GREATHAM
Gretham (to xv cent.).
The parish of Greatham, which includes the townships of Greatham and Claxton, covers 2,482 acres
on the north bank of the Tees estuary. In the south
and east of the parish, where the Greatham Creek joins
the Tees, the ground is low and alluvial. It gradually
rises, however, to about 100 ft. above the ordnance
datum in the north-west of the township of Claxton,
and most of the parish is gravel on a subsoil of
Keuper marls. It is watered by two streams, Claxton
and Greatham Becks, both flowing south into
Greatham Creek, which forms the southern
boundary. About 1,100 acres are under cultivation, the chief crops being wheat, oats, potatoes and
turnips. (fn. 1)
The village of Greatham, on the east bank of
Greatham Beck, has a main street running south from
the high road between Wolviston and West Hartlepool.
In the 15th century an attempt was made to convert
it into a market town. Henry VI granted a Wednesday market in 1444 to the Master and Brethren of
Greatham Hospital, with fairs on the vigils and feasts
of St. George and the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
and the two days following (22 to 25 April and
13 to 16 September). (fn. 2) These markets and fairs are
not again mentioned, and evidently did not prosper.
A yearly 'feast' is held, however, on St. John Baptist's
Day (24 June), and is known as 'Greatham Midsummer.'
The hospital of Greatham stands on the west side
of the village street. The buildings date only from
1803–4, when they were reconstructed by John
William Egerton, Earl of Bridgwater, the master. (fn. 3)
Architecturally of little or no merit, being in the
pseudo-Gothic style of the day from a design by
Wyatt, they nevertheless possess a certain picturesqueness due in a large measure, no doubt, to their pleasant
surroundings. The buildings are of a single story
and face the south, with a wide centrally placed
entrance porch of three pointed arches, above which,
flanked by embattled parapets, rises a square clock
tower, surmounted by an octagonal lantern or bellturret. The walls are of stone and have been stuccoed.
Over the entrance is a stone with the following
inscription (fn. 4) :—
IN FRATRVM HVIVS HOSPITII VSVM
NON SINE GRATA PATRIS SVI
NVPER EPISCOPI DVNELMENSIS
MEMORIA
IMPENSIS IOHANNIS GVLIELMI EGERTON
COMITIS DE BRIDGEWATER
MAGISTRI
ANNO DOMINI MDCCCIV
REPARATVM . ORNATVM . AMPLIFICATVM
In the middle of the building is a large hall, round
which the rooms of the brethren are arranged on three
sides. Surtees, writing about twenty years after the
erection of the present buildings, says: 'It is not
easy to form any opinion as to the appearance of the
original buildings of the Hospital; they seem to have
stood on a plot of ground, which now forms a lawn in
front of the present structure. Two lines of ancient
trees, skirting the ground and sheltering it on two
sides, exactly mark out the site.' (fn. 5) In 1724 the
whole of the hospital buildings, as well the Master's
house as the lodgings of the Brethren, were extremely ruinous and dilapidated, propped in some
places on the outside by large pieces of timber. (fn. 6) The
master's house, known as Greatham Hall, a plain
stone building of three stories, to the south-west of
the hospital, was built in the following year by
Dormer Parkhurst, master. It was stuccoed about
1820 and additions were made in 1857. The
chapel stands directly to the west of the parish church
and to the south-east of the master's house. Having
become ruinous, the old building was taken down in
1788 and the present structure erected on the old
foundations except on the north side. In plan it is a
plain rectangle measuring internally 36 ft. 6 in. by
24 ft. 6 in., with a bell-turret at the west end forming
a small porch 5 ft. by 3 ft. 6 in., approached by a
flight of steps. The roof is slated, and finishes on a
moulded corbel table which is carried along the end
gables. There are three round-headed sash windows
on each side, and a similar window now filled with
stained glass at the east end. Above the east window
outside is the date 1788 with a carved head over.
The turret has two round-headed openings east and
west and one to the north and south, and has a hipped
slated roof with good iron weather vane. An old
stoup is built into the south end of the east wall, and
the ancient altar slab is still in use. In the centre of
the flagged floor is a large slab of blue stone round
which, on a fillet of brass, is the inscription, '+ Hic
Iacet Magister Wilelmvs de Middiltovn Sacre Pagine
Doctor Qvondam Cvstos Dom istivs Orate Pro Eo.'
On the north wall is a brass with an inscription
in Gothic characters: 'Orate pro a[nima]abus Nicholai
hulme Jo[han]is Kelyng et Wi[llel]mi Estfelde clericorum
quond[am] huius hospital's magistrorum ac parentum
fundatorum suorum benefactorum atqz o[mniu]m fidelium
def[un]ctorum quorum a[nimabus] p[ro]picietr deus Amen.' (fn. 7)
The interior of the chapel was restored in 1899
and new oak fittings in the 18th-century style
inserted.
