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This digest is in the form of notes about each meeting of the Parish Council and about each Annual and Special Parish Meeting since the Council was formed in 1894. The notes give the date of each meeting and a serial number to each for future reference.


(POPULATION 1891 = 380)
All meetings held at the School - often described as “the schools” - unless otherwise stated

4/12/1894 First Parish Meeting 1 @ 1830-2030
Overseer: Alexander Dennett Taylor
Chairman: Weldon TJ Broughton
Elected: G Beagley
WB Davis
E Duddy
IW Hall
A Lock

44 electors present:
Arnold H
Atkins, William
Batchelor, Henry
Bayes, Mrs Martha
Beagley, George
Berry, Phillip
Berry, Thomas
Boulter, Edward
Brailsford, George
Broughton, Weldon TJ
Colwell, Mrs
Davis, William Bonnick
Duddy, Ernest
Finch, Arthur
Foster, Charles
Gasson, John
Gwellham, David
Hackett, William
Hall, John William
Hayes, Edmond
Hinton, George
Huff, William
Hurst, Edwin Francis
Lagton, Andrew
Lock, Arthur
Masters, Richard
Morley, John Charles Richard
Mose, James
Parsons, Rev FW
Pitcher, Frederic
Pyles, Samuel
Richards, David
Sawtelle, Frederick
Scott, John
Singleton, Frank
Sherwood, C
Skinner, Alfred
Smith, Benjamin
Speed, Luke
Standing, James
Standing, William
Taylor, Alexander Dennett
Tipping, Joseph
Young, Stephen

“The several candidates were previously questioned on several subjects, the principal being keeping the Village Green clear of stones and other obstructions; giving Relief to the poor in the village instead of their being compelled to go to Limpsfield for the same; admitting the ratepayers and the press to all meetings of the Parish Council and holding all such meetings in the evening”.

8/1/1895 First PC meeting 1 @ 1800
Chairman: Broughton (not a member)
Clerk: Alex D Taylor - acting and without remuneration.
Agreed to give Mrs Beagley 1/- per night for the supply of lights, oil etc. for the meeting.

19/3/1895 PC 2
Road refuse flints placed at the side of roads in dangerous places. Request to fence the chalkpit near the footpath from Rylands field and to replace stiles with swing gates. Leveson-Gower requested to replace stiles with swing gates on Tatsfield Court and Park Farms. Proposal to enclose the pond with posts and rails and to repair the footway from the Post Office to the cottages.

26/3/1895 PM 2 Annual Parish Meeting
No reply yet from Leveson - Gower after PC meeting. General discussion about appointing a Relieving Officer and a Registrar of Births and Deaths for Tatsfield, “but nothing definite arranged”.

16/4/1895 PC 3
Chairman: WTJ Broughton
Mr Parker of the London & County Bank, Westerham, to be Treasurer.
Further letter to Mr Winter re Rylands old chalk pit. Broughton and Beagley nominated for SCC Technical Education Committee.

16/5/1895 PC 4
No action to be taken re SCC rate being less than actual rateable value.

23/7/1895 PC 5
Second thoughts about Technical Education because of the costs - names to be withdrawn. Long discussion about DC plans for a water supply to replace rainwater tanks. State of Goddards well to be reported on. PC had met Mr Lemon of Westerham Hill Estate about rights of way, Swing gates and fencing around old chalk pit

24/9/1895 PC 6
Held chez Broughton (Goddards) - school not finished
Further complaint to Leveson - Gower about stiles.

9/1/1896 PC 7 (POPULATION 1896=390)
Long discussion on proposed plans and specification for the water supply.

25/2/1896 PC 8
Rateable value £1727 so decided against water supply - estimated cost £2000.

9/3/1896 PM 3
Elected:
Rev FW Parsons
Edward Howard Wilkins
IW Hall
WB Davis
S Pyle

24/3/1896 PC 9
32/- spent during the year. Population recorded as 390. Report on water scarcity.

17/4/1896 PC 10
Chairman: Wilkins
V/Chairman: Hall
Clerk: Taylor without remuneration
Balance in hand £12/6/9d.

26/6/1896 PC 11
Alteration of footpath to the Post Office across Westmore Green. DC to be asked to compel house owners to protect water tanks and provide sufficient supplies.

24/7/1896 PC 12
Indication of procedural problems with resolutions and letters. Water still a preoccupation. The provision of a telegraph service being investigated. (Letter from GPO page 243 in volume 1 of minutes.)

