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Government

Church of England

Until very recently the parish was governed by the Church of England represented by the Wardens of the church of St Peter situated in Church Street. Also there evolved a parallel system of elected Overseers, Constables and Auditors.

Church Wardens, Overseers, Constables and Auditors

The Church Wardens were wealthy landowners and ran the parish under the church's authority. They also picked the village constable to carry out their orders. The constables position was not one much sought after. The monies to run the parish were obtained by levying a rate on cattle, pigs, sheep, etc.

Also appointed were Overseers for the roads and the poor. One of each was elected from the Upper and Lower towns. They spent the rates raised and were checked by the local auditors, usually local men of high standing. After the enclosure of 1766 the Overseers had a Pinfold made up in Manchester Lane where stray beasts were impounded. Farmers had to pay fixed sums to reclaim them.

The Overseers were also responsible for the Watch and Ward system of a watchman patrolling the houses at night. He also called out the time - this system was stopped in 1785.

Rural District Council

In the 1880's a Rural District Council of Hartshorne and Seales (Overseal, Netherseale) was formed, this was then turned into the Repton Rural Council which in the 1970's amalgamated with Swadlincote Urban Council and parts of South East Derbyshire Rural Council.

The parish had shares in the Ashby workhouse and sent old, poor or sick to this venue. Also the Hartshorne and Seales Council constructed a clean water system using the Lime House dams and a small water treatment works in Manchester Lane. This supplied Hartshorne village and some farms.

Parish Council

In 1984 the government of the day ordained that as part of a new structure or County Council, District Council and Parish Councils, Hartshorne had a Parish Council created.

This initially had 9 members but as the parish population had increased it was made up to 15 members.

The first electric street lamp was paid for by the Parish Council in 1937 and erected in Main street. The main street recreation ground was given to the parish in 1935 by the local Miners Union.. Due to a large post-war (1939-45) housing programme large estates were built at Goseley and Lower Midway.

Present day

The Parish Council runs recreation grounds on both estates and also meets on them as well as in the village. For further details of the present day activities of the Parish Council see 'Organisations/Parish Council'.

Source: Mr Alan E Sherratt, Hartshorne - An Historical Collection, p 9

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