', said Cudworth
in 1618, 'in a barren place where my neighbour
ministers either want skill and cannot, or have some
skill and will not, confer together about matters
of learning. If they chance to be questioned they
think they are posed'. (fn. 318) Curates recur during the
years 1716–18 (fn. 319) and 1782–1809, (fn. 320) but rectors appear
to have been generally resident during the 19th
century. (fn. 321)
A light founded within the parish church and
mentioned in 1548 was endowed with 10lb. of
wax or 5s. from the manor of Beer, then unpaid
for three years. (fn. 322)
In 1554 there was no altar stone, and the fortieth
part of the income had not been distributed to the
poor for four years. (fn. 323) The parish lacked the Paraphrases of Erasmus in 1568; (fn. 324) in 1612 Bishop
Jewell's Works were missing, prayers were not said
on Wednesdays or Fridays, and there had been no
perambulation. (fn. 325) Until after 1840 there was only
one service each Sunday, (fn. 326) but by 1851 there were
two, attended on Census Sunday by 30 in the morning and 60 in the afternoon, with 39 Sunday-school
pupils. (fn. 327) By 1870 Holy Communion was celebrated
monthly. (fn. 328)
A church or parish house, dilapidated in 1566, (fn. 329)
was held of the manor by copy for the use of the
lord's tenants in c. 1577. (fn. 330) It lay immediately east
of Chantry Farm on the north side of the street, and
its lands comprised the 2½ a. plot on which it stood
with 5¼ a. of arable in the open fields. (fn. 331) It was called
the town house in 1576, when the inhabitants of the
village were deemed liable for its repair, (fn. 332) and it was
last mentioned in 1591. (fn. 333)
The church of ST. ANDREW stands on the
'island' of Aller immediately east of the former
manor-house, Aller Court Farm. It is of lias ashlar
with some Ham stone dressings and has a chancel
with north vestry, nave with north aisle and north
and south porches, and west tower. The nave
probably retains its 12th-century dimensions,
although the only feature of this date is the south
doorway. (fn. 334) The earliest feature in the chancel is
a 13th-century window in the north wall. Considerable alterations would appear to have taken place
in the late 14th century when the south porch and
the tower were built (fn. 335) and new windows were put
into the east and south walls of the chancel. The
lowest stage of the tower is within the church and
is carried on open arches to the north, east, and
south. The diagonal buttresses are carried on to the
nave walls by short butting arches below the nave
roof. The west window and that on the south side
of the nave were both renewed in the 15th century.
The vestry, north porch, and aisle were erected
in 1861–2 when the rest of the church was restored. (fn. 336)
The north aisle is in a 13th-century style and is
connected to the nave by an arcade of three bays.
The chancel arch is in a similar style and was
probably enlarged or much restored at this time.
The roofs of both the nave and chancel also date
from 1861–2. (fn. 337)
There is a font with a 12th-century bowl at the
west end of the nave and an octagonal font dated
1663. The defaced effigy of a cross-legged knight,
dated 1270–80, may represent Sir John of Aller
(d. c. 1272). (fn. 338) In the north wall of the chancel there
is a cusped recess enclosing the effigy of a knight,
dated 1370–5, probably representing Sir John of
Clevedon (d. c. 1373). (fn. 339) The pulpit is dated 1610
and is notably elaborate for that date. The reredos
was designed by J. D. Sedding. (fn. 340)
The plate includes a cup and cover of 1630, a
plain paten on foot of 1710 by Richard Bayley, and
a pewter flagon. (fn. 341) There are three bells: (i) 1638,
Robert Austen (I); (ii) 1640, Robert Austen (II)
(recast 1883); (iii) 1663, Robert Austen (II) of
Compton Dundon. (fn. 342)
The registers date from 1561 and are complete. (fn. 343)
A hermitage housing two hermits at Oath was
mentioned in 1328. The vicar of Muchelney was to
serve as confessor to the occupants and to have a key
to the door for his visits. (fn. 344) John de Lorty left one
mark to the brothers of Oath in 1340, (fn. 345) and the
cell may be identified with a chapel there in need
of repair in 1373. (fn. 346) It stood in Oath East field (fn. 347)
and by 1559 was evidently no longer used for
worship. (fn. 348) The enclosure within which it formerly
stood, known as Chapel Hay c. 1665 (fn. 349) and Chapel
Orchard in 1838, lay towards the south-eastern
end of Oath hill. (fn. 350) Members of the Broadway
family of Oath were buried there between 1747 and
c. 1822. (fn. 351) No trace of the building now remains.
Nonconformity.
James Courtenay, lord of
the manor of Beer with Burgh, was recorded as
a recusant in the period 1591–1606, when he was
evidently resident in the parish. (fn. 352) Quakers were
resident in the parish between 1699 and 1705, the
parents of a child baptized in the latter year being
described as 'Quakers or heathens'. (fn. 353) A house was
registered for Dissenting meetings in 1816 (fn. 354) and
Independents worshipped at James Kiddle's house
from 1840. (fn. 355) Kiddle, a blacksmith, was evidently
persecuted for his beliefs and the publicity given to
his sufferings secured the aid of the Revd. A. Morris
of Holloway Chapel, London. Premises were purchased on the west side of Beer Road and converted
into the Holloway Chapel (named after its London
counterpart) in 1844. (fn. 356) The Congregational chapel in
use in 1972 was erected on a near-by site in 1886. (fn. 357)
On Census Sunday 1851 the evening congregation
numbered 80. (fn. 358) There were 140 sittings and a
Sunday school was attended by 30 in the morning
and 30 in the evening. (fn. 359) A string band was a feature
of the services in 1896. (fn. 360)
An Independent chapel at Oath, evidently part
of a private house, was opened in 1848, had 40
sittings, and was served from Holloway Chapel. (fn. 361)
Services were held only on week-day evenings, the
average congregation in 1851 being 30, with a bible
class of 13. (fn. 362)
Education.
There was no school in the parish
in 1818, (fn. 363) but by 1825–6 there was a Sunday school
attended by 70 children. (fn. 364) In 1834 a day-school was
erected by subscription on the south-east side of the
church path. (fn. 365) In 1972 this building was a dwellinghouse called Laurel Farm.
A National school containing two rooms was built
in 1871 on the east side of Beer Road, north of the
Cross Tree. (fn. 366) This was attended by about 60 pupils
in 1894 and supported chiefly by subscriptions. (fn. 367)
There were 66 children on the books in 1903, (fn. 368)
and the school was then described as 'distinctly
well managed and efficient'. (fn. 369) An evening continuation school was occasionally held there and the
rooms were used for all parish meetings and entertainments. (fn. 370) Numbers fell to 27 in 1914–15 and after
1925 only juniors were admitted. (fn. 371) In 1934–5 there
were 26 pupils and in 1944–5 nineteen. (fn. 372) The school
was closed in 1946 and the pupils transferred to
Huish Episcopi. (fn. 373)
Charities for the Poor.
Martha Bond by
will dated 1797 bequeathed the residue of her estate
equally between the parishes of Aller, Langport, and
Huish Episcopi, the income to be distributed to the
poor. (fn. 374) Land in Aller was purchased and the parish's
share of the profits amounted to £7 15s. in 1848. (fn. 375)
This was paid to poor persons selected by the churchwardens and overseers, who in 1871 used the charity
to provide blankets. (fn. 376) In 1964 £6 9s. 4d. was paid
out. (fn. 377)