12/2/1897 PC 13
Half the guaranteed sum required for a telegraph service had been promised, but PC was reluctant to provide the rest. Sub-committee would try to raise funds. Proposal to set up committee re Famine in India - Mrs Parsons, Mrs Wilkins, Mrs Bayes, Miss Lock, Miss Harwood, Miss A Broughton, Mrs Scott to arrange collection for the Indian Famine Fund. Proposal to use Caterham PC’s Standing Orders.

12/3/1897 PC 14
£8 collected for the Indian Famine Fund. Whole of the guarantee had been obtained for a telegraph service. Standing Orders adopted.

18/3/1897 PM 4
Elected:
Arthur Denton
Arthur Henry Lock
Rev Frederick William Parsons
Samuel Pyle
Alexander Dennett Taylor
Question raised about FP across Northfield to Cudham. Question about lost letter re telegraph guarantee. Mr Hall seriously ill.

30/3/1897 PC 15
IW Hall died
Lock to replace until April. Queries over legality of votes at APM. “After many unpleasant things had been said” advice of Local Government Board to be sought.

15/4/1897 PC 16
Chairman: Wilkins
V/Chairman: Denton
Overseers: Lock & Taylor
No other details.

18/5/1897 PC 17
Request from SCC for bonfires on the night of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee - agreed to put one on Tatsfield Court Farm. Thanks to Broughton for offer of public land for a hall. Committee to meet on FPs at Ken Court on 24th May.

1/6/1897 PM 5
Called to discuss Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Streets offered Rylands Field for a bonfire. Broughton offered land for a public hall. Iron building referred to. PC should not take it over until completed. Dinner for old people: sports and teas for the children. Committee formed of PC + Scott, Winnifrith, Broughton, Davis, Colt and Fullager.

31/8/1897 PC 18
More on water supply.

9/12/1897 PM 6
Called to discuss water supply for Tatsfield. Details discussed of roof areas of all the houses in Tatsfield and their tank capacities.

4/2/1898 PC 19
Ewhurst PC proposed improved form of voting for PCs. SCC had written re regulation of gypsies - resolved that legislation needed urgently. Proposal for a second pond in the village. Further discussion of FPs. Concerns about encroachment on Tatsfield Green.
Feb 17 letter send to Mr Nightingale of Reigate re recently made road across the green from the main road to property in the occupation of Mr Milliner.

4/3/1898 PC 20
Flints on roadside and FP obstructions still causing concern.

14/3/1898 PM 7
Elected:
A Denton
Rev FW Parsons
WB Davis
Thomas Berry
AH Lock
A poll was demanded but the Chairman said the five had been duly elected and he had filled in the form to go to the Returning Officer. Discussion of water supply prospects.

15/4/1898 PC 21
Chairman: Wilkins
AD Taylor resigned as Clerk
J Mose elected Clerk.
Committee to discuss erecting notice boards. More pressure for water supply. Mention of light railway plans for Cudham. Letter send to Cudham PC favouring extension to Tatsfield.

11/5/1898 PC 22
Kent Water suggested a main along the Estate Road to its junction with the Cross Roads running up to Tatsfield Green and a stand post placed there. Plan for deputation to see Kent Water. Parishioners calling for allotments allowed to speak during the meeting. PC to approach Leveson - Gower to rent land for allotments.

2/6/1898 PC 23 - special meeting
Wilkins resigned as Chairman - leaving the parish.
Chairman: Parsons

4/7/1898 PC 24
Parish Meeting called to discuss allotments
Resolved to ask for meeting with Local Government Board re water supply
Possibility of obtaining water from Westerham Hill Estate
Encroachment on Tatsfield Green of road to Mr Milliner’s house

29/7/1898 PC 25
Mose resigned as clerk -succeeded by AD Taylor
Dangerous condition of Ship Hill brought to the attention of DC
Ratepayer requests for water supply and allotments

29/7/1898 PM 8
None of those who had asked for allotments were present, so the matter was dropped

17/8/1898 PC 26
Some time was passed in animated discussion as to length of water mains and number of stand pipes
Council resolved to accept the offer of the Westerham Hill Estate to provide a supply from their well to a main pipe abutting Church Hill. Two branches to be connected to end on Tatsfield Green and Westmore Green. DC to be informed. General purpose rate set at 1d

6/10/1898 PC 27
DC preparing estimate for water main - cost to be met by PC.
Concern about the cost of elections.
Committee formed to “get someone” to clean the pond on Westmore Green

10/11/1898 PC 28
Mr Field to clean the pond at a cost of 50/-. Westerham Hill Estate to lay on water main from their reservoir to Church Hill at a cost of £340. The PC would pay 10% a year less all services supplied to houses to be built on the Estate in Tatsfield Parish.

