The Abbots Leigh Charities -Foreword by Steve Livings
The Abbots Leigh Charities consist of the following:The Church House Charity, James Addis Charity, John Roach Charity, Lady Norton’s Charities and the Philip John Miles Charity.
The E.J. Swann Benefaction is a more modern charity that spans both parishes of Abbots Leigh and Leigh Woods.
In December 1926 the Trustees of the Abbots Leigh Charities (Frances, Lady Norton, John Roach, James Addis and Philip John Miles) took advantage of the subjoin scheme as the scheme to regulate charities i.e. to join the 4 Charities and appoint a board of trustees to manage the Abbots Leigh charities. This continues to this day. Abbots Leigh Charities produce a report at every Annual Parish Council Meeting.
The Abbots Leigh Charities, (sometimes known as The Lady Norton Charities) were founded by Frances, Lady Norton in the 17th Century. The other local benefactors were subsequently added funds to the Charitable Trusts for the Poor. The other two charities are known as the Apprenticing Charity and the Vicar’s Charity; and all three have been regulated since 1926 by a Charity Commission Scheme; as amended in 1996, on the application by the Trustees at that time.
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The ‘so called’ Charity for the Poor now makes grants generally at Christmas time, to the less well off Pensioners in the Parish, who come to their notice and whom it is believed may be pleased to receive such a grant; for instance towards the cost of fuel, medical aids or hospital visiting expenses. If you know of people in the Parish with such needs, please let us know.
The ‘so called’ Apprenticing Charity Trusts are now much wider than the title implies. The trustees now make grants to students normally resident in Abbots Leigh towards the expenses of their education and training or the purchase of study books; while other grants may be used for the general support of youth organisations in the village or for adventure outings; or the purchase and maintenance of playground equipment. Examples recently have been to assist young people from the village to travel abroad and spend their vacation helping others in orphanages and the like or to raise money for charity and at the same time providing that young person with a valuable life experience.
The Vicar’s Charity was originally intended to augment his/her stipend (and requires the preaching of a sermon on mortality in October or November each year) but the small annual income is now generally applied at the Vicar’s discretion for charitable purposes within the Parish.
The Trustees are 8 in number, of which the Vicar (now Priest in Charge) is an ex-officio trustee; 3 are Representative Trustees nominated by the Parish Council, and 4 are co-optative Trustees. Grants: Proposals or requests for Grants may be made at any time to any of the Trustees, for consideration usually at our spring or autumn meetings. I was recently handed a red notebook by Angus Heron who has acted as Secretary and Correspondent of the Swann Benefaction for the past 50 years. Angus was also for many years a Trustee of the Abbots Leigh Charities. He handed the responsibility to me some years ago as Secretary and Correspondent of Abbots Leigh Charities. The red note book is beautifully handwritten history of the Charities of our village by Mr William Frampton who according to a Charity Commission document dated 7 December 1926 lived in Church Road and was a Solicitor’s Clerk by profession. He was also a long serving trustee of the Abbots Leigh Charities as well as being an active member of the Abbots Leigh Cricket Club. Below I have produced a true typed copy of his notes and added in italics some additional historical notes of my own.
Steve Livings
September 2010.
September 2010.
Abbots Leigh Charities
From the handwritten notes of W Frampton
Church House Charity
On 12th February 1892 the George Inn which belonged to the Church and the rent of which viz £39 yearly was applied towards the upkeep thereof was sold for £3000.This sum was invested in:
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£760 – Midland Railway 4% Perpetual Guaranteed Stock.
£760 – London North Western Railway 4% Preference Stock.
£776 – London and South Western Railway 4% Consolidated preference Stock Dated 1881.
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£761 – M.R. 4% Perpetual Guaranteed Stock.
The Stocks are invested in the name of the Official Trustees of Charitable Funds and the Dividends are paid into the Churchwarden’s a/c at Stuckey’s Banking Coy, Bristol. £761 M.R. 4% Stock is now represented by £1217.12.2½ % Preference Stock.
