Buckden - a Huntingdonshire Village

THE BUCKDEN PAROCHIAL CHARITIES 168 The Charity of Susannah Travill founded by will dated 17 February 1692. The bequest was a sum of £100, the income from which was to be given to the poor widows of the parish. The money was invested in land in Ellington and Buckden. (See also the entry for Travill, Susannah in the A to Z Section.) The Charity of Bishop Maltby, originally a gift of £100 to the poor of the parish. This was invested in Consols and the dividends applied with South’s Charity. In addition, there were the Allotment for Reeveman, the Allotment for Constable and the Allotment for Hayward; like the Dole Charity, they are of unknown origin. The administration of the charities Over the years, the land, properties and investments were sold and reinvested, and the nine charities comprising the Buckden Parochial Charities were grouped into three: The Almshouse Charities of James South and William Burberry . These comprised two individual charities: the Charity of William Burberry for Almshouses and the Almshouse Charities of James South and William Burberry , and were funded by investments and a weekly maintenance contribution paid by the residents. The income was to be applied for the benefit of the residents of the almshouses (including the Burberry Homes), collectively or individually. The Buckden Public Benefit Charities . These comprised three individual charities: the Allotment for Reevemen (sic), the Allotment for Hayward and the Allotment for Constable, and were funded by investments from the sale of land which formed the original endowments. The income was to be applied at the discretion of the trustees for any public purpose for the benefit of the inhabitants of the parish, for which provision could not be made from the rates. The Buckden Relief in Need Charities . These comprised four individual charities: the Charity of William Burberry for the Poor, the Charity of Susannah Travill, the Charity of Bishop Maltby and the Dole Charity. They too were funded by investments from the sale of property and land which formed the original endowments. The income was to be applied to relieve, generally or individually, poor persons resident in the parish. In 2006, on the advice of the Charity Commission and after due public consultation, the original nine individual charities were reduced by amalgamation to three: The Almshouse Charities of James South and William Burberry . This was formed by merging the two individual almshouse charities named above; it took over their funding and charitable objectives. The Allotment for Reeveman . This was formed by the incorporation of the three constituent charities of the Buckden Public Benefit Charities; it took over their funding and charitable objectives. The Dole Charity. This was formed by the incorporation of the four constituent charities of the Buckden Relief in Need Charities; again, it took over their funding and charitable objectives. In 2008, at the request of the trustees and after the statutory notice period, the Charity Commission agreed that the two smaller charities, the Allotment for Reeveman and the Dole Charity, could be closed and their assets transferred, in the form of grants, to the Almshouse Charities of James South and William Burberry. The Almshouse Charities own the almshouse buildings known as South’s Almshouses and the Burberry Homes, which stand to either side of the Methodist Church on Church Street. South’s original four tenements have been brought up to date within their original Grade II listed building and now provide eight bedsitting-room apartments, each with its own kitchen and bathroom, for the use of single people. The Burberry Homes, more properly known as 24-38 Church Street, were built on the site of the old Rifle Range in 1969. and financed by the sale of remaining properties and land from the Burberry bequest. These homes consist of seven apartments, each comprising a sitting room, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom, and are for the use of married couples or single persons. There is also a two-storey warden’s house. They are financed by remaining investments and a weekly maintenance contribution paid by the residents. Occupancy is assessed on need and residents must be able to prove a connection with Buckden and to live a fully independent life. The Buckden Parochial Charities are administered by a committee of eight trustees, two of whom are Nominative Trustees, appointed for four-year terms by the Parish Council. They may be, but need not be, members of the Parish Council. The remainder are Co-optative Trustees who must live or carry on a business in the parish of Buckden and are appointed for a term of five years. Ordinary meetings of the trustees are held at least twice and, more usually, four times a year and it is this committee which is