Rusper: Local government

LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

Much of the parish lay within the jurisdiction of manors outside it. (fn. 1) A court for the tenants of Rusper priory was mentioned in 1535. (fn. 2)

Two churchwardens were recorded in 1548 and 1553 and in most years after 1560. (fn. 3) Two or four overseers and two or four surveyors of highways were recorded from 1676. (fn. 4)

In 1640 the usual method of rating was said to be by land scot. (fn. 5) Almshouses for the use of the poor were mentioned in 1729 (fn. 6) and 1757, (fn. 7) apparently the same building as the one at Friday Street rented by the parish in 1764 for the same purpose. (fn. 8) Between the mid 18th century and 1835 methods of poor relief included the payment of weekly doles or of rent and the provision of clothing, medical care, and fuel. (fn. 9) The poorhouse continued in use in 1818-19 when there were on average 20 inmates; (fn. 10) by then, however, it had perhaps already moved to the site south of the village where the parish almshouses, so called, stood c. 1840. (fn. 11) In December 1830 the poorhouse had 12 inmates, all under 17 or over 64. (fn. 12) In 1831 the vestry adopted the roundsman system of relief. (fn. 13) The possibility of assisting emigration to North America was being discussed in 1832. (fn. 14)

Rusper joined Horsham union in 1835, (fn. 15) and in 1974 was transferred from Horsham rural district to Horsham district. In the later 19th century a leading part in parish affairs was played by G. C. Knight of Baldhorns Park (fl. c. 1865-1907), who besides being churchwarden and a guardian was also a rural district councillor and chairman of the parish council and of the school board. (fn. 16)