History
After the Municipal Corporations Acts (1835–1883) replaced medieval town corporations with elected councils, the governing powers moved to councils, but property, land, buildings, and ceremonial assets of the old corporations were often split off into charitable “town trusts”.
Over time, many trusts were merged, modernised, absorbed by councils, or wound up. Axbridge is a rare survivor because its trust was formally created in 1889 with a clearly defined purpose and asset list following the dissolution of the Corporation of Axbridge under the 1883 Act. Rather than drifting into inactivity, the trust retained significant, income‑producing and culturally important assets—notably the Town Hall, the Square, property rights, and historic artefacts—making continued independent management both practical and worthwhile.
View the original 1889 Town Trust document.
A brief history of the Leases and property owned by the Corporation of Axbridge.
A brief history of King John’s Hunting Lodge (Museum). The museum already houses some of the Town Trusts assets and will house the Maces on retirement and the Banners after they have been restored. As such it is an integral part of the Town Trust repository.