6/12/1898 PC 29
PC asked to approve railway plans. Letter sent to Dollman & Pritchard, solicitors for the Orpington, Cudham and Tatsfield Light Railway Company asking for level crossing at the school to be moved or done away with. PC asked for water plan to be deferred for a month.

2/2/1899 PC 30
DC’s water main plan disliked, especially in view of the fact that the projected railway is likely to cause a large and rapid increase in population and thereby render a more complete water supply necessary. Preference for committee to look into a local supply. DC to be told of objection to level crossing by the school.
Attention drawn to “Crusade of Peace”.
Further worries about the cost of elections.

6/3/1899 PM 9
Elected
Rev FW Parsons
A Denton
AH Lock
EF Hirst
Alex D Taylor

Water Committee formed
Rev Parsons resigning as DCllr - E Howard Wilkins a candidate
Resolved not to spend any money on the well at the Manor House until it had been cleaned by owner.

21/3/1899 PC 31
SCC asked to send 25 copies of leaflet on the prevention of consumption.
Paper from Board of Agriculture about anthrax.
Discussion deferred on payment for fires at the school during PC meetings.

22/4/1899 PM 10
Parsons chairman.
Parsons announced he wanted to call a special PM “to consider the best way of obtaining the necessary means of maintaining the present school or a Board School with its enforced taxation”.

22/6/1899 PC 32
Water had been taken from the Westmore Green pond and sold in containers to builders.

22/6/1899 PM 11
Fewer than 12 people attended this special meeting to discuss the school. Rev Parsons addressed the meeting on “the greatly increased expenses enforced by the Board of Education and stating that if the Voluntary Subscriptions were not kept up in all probability the extra aid grant will be reduced or taken away”. Agreed to maintain voluntary status.

15/8/1899 PC 33
Further postponement of consideration of mains water. Action on the taking of water from the pond to be left until the Chairman returned from holiday.

10/10/1899 PC 34
Technical progress on mains water supply made at this meeting. Committee report received and passed to District Council.
Editor of the Parish Council Journal to be asked for advice on the taking of water from the pond during recent drought.
Stile by the Ship in need of attention - letter sent to Nalder & Collyer. DC to be told that some roads were in a very rough state.
Agreed to pay the school managers for coal used at PC meetings. SCC asked for details of parish books - list to be sent.

9/1/1900 PC 35
PC doesn’t want more than 1/- in the pound to arise from mains water scheme. Woldingham Company also a possible supplier of water - previously only mention was of West Kent Water Company. Agreed to abandon idea of reservoir. Letters to go to Messrs. Morrison and Nightingale about taking water from the pond. Parish Councillors to continue in office until April 1901 - Local Government Board decision. Mr West has diverted FP on his land.

30/1/1900 PC 36
PC agree to Mr West’s FP diversion.
Mains supply from Tatsfield Rectory to Westmore Green with standpipes at Tatsfield Green and Westmore Green with a further extension to Ricketts Hill Road with a standpipe there would cost £1400. At 5.25% over 30 years this would mean £73/10/- p.a. - 9d in the pound.
Concern about the insanitary condition of some gypsies in the parish.

20/3/1900 PC 37
Date set for annual meeting.

28/3/1900 PM 12
No election until 1901.
Meeting told that water would come in 4” main from the pumping station of the West Kent company in the parish with four standpipes and a water cart and hose. Rate would be 1/- in the pound but the main would be the property of the parish.

10/4/1900 PC 38
Parsons chairman.
Denton resigns. GH West elected.
“Increase of the calls from the Union” had been £43.
Breakdown of water supply costs given.
State of the roads.
Further letters to go to Morrison and Nightingale about taking water from the pond.

8/5/1900 PC 39
FP obstruction. Action on pond dropped.

6/12/1900 PC 40
Concern about infant mortality.
Letter from District Council suggesting protest to the South Eastern Railway about the irregularity of their service.
Revision Court moving from Godstone to Oxted. SCC to be told of great inconvenience caused by moving County Court jurisdiction from Croydon to Reigate.
DC to be asked when they will finish altering and widening Ship Hill.
Agreed to let Mr Scott divert FP in Ninehams Road.

