Page:History of the Fylde of Lancashire (IA historyoffyldeof00portiala).pdf/390



22 Aprill 1707.

"Every person that shall carry away any fire thro' the street to cover the same close on penalty of 10s.

April 1713.

"No person to water any sort of cattle at the bucket belonging to the town well nor wash any skins at the trough."

10 May 1715.

"We find Charles Hardy for harbouring and lodging of vagrants and beggars in this town in 13s. 4d."

22 May 1726.

"Mem. That the town of Kirkham was summonsed from house to house and the inhabitants unanimously agreed to the setting up of a workhouse."

30 Nov. 1728.

"Ordered that a lamp should be fixed up in the middle of the borough of Kirkham in some convenient place, and that the charge of it together with oyl necessary for it be paid out of the town's stock."

"All persons refusing to clean or cow (rake) the streets opposite their respective houses to be fined 6d. after notice from the serjeant with his bell."

The official notice concerning the last resolution is still preserved, and ran as under:—

"To the Inhabitants of the Burrough of Kirkham.

"You are hereby required forthwith to cleanse the Streets over against your Dwelling Houses, Outhouses, and all other Buildings, together with all Front-*steads whatsoever, on Penalty of Sixpence for each default.

"You have also hereby notice to remove all the Dung-hills out of the Streets in a month's time or otherwise they will be removed for the use of the Burrough.

"Likewise all the Rubbish out of the Streets on such Penalties as the Bayliffs and Common Council shall think fit to inflict. Given under our Common Seal of the Towne this first Day of December, 1728."

At a later period the burgesses neglected to choose and appoint bailiffs for many years, or to use their privileges; and apprehensive at length that such remissions were tantamount to a forfeiture of their charter by their own act, they determined to take legal advice as to the most expeditious way to resume their powers. It was given as follows:—

"If any of those acting Burgesses are alive I would advise them to assemble at their former Gild or usual Place of meeting, and then and there choose other Burgesses, after which they may elect from among them Two Bailiffs and make an entry of such choice in one of the Old Books, and then proceed as formerly to act in their corporate capacity; and let their first Punishment be inflicted on some person unlikely to dispute their authority, for instance a woman drunkard may be set in the stocks.

"Having done as above directed they may for the better Government of the town make some Byelaws, and enter them ffair into a Book to be kept for that purpose, but let none of these new Laws be put in Execution till they are con