BAILIFFS OF WITNEY

The office of Bailiff dates back to medieval times and is associated with both the manorial and borough courts of Witney. By the 19th century the duties of the Bailiffs were greatly reduced but still included suppression of nuisances, transportation of prisoners to Oxford, hosting an annual dinner, upkeep of the town hall and Butter Cross and helping in the administration of the town's charties. The office ceased with the extinction of the borough court moot in 1926 and the bailiffs' remaining functions were taken over by the parish and urban district council. For more information about the Bailiffs see The Victoria County History of Oxfordshire Vol 14 (Bampton Hundred (Part Two)) pp. 111-130. For further records of the bailiffs see catalogues Witney TC and Witney St Mary's parish charities (PAR294/13) and court books (PAR294/17/L).