Each hundred had a 'fyrd', which acted as the local defence force and a court which was responsible for the maintenance of the frankpledge system.
[3] The Hundred of Taunton Deane consisted of the town of Taunton and the ancient parishes of: Angersleigh, West Bagborough, Bradford, Cheddon Fitzpaine, Combe Florey, Corfe, Cothelstone, Heathfield, Hillfarrance, Hull-Bishop's, Kingston, Lydeard St. Lawrence, Norton Fitzwarren, Nynehead, Oake, Orchard Portman, Otterford, Pitminster, Ruishton, Staplegrove, Stoke St. Mary, Tolland, Trull, Wilton, and Withiel Florey.
[6] Much of the Hundred fell into the great manor of Taunton Deane, which was the property of the Bishop of Winchester.
The manor was divided into three separate organisational divisions; the borough of Taunton, the outlying rural parishes which was known as the Liberty or Outfaring and an inner ring lying between the borough and the rural parishes known as the Infaring.
Although the Hundreds have never been formally abolished, their functions ended with the establishment of county courts in 1867[10] and the introduction of districts by the Local Government Act 1894.