James Addis Charity
1785 – Mr James Addis of Abbots Leigh (Blacksmith) by his will gave £150, 4% Annuities (since reduced to 3 ½ %) the Dividend upon which £5.5/- he ordered should be paid after the death of his widow which took place in 1816 – to the ‘second’ poor of the said Parish – meaning such as did not receive parochial relief – upon Thomas’s Day for ever – the expense of maintaining the Grave and Tomb of himself in good repair being first discharged.Will proved on the 4th May 1786 in the prerogative of Canterbury. By the due process of law this £150 - 4% Annuities has now become:
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£150 – 2 ½ % of Consolidated Stock.
Sir W’m Miles
W’m Philip Skynner Miles
William Henry Miles Henry Napier Abbot
The first three named being dead Mr Abbot transferred the Stock into the names of the Official Trustees of Charitable Funds.
James Addis died on 2nd October 1785.
Sarah his widow died on 18 December 1816.
The Charity is administered by the Churchwardens and overseers and the Dividends are paid to the Churchwardens Account at Messr’s Stuckey’s Bank, Bristol. 1912 - The Stock receipt is in the Parish Council Box. The foregoing stock was reduced as regards interest on the following dates:
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In 1845 from 3 ½ to 3 ¼ %
In 1855 from 3 ¼ to 3%
In 1890 from 3 to 2 ¾%
In 1903 from 2 ¾ to 2 ½%.
John Roach Charity
1702 – John Roach formerly of Abbots Leigh left by Will £20 which was invested in a Ground rent of £1 per annum payable by the Corporation of Bristol which he directed should be given to Poor Housekeepers of the parish of Abbots Leigh not receiving Parish Relief.The Ground Rent was payable out of premises in Holliers lane, Bristol. Holliers lane has long since disappeared, the houses being pulled down to make Nelson Street
. 1906 – The rent is still paid by the Corporation of Bristol the amount being paid into the Churchwarden’s Account at Messr’s Stuckey’s Banking Coy, Bristol. The Charity is administered by the Churchwardens and Overseers yearly on St Thomas’s day.
Lady Norton’s Charity
My Note: Lady Frances Norton Frances Norton, Lady Norton (1644 - 1731) was an English religious poet and prose writer who primarily wrote about grief. She was born in Oxford and married Sir George Norton in 1672. This George Norton was the son of the Sir George Norton who hid Charles II at the time of the regicide of Charles I. The couple had three children, but only one, Grace, survived infancy. Grace Norton died in 1697 at the age of twenty-one and Frances Norton went into a deep state of grief. She published a collection of Grace's own writings, Reliquae Gethinianae, in 1699, and in 1705 she wrote two tracts on grieving and consolation. These were The Applause of Virtue and Memento mori, or, Meditations on Death, which were sold together in a quarto. They were dedicated to two women who had helped Lady Norton in her grief who had themselves experienced a recent loss. The books are pious and collect together consoling thoughts from Christian, Classical, and philosophical literature. In 1714, she produced a miscellany of poems, composed, and worked with a needle, on the backs and seats etc, of several chairs and stools. According to near contemporaries, Frances Norton did a great deal of needlepoint work on furniture in Abbots Leigh (where the Norton estate was – Leigh Court). She composed her own short poems, almost always with a pious theme, for such embroidery. In 1715, her husband died. She married his cousin, Colonel Ambrose Norton, in 1718, and, when he died, married a man named William Jones in 1724. She outlived her third husband by a few years and was buried in Westminster Abbey.Frances was one of three daughters of Ralph Freke (d.1684) and she is buried in Westminster Abbey as are her two sisters. Elizabeth and Judith who are buried in the nave and Frances in the south choir aisle. Elizabeth married her kinsman Percy Freke, lawyer, first secretly in 1672 and then publicly at St Margaret’s Westminster in 1673. Their only child Ralph was created a baronet. She died on 7 April 1714 (her age is given as 69 on the monument but 73 on her coffin plate). Judith married Robert Austen or Austin and she was buried on 24 May 1716. Frances married firstly Sir George Norton, secondly Col.Ambrose Norton, her husband’s cousin, and thirdly William Jones. She died aged 90 on 20 February 1731. In her day she was known for her literary writings. A marble monument, put up by Frances, is in the south choir aisle and shows portrait reliefs of Elizabeth and Judith, with skulls beneath each. The inscription reads:
