Every year the people of
Yalding elected village officials. Nearly all these posts were given
to the people who rented the most land. In most villages women were
not allowed to become village officials. However, in some villages,
women were elected to these posts. If the village officials did not
do a very good job they were fined by the Manor Court.
Estate
Bailiff: The chief representative of Hugh de Audley in
Yalding.
Reeve:
The officer responsible for the general management of the village.
The reeve works under the estate bailiff and is responsible for making
sure the serfs do their labour service on the lord's demesne.
Messor:
The officer who supervises the work in the fields.
Hayward:
The officer responsible for the hay fields.
Woodward:
The officer responsible for the 16 acres of woodland in Yalding.
Affeeror:
The officer responsible for making sure that people pay the fines
imposed by the Manor Court.
Ale
Conner: The officer responsible for controlling the sale
of ale. Only people with a licence granted by the Manor Court can
sell ale in Yalding.
Pinder:
The officer responsible for rounding up stray animals and putting
them in the pinfold.
Tithing
Leader: The head of one of the peace-keeping groups in
the village.
Beadle:
The officer responsible for maintaining law and order in the village.
1. Look at Yalding
Officials. Fill in details in your Family
Information Chart (section
6) of any official duties that you have in Yalding.
2. Select one of the official
jobs that you would have liked to have done. Explain why you
have selected this job.
3. Sometimes people refused
to accept the official post given to them by the Manor
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