was in 1822, when the rush to the Priory waste was made to seize, without purchase, that "no mans land" from which resulted turbulent scenes of rivalry, to some of which I was an eye-witness. On the 29th of April, two persons had nearly completed each a building on that ground, when a previous disputation of right rose to a fierceness that induced one of them in a fit of exasperation, to pull down the other's wall. The latter retaliated upon his rival's structure, and so strenuously was the work of destruction pursued that in less than an hour considerable portions of both buildings were levelled with the ground. Fortunately, but little, if any, personal injury was sustained, and both parties, with their helpers, set themselves afterwards to repairing the work thus destroyed. There were many similar disputes with persons who had marked out boundaries for themselves one day, to find that their landmarks had been removed on the next by other scramblers. The contention of the Breedses continued for some years, and in 1827, Boykett Breeds was indicted for an assault on Thomas James Breeds, but the case was withdrawn. Another person, however, was bound over in sureties of £100, to appear at the Quarter Sessions on a charge of assault originating in an infringement of rights and priviliges(sic). But, to return to 1823, it was ordered, on the 17th of January "That this Court ajourn to the house of Edward Milward Esq. Mayor, to be holden on May 1st." This charge was of course necessitated by the taking down [of the] Town Hall in High street and erection of a new one on the site. During that operation, the Quarter Sessions were held in the large room at the Swan Hotel. The Court of Record was held at intervals of 15 days and was continued at Mr. Milward's house until May 27th, 1823, when Thomas Baker Baker, of the King's Bench was "admitted attorney at this Court of Record" and "The next Court to be held in the new Town Hall".
In affairs concerning property, Mr. and Mrs. Milward figured rather prominently in that court. The following are a few extracts:-
| May 18/23 | Thos. Clarke plaintiff and Edward Milward and Sarah, his wife, deforciants |
Fine then levied of one messuage, one garden, and one curtilige, in All Saints. |
| Oct. 30/23 | John Tompsett [Town Clerk] plaintiff Edward and Sarah Milward, deforciants |
Fine then levied between the parties of one rood of land & two curtilages in the several parishes of St. Mary in the Castle and St. Andrew, or one of them |
| Same parties | Fine then levied of half an acre of land and 14 curtilages with appurtenances, in St Mary in the Castle | |
| April 29/24 | Wm. Lucas-Shadwell Esq. plantiff; Edward & Sarah Milward, deforcients. |
Fine then levied between the parties of one messuage, one library, half a rood of land, and one curtilage in the parish of St. Mary in the Castle. [This was Powell's Library and adjuncts, then for enlargement] |
| Jun 10/24 | Thos. Breeds, plaintiff Edwd. Milward & wife, defenciants |
Fine between them of half an acre of land in the parish of St. Mary in the Castle. |
| Dec. 23/24 | Geo. Woll & John Tompsett pltffs; Edwd & Sarah Milward, defencients |
Fine then levied between them of one messuage and one rood of land in St. Clements. [Geo. Wool was a carver, gilder & booksellser. He opened shop at that time at 5 High street |
-