Hutchinson, writing a few years before the demolition of the old chapel, describes the chancel as
entire, but the nave as much mutilated, 'nothing but
the cross aile remaining at the north-west and southwest corners, at which you enter; and there is a
short aile at each end, formed by two pillars supporting pointed arches … the pillars of the south
aile are circular, the north octagonal.' (fn. 8) The
chancel alone was then used for divine service, the
'outer part serving as a saloon or portico, separated by
a screen and stalls covered with heavy canopies of
wood-work.' (fn. 9) Over the entrance to the chancel were
the Royal arms dated 1696. The chapel contained a
'fine recumbent effigy, delicately cut in stone,' and the
wooden effigy of an ecclesiastic said to have been
that of Andrew Stanley, the first master. Both
figures have disappeared. (fn. 10) Below the latter was
found a stone coffin containing a skeleton with a
chalice lying on the left side.
The plate consists of a covered cup and paten of
1670, inscribed 'The gift of Sr Gilbert Garard to ye
Chappell of Gretham Hospitall for ever,' and with
the donor's arms; and a flagon of German or
Dutch make chased on the sides with three designs
representing Faith, Hope and Charity, with inscriptions in Latin. (fn. 11)
In 1910 the hospital lodged thirteen brothers.
Though it was always designed as a refuge for the
poor, it seems in the 16th century to have been
used rather as a house of entertainment for gentlemen. The Duke of Suffolk intended in 1543 to be
there 'with his grewhondes' (fn. 12) ; and in 1569 the
Bishop of Durham stated that 'the last master had
kept a good house for gentlemen, but not so many
poor nor so well used as the foundation requires.' (fn. 13)
Probably this state of affairs was altered after the
second foundation of the house in 1610. (fn. 14) Near
Greatham Hall is the parish church of St. John
Baptist. On the north is the hospital for six poor
widows founded by Dormer Parkhurst in 1762.
Higher up the street is a Methodist chapel.
About 1240 a toft outside the vill of Claxton' was
quitclaimed to Leo de Claxton. There is now no
village of Claxton, and the population of the township lives in a few scattered farms, the chief of which
is Claxton Grange. The toft in question was ' on
the north side of the way leading to Hartlepool,' (fn. 15)
from which it seems that the footpath leading from
Claxton Farm across Greatham Beck into the Hartlepool road was once itself a road. There was a
manor-house at Claxton in the 15th century, (fn. 16) of
which no traces remain.
The West Hartlepool branch of the North Eastern
railway passes through the parish, and has a station
half a mile to the south of the village. Adjoining
the station are the Greatham saltworks. The salt
industry is of very long standing in the parish, (fn. 17)
though it had a period of eclipse in the 18th and
19th centuries. The will of Thomas Gaile, dated
1581, mentions his sand and coal at the saltcote,
and his twenty-seven 'hives' of salt. (fn. 18) In 1650 it
was stated that the saltcotes had been washed away
or ruined by the tides, and the salt rent paid to the
hospital by various farms adjoining the marshes was
reduced to eight loads per annum. (fn. 19) Certain lands
were burdened with rents of loads of salt, but these
and a rabbit warren were released in exchange for
land in 1663. (fn. 20) The remains of the saltworks were
still to be seen in the early 19th century. At that
date some of the inhabitants of the parish found
profitable employment in the cockle beds in the
mouth of the Tees.
The common fields of Greatham were inclosed in
1650. (fn. 21)
MANORS
The manor of GREATHAM belonged
to the barony of the Bertrams of
Mitford, Northumberland, (fn. 22) and holders
of Stainton in the Street (q.v.). William Bertram in
1196 paid 32s. for the tallage of Greatham. (fn. 23) His son
and heir Roger held the vill between 1208 and 1217
as of his barony and died in 1242. (fn. 24) His son Roger (fn. 25)
was a minor in the custody of the Crown in 1246,
when the king presented to Greatham Church in his
right. (fn. 26) This Roger was a member of the Baronial
party and in close sympathy with Peter de Montfort,
one of the most prominent leaders of the movement. (fn. 27)
In 1263 Roger agreed to give Agnes, his eldest
daughter, in marriage to one of Peter's sons, and
certain settlements were made of lands in Northumberland. (fn. 28) It seems probable that Greatham was
included in these conveyances, for Greatham was
forfeited to the Crown after
the Battle of Evesham in
August 1265, when the elder
Peter de Montfort was killed,
and Peter his son was wounded
and captured. (fn. 29) Peter gave his
Rutlandshire manor of Cottesmore as ransom to Thomas
de Clare, and Thomas further
obtained from the Crown a
grant of the manor of Greatham. (fn. 30) Robert Stichill, then
Bishop of Durham, disputed
the right of the Crown to this escheat, and the king
thereupon revoked the grant of the manor which he
had made to Thomas de Clare, and resigned it absolutely to the Bishop. (fn. 31) The case of Greatham was
accordingly quoted in all disputes concerning the
bishop's regal rights in the County Palatine. (fn. 32)
Bertram of Mitford. Azure a scutcheon or.