“Near this place lyes all that is mortal of ELIZABETH and JUDITH daughters of RALPH FREKE of Hannington in Wiltshire, Esq. by CECILIA his wife, daughter of Sir THOMAS COLEPEPER of Hollingbourn in Kent. ELIZABETH was marry’d to PIERCY FREKE, of West Bilney in Norfolk Esq, and was ye mother of Sir RALPH FREKE Bart. deceased, the father of a flowrishing posterity there. She was of excellent life, frugal to be munificent, a lively Christian pattern of charity & self-denial. She dyed Aprill 7th 1714 aged 69 years. JUDITH was the wife of ROBERT AUSTIN of Tenterden in Kent Esq. and ye mother of a very considerable and hopefull famely in that county. She dyed ye 19th May 1716, aged 64 years. They were both great examples to theyr sex, the best of daughters, the best of wives, & the best of mothers. Frances Lady Norton widdow of Sir George Norton of Abbots Leigh in Somersetshire, theyr mournfull sister, has in the year of our Lord 1718 erected this monument of her love & recommends the imitation of the virtue of her dear sisters to theyr descendants for ever. Which said Lady Norton has ordered by her will, her executor to bury her near this place by her daughter Lady Gethin’s monument”.
The marble monument to the daughter, Grace Gethin of Sir George and Lady Frances Norton is on the wall of the south choir aisle. The inscription reads:
“To the pious memory of Dame GRACE GETHIN, wife of Sir RICHARD GETHIN of GETHIN-GROTT in IRELAND Bart. daughter of Sir George Norton & grand daughter of Sir George Norton Knts. [Knights] & great grand daughter of Sir William Owen of Salop [Shropshire], Sir Thomas Freak of Dorset & Sir Tho.Culpeper of Kent Knts. who being adorn’d with all graces & perfections of mind & body crownd them all wth exemplary patience & humility & haveing ye day before her death most devoutly received ye Holy Comunion, wch. she said she would not have omitted for ten thousand worlds she plainly evidenced her sure and certain hope of future bliss & thus continuing sensible to the last, she resigned her pious soul to God in fervent transports of spiritual joy and comfort for her neer approach to the heavenly glory. Obiit [died] 11th Octob. in the year of her age 21, of our Lord 1697. Her dear & disconsolate parents, for a lasting memorial of this her Godly & blessed end, have erected this monument she being ye last of their issue”.It shows Grace kneeling and holding a book between two alabaster angels who hold a gilt crown and a chaplet over her head. Above are two reclining female figures and two skulls. The coats of arms shown are for the families of Norton, Gethin, Owen and Freak. In his will Sir George gave a benefaction so that a commemorative sermon for Grace could be preached each Ash Wednesday in the Abbey but in recent years this has lapsed. The bread charity for the poor, also stipulated in his will, ceased in about 1918. There is a virtual replica of the monument at Hollingbourne church in Kent where Grace is buried. On a bracket of the monument is another inscription “Also lieth near this place interr’d GEORGE & ELIZABETH NORTON children of Sr George Norton Kt. by his wife Dame FRANCES NORTON both of them dying young in the year [not given]”. However, these two children do not appear in the Abbey’s burial register.
1717 – Frances, Lady Norton – widow of Sir George Norton of Leigh Court gave by Deed a sum of money to be applied to various benevolent purposes in this Parish and elsewhere.
£600 being the part thereof allotted to this Parish with interest thereon from Lady Norton’s death was by a decree of Commissioners of Charitable uses made the 10th June 1735 directed to be paid to Trustees and by them to be laid out in the purchase of land etc and until such purchase to be placed on Government or other securities.