26/2/1901 PC 41 (POPULATION 1901 607)
South Eastern Railway to be asked when the line would be extended to Tatsfield.

4/3/1901 PM 13
Elected:
Mr Hayward
HE Batt
Parsons
AH Lock
Dr Sherrard
Main DC achievement of the past year had been to improve the gradient of Ship Hill by raising the valley by some 15 feet. Work would cost £200.
Pressure for DC meetings to be held at Oxted instead of Godstone.
Further opposition to mains water proposal.
Board of Trade and Traffic(?) Commissioners had not made the order for the railway. Cudham PC interested in joining Tatsfield in trying to force the pace.

26/3/1901 PC 42
Mere formalities - nothing of substance minuted.

15/4/1901 PC 43
Parsons Chairman.
Nothing of substance minuted.

9/5/1901 PC 44
12/6d cheque for election.
Joint Cudham/Tatsfield PC committee had been formed. Letters of
concern being sent about the delays and lost time over railway plans.
Petition received about diverted Fps.

27/6/1901 PC 45
PC should not have dealt with FP diversions - DC instead. Letter re Johns Road decision from DC.

3/10/1901 PC 46
Further exchanges on railway, FPs and query as to how long Ship Hill work would take.

30/1/1902 PC 47
Dr Sharrard had not attended for six months and could be disqualified.

25/2/1902 PC 48
Mr Batt had resigned - replaced by WB Davis.
FP diversions - Mr West’s land leading to Cudham.

4/3/1902 PC 49
Taylor resigns as clerk. WJ Adams appointed at 10/- per meeting.

25/3/1902 PM 14
Convened by six parishioners “to protest against the diversion of the footpath leading from Rickett’s Hill through Mr West’s land as per Parish Council Resolution dated 4th March 1902”. Failed.

1/4/1902 PM 15
Further discussion about Mr West’s FP.
Committee formed to decide how to mark the coronation of Edward VII.

15/4/1902 PC 50
Death of Mr Taylor - former clerk.
Parsons Chairman.
Mr Keeble complaining about state of Ricketts Hill Road leading to Polesteeple Hill.

19/4/1902 PC 51
Mr Fullager of Gorsey Down elected Assistant Overseer. JW Adams says he is therefore no longer Clerk.
Reported that state of Ricketts Hill Road due to mud.

2/5/1902 PM 16
Complaints about the way the Assistant Overseer was elected and about the £25 excessive salary. Protest motion carried.

12/6/1902 PC 52
Coronation notice received from SCC.
Illegal enclosure of a pond on Ricketts Hill alleged. Mr Adams formally ordered to hand parish books over to Mr Fullager. Further aftermath of FP diversion and Mr West.
Mr Hayward resigns and is replaced by Mr T Standing

11/11/1902 PC 53
Complaints about cyclists riding too fast outside the school.
Lord of the Manor asked not to allow roundabouts and swings on waste lands.
“The presence of a travelling company with Roundabouts, Swings etc. on Westmore Green Tatsfield has been the source of considerable annoyance to the respectable portion of the inhabitants. The matter having been brought before the Parish Council at the last meeting, I am directed to write and ask you if you will be as to kindly give instructions to the police, or someone authorised by you, to remove them should they again make their appearance on this or any other Green in Tatsfield”.

10/3/1903 PC 54
Further attempt to sort out Mr West’s FP. Further call for warning sign outside school against speeding by cyclists. Resolved to write to the President of the Board of Trade about the railway. Letter on page 244 of volume one of minutes. Orpington to Tatsfield light railway had been sanctioned by the Light Railway Commissioners (?) in the spring of 1899. Commissioners allowed only three years in which to complete construction. PC points out “great necessity” for the railway, so promoters should be told to go ahead or be replaced.

19/3/1903 PC 55
Mr West’s diversion approved.

30/3/1903 PM 17
List of those present.
Rev FW Parsons
AH Lock
GH West
WB Davis
T Standing
EP Fullager
EH Wilkins
Adams
Duddy
Cooper
Denton
J Standing
C Harris
Atkins
Lavercombe
Scott
Mitchell
Sutton
Lugton
Wooding
Milliner
Grantham
Russell
Young
Foster
Blake
Morton

Water supply question had become complicated. West Kent Water said they had no power to supply Surrey and that Surrey Water might object, despite the fact that water was coming from Surrey subsoil. This had happened just before deal was to have been signed. The DC had therefore opposed the parliamentary bill and had succeeded in getting a clause included compelling the company to supply Tatsfield if required. Scheme to cost £3000.
Further discussion on FP diversion and railway plans.
Complaint about money spent on cider in connection with the coronation.

