Bourne United Charities

Bourne United Charities comprises twelve individual charities, mostly founded in the 17th century through endowments for the benefit of the poor of the town as well as land that has been left to the community. One of the earliest known bequests was from Thomas Wilcox in 1660 who gave a piece of land called Allan's Pits, let at twenty shillings a year, towards the support of a workhouse that had been provided by Sir Thomas Trollope of Casewick six years earlier. This was an example of the philanthropy that abounded in Bourne during the 17th century, affording considerable relief to the poorer inhabitants, and providing a basis for the United Charities which continue to benefit the town. The largest single endowment is the Charity of Robert Harrington (1589-1654), a gentleman landowner who left land and property in the Leytonstone area of London producing an annual income to be used for the benefit and education of the poor.

The government has taken over many such functions since the introduction of the welfare state in the mid-20th century but the trustees who administer the various funds still seek to maintain the traditional ideals of charity and compassion through the administration of almshouses and a warden's bungalow in West Street and the distribution of weekly pensions to the old and needy. They also make an annual grant that is shared by the schools in the town.

The trustees have bought land and buildings over the years that are used for the benefit of the town, their most notable achievement being the acquisition of the Red Hall after it had been used as the stationmaster's house and ticket office for the town's railway station since the 19th century. When the railway closed in 1959, the hall was in a dilapidated condition and in danger of being demolished but through the inspiration of their chairman, Councillor Jack Burchnell, the trustees took over the freehold in 1962 and with the aid of local funds and grants, the Tudor mansion was carefully and sympathetically restored to its former elegance. The whole structure was made safe, the roof re-tiled, the chimneys rebuilt and the original mullioned windows renewed and repaired. Internally, the fine Jacobean staircase was restored as were other rooms and the long gallery at the top of the house, while the two front rooms on the first floor were combined into one, thus providing accommodation for social functions and public gatherings. Other rooms were equipped for various purposes, including a small museum. The building was officially re-opened on 2nd December 1972 and since then, some space has been used as offices while the reception room and kitchen are used for functions and as a meeting place for local groups such as the history society, naturalists and other conservation organisations.

Other acquisitions include the Wellhead Gardens, consisting of 21 acres of land that was developed as parkland open to the public under the terms of a bequest from Alderman T W Atkinson who left property at Haconby to the trustees for this purpose, together with the Garden of Remembrance and War Memorial. The charities were also responsible for constructing the outdoor swimming pool, now one of the town's most popular summer amenities and run by a voluntary trust, while the Abbey Lawn is set aside for sporting activities in perpetuity. This land originally formed part of the grounds of Bourne Abbey but the public were allowed to use it at the discretion of the vicar. There is no record of the public ever being banned from using the Abbey Lawn and so it became the town's unofficial recreation ground and has been in use for such purposes for at least 200 years. The site was acquired by Bourne United Charities in 1934 and since then there has been a continuous programme of improvement and upkeep. A plaque on the main gate says: 

These grounds were purchased in the years 1931-34 by the Trustees of Bourne United Charities in order to preserve the same as an open space for ever and the work of levelling and laying out the grounds was carried out by trainees from the Ministry of Labour Instructional Centre, Bourne.

Bourne United Charities also administer a plot of 13 gardening allotments at the corner of Meadow Drove and Spalding Road and several other restored buildings that are leased at nominal rents to youth organisations, including scouts, guides and other community activities. One of the largest of these is the early 19th century Baldock's Mill in South Street that is now leased to the Civic Society whose members have restored the building and turned it into a Heritage Centre and museum.

One man who gave more service to Bourne United Charities than any other was the late Horace Stanton (1897-1977), a local solicitor who was connected with the organisation for 47 years. He began in 1921 by assisting his father-in-law Mr Stephen Andrews, who was then the clerk, and four years later he was appointed clerk himself, serving until his retirement in 1968. On leaving the job Mr Stanton recalled the way in which the activities of the charities had expanded during the century for the benefit of the Bourne community. Income had risen from £3,000 to £21,000 a year and the best deal during his long term in office was in 1935 when 600 acres of land was purchased for £16,000 and was now worth £180,000. "Our outgoings have also risen considerably", he said. "But our first consideration has always been the welfare of elderly people. Money is dispensed to them in many ways and 199 are receiving weekly pensions of varying amounts." 

