Holyhead Vestry Books

Material consists of Holyhead parish vestry books, dated 10 June 1816 to 4 May 1831 (item number 6459), and 21 September 1849 to 31 March 1881 (item number 6460). Entries document the wide range of business carried out by Holyhead parish such as its management of schools, burial grounds, sanitation and public health concerns, appointment of a select vestry and various parish officers including overseers of the poor, constables and churchwardens. There are also entries relating to its role in the maintenance of the poor of the parish including the vestry's dealings with paupers and overseers of the poor, administration of poor houses and overseers accounts and collection of the poor rate. One entry also documents a general meeting held by parishioners in 1829 to consider sending a petition to the king and parliament against granting concessions to Roman Catholics.

Holyhead parish vestry was an important instrument of local government in the nineteenth century, particularly the specially chosen group of parishioners known as the "select vestry". This group, which managed parish affairs, had responsibility for ecclesiastical matters and for certain areas of civil government which included dealing with the poor of the parish, law and order issues, public health, highways and education. Vestry powers included collection and allocation of rates and appointment of parish officials such as overseers of the poor, constables, surveyors of highways and churchwardens. In 1894 parish government was reconstructed leaving vestries with limited powers such as the election of churchwardens and administration of charities.

Material is arranged in chronological order and incorporated into the General Collection of Bangor Manuscripts .

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Description compiled by Anne Lenaghan, November 2001

Item level word-processed list is available at the Archives Department of the University of Wales, Bangor. Reference numbers: General Collection of Bangor Manuscripts: 6459-6460

Usual copyright conditions apply. Reprographics are made at the discretion of the Archivist.