An Early History of Colaton Raleigh Parish Council
Like all Parish Councils, it came into being as a result of the Local Government Act of 1894, which required any parish over 300 persons to have one. this swept away the historic role of Vestries that went back virtually to time immemorial and which oversaw the general well-being of parishes, including road maintenance.
In more specific terms, however, before a formal council could exist a Village Meeting had to be called.
In our case it took place on 4th December 1894 to elect a Chairman for the Meeting and subsequently 8 councillors. Francis Tilke of Drupe Farm was elected Chairman and 16 persons stood for the eight councillor seats, of whom the following were duly elected:
Francis Pyle, William Ellis Bolt, William Pile, Thomas Sellek, John Sellek Jnr., James Hellier, John Teed and Walter Pidgeon.
Francis Pyle was also proposed for the position of District Councillor and being without opposition, he was adopted as a Candidate for the Office.
A further six ordinary meetings took place in 1895 with Francis Tilke as Chairman, at the last of which (Dcember) he resigned having seen the first year up and running.
It should be noted that in these early days neither the Chairman, nor Treasurer needed to be councillors. In passing, the Clerk's salary was £16 per year.
The first 'proper' Annual Parish Meeting took place on 1st April 1895 with Francis Pyle as Chairman but as the 'December councillors' held office until 1896 'there was no particular business to transact'.
Thereafter there were elections in 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899 and 1901 by which date nominations had dropped to eight.
There was a reference to a meeting in 1902 and in 1903 a meeting was called but 'noone attended at the proper time, except the Clerk'.
Matters returned to normal in 1904 when 8 persons put themseleves forward and were duly elected. however in 1905 and 1906 the same happened as in 1903!
Such was the start of our council!
Christopher Pound - May 2017.