The interest on £250 and a proportionate part of the interest secured since lady Norton’s death to be applied for the perpetual augmentation of the maintenance of the Vicar, Curate or minister officiating in this Church on condition that there should in every year for ever for every sum of 10/- of each augmentation be performed here Divine Service with a sermon on one other Sunday in the morning besides every third Sunday (on which only Divine Service was then performed in the afternoon) and that on such other Sunday on which such additional service and sermon were so performed as should be next the 11th October either before or after in every year there should be preached a sermon on mortality.
The interest on £200 and a proportion part of the accrued interest to be applied for the placing out of apprentices poor children of parents of this Parish not receiving parochial relief at the discretion and election of the heirs of the said Sir George Norton with the approbation of the Churchwardens and the overseers of the Poor for the time being or the major part of them.
And the interest on £150 and a proportionate part of the accrued interest to be applied in following viz:
In one year to be equally divided amongst twelve poor widows of this Parish not receiving Parochial Relief who should attend this Church to hear the said sermon on mortality.
And in the second or other year to be laid out in Cloaks for twelve poor housekeepers of the parish not receiving Parochial relief who should attend to hear the said sermon and so alternatively and by turns forever, such cloaks to be made of some decent and convenient black and white stuff or cloth fit for that purpose.-
N.B. when the monies are invested in Lands etc the rents and profits will be applicable in the above proportions.
The 3600 and interests were laid out in the purchase of £629-15/- New Southsea Annuities which produced annually £18.17/10 of which:
| 5/12 | belong to Minister | £ 7.17. 5 | |
| 4/12 | belong to Apprentices | £ 6. 6. 0 | |
| 3/12 | belong to Widows | £ 4.14. 5 | |
| £18.17.10 |
There were formerly some savings made form that part of the fund which is applicable to the Apprentice and Widows which was laid out in the purchase of £150 New Southsea Annuities which produced annually £4.10.0 of which:
| 4/7 | belong to Apprentices | £2.11.6 | |
| 3/7 | belong to Widows | £1.18.6 | |
| £4.10.0 |
The Charity then stood thus:
| £252.7.11 | Vicars Portion | £ 7.17. 5 | |
| £295.13. 7 | Apprentice's Portion | £ 8.17. 6 | |
| £221.14. 6 | Widow's Portion | £ 6.12.11 | |
| £779.15. 0 | £23. 7.10 |
On March 12th 1828, £50 New Southsea Annuities was purchased out of savings of the Apprentice’s Fund.
On 11th April 1840 another £50 New Southsea Annuities was purchased also out of savings of the Apprentice’s Fund.
In 1855 the Charity stood thus:
| Vicar's Portion | £262. 7.11 | |
| Apprentice's Portion | £395.12. 5 | |
| Widow's Portion | £221.14. 5 | |
| Total | £879.15. 0 |
The Stock and the annual Dividends amounting to £24.3.10 are in the events which have happened now divisible as follows:
| Stock | Dividend | ||
| Vicar | £288.12. 8 | £ 7. 4. 4 | |
| Apprentice | £435. 3.11 | £10.17. 5 | |
| Widows | £243.17.11 | £ 6. 1.11 | |
| £967.14. 6 | £24. 3. 8 |
In September 1911 an additional £100 Stock (2 ½% Annuities) was purchased out of the accumulations of the Apprentices Fund and the Charity now stands as follows:
| Stock | Dividend | ||
| Vicar | £288.12. 8 | £ 7. 4. 4 | |
| Apprentices | £535. 3.11 | £13. 7. 8 | |
| Widows | £243.17.11 | £ 6. 2. 0 | |
| £1067.14. 6 | £26.14. 0 |
The Dividends are paid to the Trustees a/c at the Union of London& Smith’s Bank, Corn Street, Bristol.