16/4/1903 PM 18
Special meeting on water. Appears to have been an acrimonious meeting with allegations of misleading handbills claiming high rate increases - 2/6d in the pound. Motion carried saying proposed scheme an unnecessary burden and detrimental to the interests of the parish. Others spoke of stimulating house building - 2/6d a day was the going rate for workmen, it was now 5d an hour. PC condemned by resolution.

21/4/1903 PC 56
Parsons Chairman
No business of substance minuted.

17/6/1903 PM 19
Called to discuss water.
Issue of ownership of the main. Call for DCllr to resign.

7/7/1903 PC 57
Mr West’s FP diversion resolution of 19/3/1903 confirmed. Mr Suter blocking FP at the Breeches.

24/11/1903 PC 58
Mr Suter to be told to un-block or apply for diversion.
Complaint about indecent nuisances caused by the occupants of a caravan opposite Rawley’s house.
Letter to go to Messrs. Morrison and Nightingale about encroachment near Ropers Field at Tatsfield Green, recently sold by Mr Elliot to Mr White - (see p 246 of volume 1 of minutes).
Heavy rain had damaged Maesmaur Road to Ninehams Road FP.

3/3/1904 PC 59
Evening delivery of letters to be introduced. Sunday collection at 9.50 a.m. Morrison and Nightingale asked for more details of alleged encroachment. Parsons says he won’t stand again for the PC.

8/3/1904 PM 20
Candidates for election asked if they undertook to keep rates down, and by how much clerk’s salary should rise.
Motion carried censoring outgoing PC for inaction on roads. Village Green ought to be better protected.

Elected:
GH West
Arthur Denton
Ernest Duddy
Arthur Henry Lock
Thomas Vincent

6/4/1904 PC 60
Largely about appointments to School Board.

21/4/1904 PC 61
Denton Chairman
Query with Lord of the Manor re PC rights over Westmore Green.
PC to tell Orpington & Tatsfield Light Railway of opposition to extension of time limit.

12/7/1904 PC 62
Call for guard posts and rails to protect the green arising from Mr Nightingale’s alleged incursion.
Reply received re railway.
Proposal for street lighting.

5/8/1904 PC 63
PC seeking advice on powers to protect the greens.
Complaint about the state of the entrance to Ninehams Road.
Fullager leaving the parish. Advertisement to be placed in Westerham Herald and Surrey Mirror for clerk at £25 pa

8/9/1904 PC 64
12 applicants for Clerk’s post. Mr Staley appointed.
Call for sign post at the corner of Ship Hill.

20/10/1904 PC 65
Petition for allotments from:

Arthur Davis
H Streets
H Shrubb
Mr J Martin
James Stammers
Ben Smith
Arthur Tapsell
Charles Noel
John Cooper
James Honey
J Bell Styles
AA Preston
R Kately
M Martin
Charles Gray
Edward Streets
Joshua Millens
James Standing
W Rushen
J Smith
M Edwards

20/12/1904 PC 66
Allotments petition discussed.
Dangerous state of FPs from Church Hill to Croydon Road and on Westmore Green. Condition of White Lane.
Letter going to Mr Vincent re dangerous state of stiles on path from Paynesfield Road into Ninehams Road and to Mr Streets re stile on farther side of the old cricket field.
Move to set up committee of PCs on railway. Mr C Field’s drain flowing onto Emily Road.

29/12/1904 PC 67 (adjourned from 20/12/1904)
Further effort to resolve matter of encroachment and Mr Nightingale.
Formal application to be made to Leveson Gower re 4 acres for allotments.

19/1/1905 PC 68
Further exchange with Nightingale and Morrison.
No progress on allotments.
Farnborough interested in railway committee.
DC to be asked again about repairs to FPs. (Work on Westmore Green had been done five years earlier).
Metropolitan Water Board had written to DC asking for 10% guarantee on water scheme.

16/2/1905 PM 21
Called to discuss how to meet Board for Education’s demand for extra provision. Resolved to maintain voluntary status for school.