Stichill strengthened his title to the manor by
obtaining a release from his 'special friend' Peter
son of Sir Peter de Montfort, (fn. 33) and another,
apparently from Roger Bertram. (fn. 34) He then
assigned it to a hospital dedicated to St. Mary
and St. Cuthbert, which he established at Greatham
in 1272. (fn. 35) With the manor he granted to the master
and brethren of the hospital the privileges of exemption from scot, toll, tallage, and geld in markets and
fairs, and suit of wapentakes throughout the bishopric.
They were to be free from all amercements before the
bishop's justices, saving only to the bishop his justice
of life and limb. (fn. 36) Anthony Bek (1284–1311)
added a grant of free warren. (fn. 37)
The manor was regranted to the hospital in the
charter of James I, (fn. 38) and has remained the chief part
of its endowment.
Certain tenements in Greatham, held of the master
of the hospital, (fn. 39) belonged in 1389 to the Fulthorp
family, (fn. 40) and followed during the 15th and 16th centuries the descent of their manor of Tunstall (fn. 41) (q.v.).
The vill of CLAXTON (Clacstona, xi cent.) was
among those quitclaimed by Robert Earl of Northumberland to William de St. Calais, Bishop of Durham
(1081–9). (fn. 42) It is next mentioned about 1183, when
Walter de Buggethorpe held the vill of Twizel in
exchange for one moiety of the vill of Claxton. (fn. 43)
Evidently the bishop granted it out in the late
12th century in two moieties. One was held of
him directly by the family of Heriz; the other
was held by the same family, with mesne lordships intervening. The second belonged in the
early 13th century to Walter de Musters, of whom it
was held by Leo de Heriz and Gregory de Levingthorp. Walter's son William was the chief lord of
the fee about 1241–9. (fn. 44) A mesne lordship was held
at that date by John de Romsey, to whom Walter de
Musters seems to have granted the services of the
tenants in demesne. (fn. 45) This lordship and rent John
de Romsey granted to the hospital of St. Giles,
Kepier, (fn. 46) and the descendants of Leo de Heriz paid
the rent to the hospital in 1380. (fn. 47)
The first member of the family of Heriz to hold
land here seems to have been Henry. William de
Heriz granted 2 oxgangs of land in Claxton, which
had belonged to Henry de Heriz, to St. Giles Hospital in the late 12th or early 13th century. (fn. 48) Leo
son of William de Heriz was a contemporary of
Walter de Musters, (fn. 49) and was probably the Leo who
was sheriff of Durham under Bishop Philip (1197–1208) and mentioned as a tenant in the bishopric
in 1211. (fn. 50) He must also be identified with the Leo
de Heriz who assigned to the Prior of Durham
2 oxgangs as the endowment of a chapel at Claxton.
A later prior released them to his grandson Leo in
1233–44. (fn. 51) The latter was
called Leo de Claxton, (fn. 52) and
was probably succeeded by
the Sir William de Heriz who
lived at Claxton in 1264. (fn. 53)
Roger de Claxton occurs as
lord of Claxton in 1272, (fn. 54) and
was succeeded before 1310 by
another Roger, (fn. 55) who was summoned in 1312 to appear
before the bishop with his
sons Leo, John, Michael, William and Robert. (fn. 56) Leo, his
heir, granted Adam Bedell 4
oxgangs in Claxton in 1335. (fn. 57)
In 1349 he had licence to grant all his lands in
Durham to his son William (fn. 58) and Joan de Neville (fn. 59)
his wife and the issue of William. (fn. 60) Leo was dead
in the next year, when four messuages and a croft
called the Ladygarth were assigned to his widow
Alice as her dower. (fn. 61) William Claxton married as
his second wife Isabel, daughter and heir of William
Menevill and lady of Horden (fn. 62) (q.v). He seems to
have been lying ill at Bordeaux in October 1379
when he bequeathed 18 marks for three years to an
Augustinian William de Bridlington for prayers for
the benefit of his soul; (fn. 63) he died in or before 1380. (fn. 64)
Isabel retained a life interest by a settlement, and
survived her husband forty years; (fn. 65) their son William
Claxton then succeeded. (fn. 66) He died in 1431, his son
Robert being his heir. (fn. 67) A settlement of the manor
on Robert and Ann his wife was made in 1442. (fn. 68)
He lived till about 1483, (fn. 69) and left four daughters
and co-heirs: Margaret wife of Sir William Embleton,
Joan wife of John Cartington, Elizabeth wife of
Richard Conyers, and Felicia wife of Ralph
Widdrington. (fn. 70) By a partition of his property Sir
William Embleton and Margaret came into possession of Claxton, which followed the descent of
William's manors of Embleton and Twisdale into the
hands of Bertram Bulmer. (fn. 71) Bertram Bulmer with
Isabel his wife and William Bulmer his son conveyed
half the manor and lands here to Sir Thomas Riddell
in 1626 and in the same year they leased a cottage
