Tiverton Corporation
Tiverton Corporation, also known as the Corporation of Tiverton, was the historic governing body of the town of Tiverton in Devon, England. It operated under a series of royal charters and was responsible for local government, justice, and administration until its reformation under the Municipal Corporations Act 1835.[1]
History
Tiverton’s borough status dates back to medieval times, but it was formally incorporated by a charter from King James I in 1615. This charter established a civic structure including a mayor, twelve aldermen, and a group of common councillors.[1][2]
Over time, the Corporation assumed many responsibilities, such as regulating the wool trade, maintaining law and order, administering poor relief, and managing markets, fairs, and public infrastructure.[1]
Governance
The Corporation was often operated by dominate powerful families. The mayor, elected annually by the aldermen, presided over borough courts and served as returning officer for parliamentary elections.[1][3]
The Tiverton Corporation maintained close ties with national political figures, most notably the Ryder family, later ennobled as the Earls of Harrowby. Sir Dudley Ryder secured a seat in Tiverton in 1734, and his family maintained a political interest in the borough until the Reform Act of 1832.[4]
Nathaniel Ryder represented Tiverton until 1776 before being raised to the peerage. His son, Dudley Ryder (later 1st Earl of Harrowby), was MP for Tiverton from 1784.[5]
By 1795, the Ryder family controlled both of Tiverton’s parliamentary seats. Dudley and his brother Richard Ryder (a future Home Secretary) were elected.[6] The family's influence extended to local governance: Dudley Ryder served as Tiverton's Recorder, and correspondence with town clerk Beavis Wood reveals close coordination on civic and political matters.[1]
Economic and Social Role
During the 17th and 18th centuries, Tiverton flourished as a centre for the woollen cloth industry. The Corporation regulated trade, apprenticeships, and civic infrastructure such as roads, markets, and schools.[1][7]
It also managed charitable institutions, including Blundell's School.[1]
Reform and Dissolution
By the early 19th century, the Corporation was criticised as unrepresentative and self-selecting. Parliamentary debate in 1835 alleged patronage and corruption.[3] The Municipal Corporations Act 1835 abolished the Corporation and replaced it with an elected borough council.[1]
Mayors of Tiverton (1767–1800)
Note: The mayoral term began and ended in late August.[1]
Notable figures include:
- Benjamin Dickinson – Suppressed 1770 weaving unrest[1]
- Rev. John Pitman – Led famine relief in 1800[1]
| Year | Name |
|---|---|
| 1767 | William Gorton |
| 1768 | John Tucker |
| 1769 | Benjamin Dickinson |
| 1770 | John Besly |
| 1771 | John Davey |
| 1772 | William Martin |
| 1773 | Thomas Hodge |
| 1774 | William Lewis |
| 1775 | William Martin |
| 1776 | John Owens |
| 1777 | Henry Osmond |
| 1778 | John Tucker |
| 1779 | William Tucker |
| 1780 | John Govett |
| 1781 | John Davey |
| 1782 | Benjamin Dickinson |
| 1783 | John Besly |
| 1784 | John Webber |
| 1785 | Thomas Enchmarch |
| 1786 | Henry Dunsford |
| 1787 | Beavis Wood |
| 1788 | Henry Osmond |
| 1789 | John Davey |
| 1790 | Henry Peard Osmond |
| 1791 | John Besly |
| 1792 | William Tucker |
| 1793 | Richard Enchmarch |
| 1794 | William Walker |
| 1795 | William Lewis |
| 1796 | William Jenkins |
| 1797 | George Cruwys |
| 1798 | William Besly |
| 1799 | John Burridge Cholwich |
| 1800 | John Pitman |
Legacy
Although abolished in 1835, the Corporation left a legacy in local governance traditions, educational institutions, and surviving historical records.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Bourne, John (1986). Georgian Tiverton: The Political Memoranda of Beavis Wood, 1768–1798. Tiverton Museum of Mid Devon Life.
- ^ "Tiverton". British History Online. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
- ^ a b "Tiverton Corporation". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Commons. 29 June 1835.
- ^ "Ryder, Dudley". Oxford Companion to British History. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
- ^ "Ryder, Dudley (1762–1847)". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
- ^ "Tiverton". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
- ^ "Tiverton Timeline". Telling Our Stories – Devon. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
Further reading
- Harding, W. (1847). The History of Tiverton. Vol. 2. London: J.C. Hotten.
- Thorne, R., ed. (1986). The History of Parliament: The House of Commons 1790–1820. Secker & Warburg.