16/3/1905 PC 69
Continued discussion about DC’s responsibility for Westmore Green FPs. DC had fenced the pond.
Continued discontent about water supply plans.
Allotment discussion involves Nightingale and Morrison.
Leveson Gower agreeable to PC taking over control of the greens, but scheme would have to be approved by the Board of Agriculture via the DC. Agreed to apply.
With more than 100 ratepayers, Tatsfield was entitled to a polling station since there wasn’t one within 4 miles.

23/3/1905 PM 22
Application for allotments had been made.
Negotiations with Leveson Gower on control of greens in view of possibilities for the development of Tatsfield were successful. Whitehall approval awaited.
Call to put Emily Road and Paynesfield Road “in a proper state”.
Signpost on Tatsfield Green was tangible results of efforts with DC.
Vote in favour of lighting scheme.
Discussion of FPs and water.
£150 needed from voluntary subscription for school or to raise £600 - £750 through a loan repayable from the rates. School inspectors had reported that it was a matter of regret that some children could not stay on at school because of the lack of suitable facilities.

“The managers are requested to state what steps they propose to take to make the school accommodation more suitable to the number and classification of the children in attendance. It is a matter of regret that so many of the children in the lower classes by reason of their age will be unable to reach the higher classes in the school. Order is well maintained and there is some improvement in the more mechanical part of the work. This, however, is less apparent in the higher classes than in other sections of the school. It is hoped that this improvement will be maintained and also that more attention will given to the encouragement of individual effort and to practical application in the work generally and to arithmetic in particular. Infants: The Infants Class numbering 46 on the roll has been in the hands of an unqualified teacher since the commencement of the present term, who has no previous training in teaching whatever; the work must inevitably suffer. This condition of things must be altered as far as possible, or the grant will be endangered”.

20/4/1905 PC 70
Denton Chairman
Meeting fixed with Leveson Gower to discuss allotments.
Mr Streets to be written to re stile at old cricket ground.

16/5/1905 PC 71
Special meeting to discuss allotments.
2 acres asked for.

13/6/1905 PC 72
Special meeting to discuss allotment plan, FPs, diversion at the Breeches, old cricket ground stile.

11/7/1905 PC 73
Special meeting to discuss signing allotment deal and proposed lighting.

20/7/1905 PC 74
Special meeting to discuss allotment regulations and lighting plans.
Call for Rag Hill to be improved in the same way as Ship Hill had.
Attempt to establish that DC had been responsible for Paynesfield Road.

5/10/1905 PC 75
100 copies of forms and regulations for allotments to be obtained.
Proposal for street lights at:
1. First sharp bend in the road from the church to the village near footpath to Westmore Green.
2. Opposite junction of roads by schools.
3. Between school and Goddards.
4. At the foot of Ship Hill.
5. Paynesfield Road at cross-ways beyond Post Office.
6. Top of Goatsfield Road at cross roads.

19/10/1905 PC 76
Fencing of allotment area to start.
The Breeches FP issue settled.

19/10/1905 PM 23
Called to raise £33 for lights etc.

25/10/1905 PC 77
More on details of allotments. Lighting scheme approved.

7/12/1905 PC 78
Death of Cllr Lock announced.
Still no allotment fencing.
Lighting goes ahead.
Barbed wire in Johns Road.

19/12/1905 PC 79
J Brown elected to succeed Cllr Lock
DC about to sign water deal with MWB

19/12/1905 PM 24
To discuss control of Westmore Green and Tatsfield Green.
Concern over PC’s decision to manage the greens and the expense incurred. Resolved to regret the PC’s action. DCllr said it was important that open spaces in and about London should be preserved for the use of the people. When the Lord of the Manor had been approached, it was found that 2 acres of the greens had been fenced off and that no-one except the Lord of the Manor and the Commoners could do anything about it. Under the proposed scheme, people would have a right of free access to every part of the commons and a privilege of playing games, subject to the Bylaws. It was intended to regulate carts and horses but not to exclude sheep and cattle only to provide properly for them.

25/1/1906 PC 80
Discussion of rate basis, polling station and allotment regulations.

6/3/1906 PC 81
Local Government Board and SCC not satisfied that 100 electors had to travel more than three miles to a polling station. PC to write again.
Notices to be served under the Barbed Wire Act.
Allotments now ready for occupation.

29/3/1906 PM 25
Allotments, greens, lighting and water supply. Latest report on the school had been favourable.

