WALGRAVE RELIEF IN NEED CHARITY Charity Commission Scheme No 4682 dated July 1957
The scheme allows payments to be made to residents of Walgrave who can demonstrate a need for help with fuel bills, special sickness needs or infirmity, general amenities, hospital visits etc. Any grant must not affect statutory benefits. Each year the Trustees try to monitor cases of serious sickness and they then recommend to the fellow Trustees that assistance be given. In December each year we ask residents to apply for aid. Each application is considered and help is given with the remaining funds for the year.
History of the Charity Background information on the charities is sparse and only available from the archives. Minutes exist to cover 1889 to 1932 and then 1957 to the present day. The Kirkham Town Charity: The Northants Charities historical ledger mentions that in 1696 there was a conveyance of "One yard land" with any profits going to the relief of the poor in Walgrave for evermore. It appears that in 1776 the Trustees received 35 acres, 3 roods and 15 perches of land in lieu of this. The land was in Holcot and it was subject to a compulsory purchase order by the Water Board to make way for Pitsford Reservoir. The Trustees tried to buy land elsewhere but nothing came of this and the proceeds were invested. Poor's Allotment: Under the enclosures act 1776 there was an allotment of 8 acres, 2 roods and 38 perches of land, value £5 with any profit to be applied to the poor of Walgrave in fuel, corn and apparel at the discretion of the Rector and Trustees. This is the Charity field of today. James Jeaks originally farmed it. An interesting minute dated 7th December 1891 states "The Trustees of the Town Land Charity will hold a meeting at the School Room on December 15th Instant at 6pm to receive applications from those persons who wish to receive the Charity for coal for this season and no one will receive the coal who does not make a personal application on that evening between 6pm and 7pm" Baxter's Charity: 15s annually by the Will of Francis Baxter for bread for poor widows and widowers of Walgrave paid in respect of land in Oulde by J C Tresham (Sunday after Christmas by the Church Wardens). This is now part of the investment. Sheldon's Charity: A sum of £33-6s-1d by the Will of John Sheldon dated 2nd July 1812. Again this is now part of the investment. In the archives there is reference to Alms houses at
Cottesbrook, other pieces of land and gifts of money but there are
no maps to identify the land and no records as to what has happened
to these gifts. J A Robinson |