Mr Stanton was presented with an inscribed silver tankard to mark his long service when the trustees met on Friday 2nd April 1968. It was handed over by the vicar, Canon H P Laurence, who said that no one deserved to be honoured more than him and he recalled the work in which he had been involved, including the development of the Abbey Lawn, the outdoor swimming pool, the War Memorial Gardens and adjoining park which was currently underway. He went on: "In bringing to his work unsurpassed foresight and vision, he set an example to the town which will never be lost. If you want a memorial, look around. The evidence is all around Bourne."

THIS IS THE LIST OF CHARITIES UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF 

BOURNE UNITED CHARITIES

 

The nine Charities included in the 1978 Charity Commissioners' Scheme are:

 

The Charity of John Brown

The Charity of William Fisher for Almshouses

The Charity of William Fisher for Bread

The Charity of Robert Harrington (exclusive of the Educational Foundation of Robert Harrington constituted by a Scheme of the Commissioners of 14th July 1916)

The Charity of Jeremiah Ives

The Charity known as the Poor's Land (North Fen)

The Charity known as Poor's Land (South Fen)

The Charity of Nicholas Rand

The Charity of William Trollope (exclusive of Trollope's School constituted by an order made by the Commissioners on 8th July 1904 under the Board of Education Act 1899 S2(2) as affected by the said Scheme on 14th July 1916)

 

A further six small Charities are not included in the 1978 Charity Commisssioners' Scheme and are administered separately:

 

Bourne Constables' Land Charities

Emma Searson Nursing Fund

Lucy Ellen Story Trust

Bourne Christian Fund and Friendly Society

Thomas Mee Trust

Thomas Whyment Atkinson Charity

 

 

AN ACCOUNT OF THE CHARITIES

OF

THE PARISH OF BOURN

In the County of Lincoln

From the Gallery in the Abbey Church, 1869

WILLIAM TROLLOPE, of this Parish, Esq. by his will, in 1636, founded the Hospital, and gave the yearly sum of thirty-three Pounds for the Maintenance of Six Poor aged Men of this Parish. And also founded the Free School, with a salary of thirty Pounds p. annum to the Master.

NICHOLAS RAND, by his Will, in 1636, gave to the Poor of this Parish Eight Acres and one Rood of Land, in Holbeach, now let at seven Pounds p. ann:

JOHN BROWN, of Stamford, Esq. by his Will, in -----, gave to the Poor of this Parish an Annuity of Eight Pound, issuing out of the Rectory of this Parish.

WILLIAM FISHER, of this Parish, Gent, by his Deed, in 1627, founded the Almshouse for Six poor aged Women of Bourn, and settled an Estate, at Tumby Wood-side, now let at thirty Pounds p. ann: for supporting thereof. And the Schoolmaster to read Prayers there, and to receive five Pounds p.ann:
AND ALSO, by his will, in 1633, gave a Messuage in All Saints' Parish, in Stamford, and Little Casterton Fields, and an Annuity of four Pounds for ever, issuing out of his Estate in Stamford, to the Poor of this Parish.

ROBERT HARRINGTON, of Gray's Inn, Middlesex, Esq. by his Will, date the 14th of July, 1654, and proved in the year 1657, gave an Annuity of Twenty Pounds for ever, issuing out of Home Woods and Dobbin Woods, in or near the Parish of Witham-on-the-Hill, in this County, to be laid out in Bread, to be distributed every Sunday amongst the Poor of this Parish by the Minister, Churchwardens, and Overseers of the Poor.
AND ALSO, by his said Will, gave his Freehold and Copyhold Lands and Tenements, at Low Layton and Layton Stone, in the County of Essex, which are not let at the yearly Rent of Eighty Pounds, unto the Minister, Churchwardens, and Overseers of the Poor, in Trust, for the Use and Benefit of the Poor of this Parish.

