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.
Two previous units Loxley and Ringoldsway were merged to form Whitley Hundred in the 12th century.
[5] The Hundred of Whitley consisted of the ancient parishes of: Ashcott, Blackford, Butleigh, Compton Dundon, Cossington, Greinton, High Ham, Holford, Holton, Middlezoy, West Monkton, Moorlinch, Othery, Milton Podimore, Shapwick, Street, Walton, Westonzoyland, Wheathill, and Woolavington as well as covering King's Sedgemoor.
By the 19th century several different single-purpose subdivisions of counties, such as poor law unions, sanitary districts, and highway districts sprang up, filling the administrative role previously played by parishes and hundreds.
Although the Hundreds have never been formally abolished, their functions ended with the establishment of county courts in 1867[7] and the introduction of districts by the Local Government Act 1894.