A Taxor was a representative of the

University of Cambridge , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

who exercised the University's rights to intervene in trade in the town of

Cambridge Cambridge ( ) is a university city and the county town in Cambridgeshire, England. It is located on the River Cam approximately north of London. As of the 2021 United Kingdom census, the population of Cambridge was 145,700. Cambridge bec ...

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

. One senior and one junior taxor was elected each year, and each had to be an MA of the University. These posts have not been filled since 1856.

Historical background

Since the 13th century the University had special privileges and jurisdiction to control aspects of life in the town. Matters relating to morality and discipline were managed by

Proctors Proctor's Theatre (officially stylized as Proctors since 2007; however, the marquee retains the apostrophe) is a theatre and former vaudeville house located in Schenectady, New York, United States. Many famous artists have performed there, notably ...

and those relating to trade were managed by Taxors, whose responsibilities included: *Licensing of Alehouses and Lodging-houses *Fixing the rent of scholar's lodgings and the price of bread *Examining and sealing weights and measures, confiscating any that were defective *Administering

Stourbridge fair Stourbridge fair was an annual fair held on Stourbridge Common in Cambridge, England. At its peak it was the largest fair in Europe and was the inspiration for Bunyan's "Vanity Fair". The fair was one of four important medieval fairs held in C ...

(until 1589) By the first half of the nineteenth century Benthamite reform had transformed the role of the borough and increasingly the trade and financial privileges of the University caused friction between "town and gown", with the town's deputy High Steward declaring in 1842 that supervision of weights and measures by Taxors was "''quite inadequate for the purpose at the present day.''" In 1853-4, conflict between the growing jurisdiction of magistrates' courts and the historical duties of the University

was the trigger for a schism between the University and the Borough. The University suggested that the dispute be referred to parliament and Sir John Patteson was appointed as arbitrator to consider their differences. His 1855 report recommended that Proctors should not have to submit to the jurisdiction of magistrates, but called on the University to surrender its rights over trade and licensing. When his proposals were enacted as the Cambridge Award Act 1856, the office of Taxor was discontinued.

References

{{reflist 1856 disestablishments Terminology of the University of Cambridge History of Cambridge History of the University of Cambridge Legal professions English legal terminology