FAMILY
Rotherham’s
oldest charity
Christmas is traditionally a time of giving and sharing with those around us, but that doesn’t have to be limited to those that we love and care for - or even neatly wrapped packages.
It is also for the person we have never met and may never see; those who are not so fortunate in their lives as we are and who could use a helping hand.
With a long history of generosity, The Feoffees of the Common Lands of Rotherham have been selflessly giving back to the people of Rotherham through doles and education scholarships since the 14th century. What was once effectively the town’s council which controlled the common lands, today the Feoffees remains an organisation which is run
‘‘Each December, they distribute doles to up to 100 elderly, infirm or disadvantaged people at a ceremony at Rotherham Minster; a time-honoured tradition that has taken place for over 700 years.
’’ continues to care
by Rotherham people, for Rotherham people. Yet, while many people in the town may have heard the name before, some still aren’t aware of the work that Rotherham’s oldest charity does.
The Feoffees are a board of 12 trustees, linked in some way to Rotherham, who all volunteer their time to help with financially supporting both young and older members of our community. Thanks to the continued compassion and contributions of local businesses and individuals, the Feoffees still maintain their support of the ‘aged, poor and impotent’ for which they have been doing since 1328, long before the Poor Law Relief Act of 1834 was introduced.
Each December, they distribute doles to up to 100 elderly, infirm or disadvantaged people at a ceremony at Rotherham Minster; a time- honoured tradition that has taken place for over 700 years.
When once bread, coal and clothing made up the bulk of the dole, today it is a monetary gift of £50 to each person. None of the recipients are means-tested; instead, the doles are given in good faith to benefit people nominated by other charities or church wardens.
Up until a few decades ago, some of the doles were for differing amounts based on the endowments and legacies that individual donators had specified.
“It is remarkable that someone could have donated money in the 1400s and those funds are still being used to help people in the 21st century. It’s a very special thing to be involved in,” says one of the current feoffees, Chris Hamby.
Together with larger bequests and historic rent accumulated over the centuries, all income gained by the Feoffees is invested astutely. This has enabled three education awards to be initiated, helping fund the future of Rotherham’s young academic talents.
The Feoffees have always been heavily involved in education in the town. They revived the College of Jesus’ grammar school in the 16th century after it was dissolved at the hands of King Henry VIII. Some centuries later, they bought a property on Moorgate Street to house a growing student cohort (the building is now
58
aroundtownmagazine.co.uk Poppy Bowen-Green
an accountancy firm), before purchasing what is now Thomas Rotherham College further up the road in the 1890s.
They also launched Rotherham’s first National School in 1707 on the Crofts to teach children from poor working-class families how to read, write, knit and sew. Later, they built a new charity school in 1776 which is now the Bluecoats public house, named after the blue uniform the children wore.
While local authority and academy trusts have since taken over the governance of education in Rotherham, the Feoffees still provide financial support to three students every year.
There are two scholarships which are both valued at £1,000 and, depending on subjects studied, all sixth form students in Rotherham are eligible to apply.
The Bridges Scholarship is primarily for students who successfully gain a place at university to study maths, physics, chemistry or engineering and is the legacy of Harold Bridges, an Old Boy of Rotherham Grammar School who won a scholarship to study at the University of Durham and who went on to become the CEO of Shell Canada and USA.
Hannah Jones
Cora Lancashire
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