Catalogue description Copy memorandum concerning beacons

Recites that there has been a beacon at Hackly for many years. Then King Henry VIII commanded 2 further beacons to be erected at Portsmouth.

This caused no trouble at that time because 'wood was so cheape the charge so little & the watch so seldome: But now wood is expensive, the watch is often and carriage is more expensive than the 8 tithings can afford.

The Bench issued a precept that the whole hundred and also the manors of Bishopstoke and Durley should be responsible for the maintenance of the beacons

8 inhabitants from the hundreds were to meet with the two constables to work out the contributions from the parishes towards the making, maintaining and watching the beacons, and the building of a necessary watchhouse near by

There follows a list of 10 names of persons who were chosen. They met at Copythorne in Jul 1589 and decided which parishes should be responsible for each of the 3 beacons (east, middle and west) Rake Mill point is also to be watched.

The memorandum was signed by 5 of the 10 persons named above

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