20/4/1906 PC 82
Denton Chairman
Three allotments applied for. Maps of water mains to be posted in village. Resolved to ask DC to go ahead with greens scheme.

6/9/1906 PC 83
Clerk asked for salary increase - approved £5.
Allotment crops damaged by cattle - fencing to be improved.
Further call for polling station
Lamps to be provided at:
1. Bottom of Church Hill
2. Corner of Westmore Green near the White House
3. Croydon Road (if in parish)
Call for RoW map.

27/9/1906 PC 84
Oil and wicks for street lights - 2/= per lamp per week - Mr French.
“In some places the roads had been left in a dangerous state consequent upon the laying of the new water mains”.

3/10/1906 PM 26
To discuss greens regulations.
Petition had been sent to the Board of Agriculture as the result of a previous parish meeting which had opposed the scheme. Board had suggested fresh meeting. Mr Chubb, Secretary of the Footpaths Preservation Society, was present. He told the meeting of 500 cases in the previous 12 months of common rights being removed. “Referring to the offer of Mr C Leveson Gower to hand the greens over to the inhabitants, the speaker said he wished other Lords of the Manor were as public spirited. If the scheme went through their green would endure for ever as open spaces.........the only cost to the people would be the £10 legal expenses. The cost of maintenance of the green would be borne by the Rural District Council”. Scheme approved.

18/10/1906 PC 85
Social gathering to be arranged between allotment holders and Garden Society.
Clerk to write to Mr Streets about ploughing up of FP across the old church field.

8/1/1907 PC 86
Mr J Scott, the Woodlands, Ricketts Hill complains about the state of 200 yards of Ricketts Hill Road.
DC asked to communicate again with the contractors laying the new water mains about the state of Old Lane.
Mr French criticised for the way lighting was being installed and asked to give up. Mr Neale to take over.

21/2/1907 PC 87
Lighting, allotments and footpaths discussed. (Deviation of FP from Rag Hill across the Hill Park Estate to Westerham.

4/3/1907 PM 27
Elected:
W Potter
GH West
J Brown
T Vincent W Tasker
Denton withdrew to avoid a poll after a tie between Vincent and Tasker.
Resolved to bring to the notice of the DC “the dangerous condition that the estate roads have been left in by the contractors who laid the water pipes. In its present condition it is a danger to the public and detrimental to the letting of property”.

16/4/1907 PC 88
Denton Chairman
Attempt to get lighting financed by voluntary subscription.
Further complaint about road after pipe laying.
Question raised as to whether Tatsfield needed a pound for stray cattle.
Ricketts Hill Road to be improved.
Dangerous stile in the park opposite Ship Hill.

18/6/1907 PC 89
Further discussion on financing of lighting.
More thoughts on parish pound.
Park meadow stile being repaired.
Gate on Tatsfield to Titsey FP closed at Coldharbour Beeches.
Move to reduce age limit on allotment tenants from 21.
Four smallholdings in parish.

30/7/1907 PC 90
Allotment swapping needed PC approval.
Inconclusive discussion on lighting, including remark that lighting was of benefit to strangers, not villagers.
Coldharbour Beeches FP gate would not be locked.
Request for each PC to encourage rifle clubs. Idea welcomed.

16/10/1907 PC 91
Lighting to come before next Parish Meeting.
Rifle Club proceeding without PC money.
DC said PC had no power to make a pound, but DC could apply for urban powers. No further action.
Ricketts Hill Road still in a bad state.
Some strips of land next to private property had not been included in greens scheme.

16/1/1908 PC 92
Some allotments wrongly measured.
Parish Meeting called to discuss smallholdings.
Road from Westmore Green to Croydon Road in bad state.

4/3/1908 PC 93
Clerk resigns.
Mr Honey wants to build shed on his allotment - agreed. Applications for allotments from: HLG Streets, J Crane, W Smith and W Standing.

16/3/1908 PC 94
Mr Scott appointed to succeed R Staley as clerk/asst overseer.
Application received for a new road across the north side of Tatsfield Green.

30/6/1908 PM 28
Called to discuss demand for smallholdings.
Board of Agriculture and SCC asked to support “the Tatsfield Land Club in its co-operative work and also to get suitable people started on the land by the provision in .... cases of money for the purchase of manure, seeds etc. and that both authorities be asked to co-operate with the Land Club Union in promoting the return of the people to the land and the survival of country life”.

END OF VOLUME ONE

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