Philip John Miles’s Charity
Philip John Miles of Leigh Court by Will dated 3 November 1842 bequeathed to the Trustees the sum of £2,500 -3% Consolidated Annuities who out of the annual produce were to raise £70 per annum and distribute same at their discretion on 1st March in every year in bread and meat amongst such poor inhabitants of Four Parishes thereafter mentioned as they should think proper in the following proportions:| Abbots Leigh, Somerset | £20. 0. 0 | |
| Henbury, Gloucestershire | £20. 0. 0 | |
| Ledbury, Hereford | £20. 0. 0 | |
| Cardigan | £10. 0. 0 |
And upon further Trust to apply the residue of the said annual produce at the discretion of the said Trustees or Trustee either in the discharge of expenses incident to the said Trust or in the making provision for such expenses or in purchasing further portion of bread and meat for distribution amongst such poor inhabitants aforesaid of the said Parishes or any of them.
In 1897 the trustees applied to the Charity Commissioners to apportion the Stock forming the endowment of the Charity into 4 parts and constitute a separate body of Trustees for the future administration of the Charity which would consist of each of 4 parts.
The Fund was transferred to the Official Trustee and the scheme carried out 2/7 being allotted to Abbots Leigh being £714.5.9 producing an annual income of £19.12.8; 2/7 to Henbury; 2/7 to Ledbury and 1/7 to Cardigan. The body of the Trustees of each of the 4 separate charities to consist of 6 competent persons being one Ex-Officio Trustee, 3 Representative Trustees and 2 Co-optative Trustees.
The £714.5.9 consolidate realized and the Charity is now represented by £510 – 4 ¼% Debenture Stock G.W.R. producing yearly £21.13.6.
(Note in pencil)
Owing to the war an order was obtained authorising the purchase of groceries etc in lieu of meat.
EJ Swann Benefaction
17 June 1910
‘I Edward James Swann of the Gables, Leigh woods, Long Ashton in the County of Somerset JP;DL. Being desirous of transferring with the authority of the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales into the names of the official Trustees of Charitable funds the sum of £300 Consols in order that the Dividend thereof may be applied to the Charitable purposes and through the agency of the local Trustees hereinafter declared and appointed and being required by the said Commissioners previously to such transfer to declare the intended Trusts of the premises do hereby declare that the said sum of £300 Consols is proposed to be transferred by me or by my procurement in to the names of the said Official Trustees under the order of the said Commissioners Upon Trust that the Dividends to arise there from may forever thereafter be paid or remitted by the said official Trustees unto myself during my life and upon my death unto my wife Susanna Judith Swann during her life and upon the decease of myself and my said wife unto a body of Trustees consisting of Churchwardens for the time being of Abbots Leigh in the County of Somerset.The Churchwardens for the time being of St Mary’s Leigh Woods, Long Ashton aforesaid, a resident of abbots Leigh to be appointed annually by the Parish meeting of that Parish and a resident in the Ecclesiastical district of St Mary’s, Leigh Woods aforesaid to be appointed annually by the Parish Council of Long Ashton and their successors as the Local Trustees of the Charity intended to be hereby created or into any or either of the said Trustees whose receipt shall be sufficient discharge for the same but for this joint account and disposal Upon Trust to be applied by the said Trustees to the following purposes (that is to say) in the purchase and distribution between the 1st and the 21st December in each year of Coal (in quantities of not less than 5cwts and not more than 10cwts at one time) and for blankets amongst the poor and deserving residents in the Parish of Abbots Leigh and the Ecclesiastical District of St Mary’s Leigh Woods aforesaid but so that as nearly as possible two kinds of such annual income shall be distributed amongst the residents in the former District and the remaining one thereof amongst the residents in the latter District and upon further Trust that any surplus of income not expended in any one year shall be paid by the said Trustees to the Treasurer for the time being of the Bristol Royal Hospital for Sick Children and Women for the benefit of that hospital. And I direct that in the case of failure of the Trust intended to be hereby created the corpus of the Trust Fund shall be held upon Trust to pay the Income from time to time to the Treasurer for the time being of the above mentioned hospital for the benefit thereof and it is my desire that the Charity intended to be hereby created shall be called ‘The Swann Benefaction’.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this day 17th Day of June 1910.
EJ Swann
Signed by the above named Edward James Swann in the presence of CJ Owen-Jones Lloyds Bank, Boscombe, Bournemouth (Manager)
ERG Wright
Pinecroft, Lowther Road, Bournemouth (Bank Clerk).