TAUNTON : ITS HISTORY AND MARKET TRUST. By George H.
Kite and IL P. Palmer. (Taunton. E. Goodman and Son. Price not stated.)-This little book will be of interest not merely to Somerset folk but also to students of municipal history. It is well known that in the eighteenth century many towns obtained statutory powers for commissions or rusts to supply certain services which the old borough authorities could not supply. Manchester, for example, was governed by a court lcet till 1838, but it had long had police commissioners under a special Act to perform some of the duties of a municipality. As a rule, these commissions or trusts lapsed when towns obtained charters. Taunton is a curious exception. Its Market Trust was constituted in 1766 to look after markets, public health and lighting. The corporation then in existence did nothing and perished of inanition in 1792, leaving the Market Trust to govern the towns The Trust raised its income mainly from market tolls ; it had no power to levy a rate. Yet it ruled well for half a century and transformed the centre of Taunton by judicious rebuilding. A Board of Health, set up in 1849, gradually assumed responsibility for street lighting, drainage and water. Then in 1877 the town obtained a new charter, with a mayor and corporation. But the Market Trust survived all these changes and did not transfer its rights and duties to the Town Council till October last. There may be similar survivals in a few other places but we do not know of any. Mr. Kite, who as Town Clerk of Taunton, and as a Trustee had an intimate knowledge of this curious dual government, and his colleague have done well to place the facts on record in their interesting book.
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