SIR THOMAS TROLLOPE, of Caswick, in this County, Bart., by his Will, in 1654, gave One Hundred Pounds for erecting a Work-house in this Parish, now called the Town-houses.

THOMAS WILCOX, of this Parish, by his Will, in 1660, gave a Piece of Land called Allens' Pitts, now let at Twenty Shillings p.ann : towards the Support of a Workhouse in this Parish.

THE RIGHT HONBLE. BROWNLOW EARL OF EXETER, in the year 1726, gave thirty-one Pounds ten Shillings towards buying the Engine for this Parish.

MATHEW CLAY, of this Parish, Gent., in the year 1742, gave the Branch to this Church.

THE RENT of two Pieces of Meadow, called the Constable's Halfacre and the Dikereeve's Halfacre, is every year laid out in Bread, which is distributed to the Householders and Commoners in the Eastgate Ward of this Parish.

___________________________________________________

 

From the Books of the Charity Trustees.

JAMES ORGANER, by his Will, dated 4th May, 1729, and proved at Lincoln 7th January, 1757, gave to the Poor of Bourn £40, to be laid out by his Executrix, Ann Clay, in Land, the Rent thereof to be distributed in Bread amongst the Poor of Bourn, on Saint Stephen's day, at the discretion of his said Executrix, her heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns.

JEREMIAH IVES, by his Will, dated 11th June, 1798, directed his Executors to lay out £100 in the Public Funds, in the names of four respectable persons, Inhabitants of Bourn, to be named by the Minister, Churchwardens, and Overseers for the time being, or the major part of them, and that the Dividends thereof should be yearly paid to the Minister, Churchwardens, and Overseers, and applied by them to the benefit of the Poor of the said Parish, £144. 12s. 1d. India Stock.

By the Award, on the Enclosure of the North Fen, dated 2nd July, 1770, 1A. 1R. 19P. were allotted to the Inhabitants for the time being, residing in a part of Bourn, called the Eastgate, in lieu of the Constable's Halfacre and the Dikereeve's Halfacre. The Rent is every year laid out in Bread, and distributed to the Householders and Commoners of the Eastgate Ward, in Bourn.
And 1A. 2R. 4P., in the North Fen, were allotted to the Churchwardens and Overseers of Bourn, and their Successors, in trust for the Poor of Bourn.
By the Award, on the Enclosure of the South Fen, dated 7th July, 1777, 3A. 1R. 21P. were allotted to the Churchwardens and Overseers of Bourn, and their Successors, in trust, for the Poor of Bourn.

Herbage Charity.- Under the Award, on the Enclosure of the Cow Pasture, in the South Fen, in the Parish of Bourn, the Inhabitants were empowered to give leave, at a Vestry to be held annually on the Monday next after the 5th of April, to such industrious Inhabitants of the said Parish, not renting and occupying Lands and Tenements to the amount of more than £8. per annum, to keep and depasture upon any of the Roads and Ways in the said Parish, such number of Oxen, Cows, and Calves, as the majority of the said Inhabitants should think most proper, - but no other species of Cattle whatever.

CATHERINE DIGBY, by Will, dated 25th May, 1835, and proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, gave to the Officiating Minister and Churchwardens for the time being of the Parish of Bourn, £500, or so much Stock in the 3 per cent. Consols as, at the time of transferring the same, should be equivalent to £500, to be paid and invested by them in the said Stock, within a month of her decease, in Trust, from time to time to apply the Dividends or Interest thereof for a perpetual Salary to the officiating Organist, for the time being, in the Parish Church of BOURN aforesaid. 

 

THE CURRENT TRUSTEES ARE

Councillor John Kirkman (chairman)
Mrs Margaret Ash, the Rev Christopher Atkinson, Mrs Joyce Burrows,
Mrs Yvonne Elmer, John Fisher-Smith, Geoff Greatwood, Trevor Hollinshead, James Lambert, Dr Michael McGregor and Douglas Reeson
with four other members nominated by Bourne Town Council
 (as is John Kirkman)
Councillors Marjorie Clark, Shirley Cliffe, Don Fisher and John Smith.

See also    Robert Harrington     Horace Stanton     Almshouses

Baldock's Mill     Red Hall

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