A CEREMONY dating back to Saxon times was re-enacted in Watchet last Thursday (October 25) when the town’s court leet held its annual meeting and traditional goose dinner at the Bell Inn.

First recorded in 1273, the court was for centuries responsible for Watchet’s administration and law and order.

It is now a ceremonial body which meets annually on the last Thursday in October to appoint the town crier and other officers and carry out ale tastings in the town’s pubs.

Jurors were called to the meeting by the court bailiff, Nigel Swinburne, with a summons reading: “I warn you to appear at the court leet with view of frankpledge of the Wyndham family, to serve our sovereign lady the Queen and the lord of the said leet, and herein fail not at your peril.”

Earlier, the court’s common bellman - town crier David Milton - toured the town reminding each juror to attend. At noon he called the meeting to order, and the court president Richard Wedgewood, representing the Wyndham Estate, opened the proceedings.

The court bailiff reported that it was the intention to re-instate the court leet constables and the foreman of the jury, this year Jim Nicholas, and other jurors, were sworn in.

Entries from the court leet minute book of 100 years ago were read, and the common bellman gave a report of events in and around Watchet during the last 12 months.

Jurors raised local current issues for discussion and the foreman presented the trustees of the Wyndham Estate ” to do the Office of Portreeve for the year ensuing by virtue of their ownership of Hoopers Land no 12 on the Portreeve List”.

Appointments for the year were: Bailiff and deputy portreeve Nigel Swinburne, deputy bailiff and recorder Dudley Binding, ale tasters Mark Bale and Hugh Amery, inspector of weights and measures Ian White and John Stone, stock driver Bob Hornby, pig driver Roger Wedlake, scavengers Malcolm Bale and Robert Dibble, bellman David Milton, and court leet constables Nick Tapp and Mike Champion.

The court was followed by the traditional goose dinner and a glass of special recipe punch. The president proposed the loyal toast, and the foreman proposed the toast to the Wyndham family, to which the president replied.