and some 80 acres of land to Richard and Robert
Johnson for 100 years. (fn. 72) In 1631 Bertram
alienated the manor to Richard Johnson the elder,
licence for the alienation of one half of the manor
being obtained from the Bishop in 1632. (fn. 73) It was
never again held as a whole by any lord. The Johnson
family retained their interest, but nothing is known of
their pedigree. In 1684 George Johnson, Matthew
Johnson, William Johnson, Robert Johnson, and
another William were freeholders. (fn. 74) Robert Gibson,
another freeholder of that date, was probably the
heir of Anthony and William Gibson to whom
William Gibson, senior, granted land here in 1638. (fn. 75)
In 1740 William and Anthony Gibson conveyed half
of a messuage, 40 acres of arable, 40 of meadow, and
30 of pasture to Ralph Ward. He, with Isabel his
wife and Anthony his son and heir, conveyed two
messuages and land here to George Johnson in
February 1691–2. (fn. 76) This may, however, have been
for the purposes of a trust, for in 1751 William Stratforth and Elizabeth his wife conveyed two messuages
and 300 acres here to William Graham. (fn. 77) At the
beginning of the 19th century William Byers had an
estate. (fn. 78) The principal landowners at the present day
are J. Holborn, W. Robinson, Robert Henry Dryden
and Joseph Atkinson.
Claxton. Gules a fesse between three hedgehogs argent.
The land of Kepier Hospital in Claxton followed
the descent of the manor of Kepier into the possession
of the family of Heath. (fn. 79)
CHURCH
The church of ST. JOHN BAPTIST
consists of a chancel 27 ft. 9 in. by 17 ft.
4 in., with north organ-chamber and
south vestry, clearstoried nave of five bays 56 ft. by
20 ft., north and south aisles 7 ft. 6 in. wide, north
porch, and west tower 12 ft. square, all these measurements being internal.
With the exception of the nave arcades the present
structure is entirely modern, the old church having
been taken down and rebuilt in 1792–3, (fn. 80) when a
tower was added at the west end. Hutchinson,
writing a few years before the rebuilding, describes
the structure of his time as consisting of a nave with
north and south aisles, arcades of three pillars supporting light pointed arches, and a chancel opening
under a wide round arch springing from hexagonal
pilasters. (fn. 81) The 18th-century church was largely
built with the old materials and its cost partly borne
by the proceeds of the sale of the lead of the old roof. (fn. 82)
The lower part of the nave walls may be ancient.
There was a gallery at the west end supported by
iron pillars. In 1855 the church was considerably
altered, the nave being extended eastward a bay,
necessitating the destruction of the chancel arch, and
a new chancel erected. The clearstory was added in
1869 and the organ-chamber and vestry in 1881. In
1908 the west tower was taken down, and a new
tower built in the year following.
The structure taken down in 1792, the piers and
arches of which remain, dated from about 1180–90,
but fragments of earlier work found during the
demolition of the 18th-century tower point to there
having been an older church on the site. A portion
of a pre-Conquest cross-head with interlacing ornament
and part of a cross-shaft or grave slab with early
Norman carving were embedded in the masonry of
the tower. Three others, two of early Norman type
and one possibly part of a pre-Conquest cross, were
dug up from beneath the foundations of the tower and
west wall of the nave. But better evidence of a
building is a rough fragment, possibly part of a turned
baluster shaft, and in the chancel, supporting a pre-Reformation altar slab of Frosterley marble still in
use, are two turned balusters with capital and base,
which apparently have been dividing shafts in the
window of a late Saxon tower. (fn. 83) Whether these
latter shafts belonged to a church at Greatham
or were brought from elsewhere is necessarily
uncertain, but taken in conjunction with the
early fragments discovered in 1908 the evidence
seems to point to a pre-Conquest structure on the
site, restored or perhaps entirely rebuilt in the early
part of the 12th century. During a restoration in
1860 it is stated that 'the foundations of a smaller
church were found inside the present shell and the
substructure of the old chancel arch could be clearly
traced,' (fn. 84) but these remains, if still existing, are no
longer visible. Of the later fragments found in
1908 one is a portion of a plain piscina of early
Norman type.
The four western bays of the nave arcade belong
to the building of c. 1180–90. The arches are
pointed and of two orders, but differ in detail. The
westernmost piers on either side are octagonal, but
the others, including the two new piers at the east
end, are circular. On the north side the first, third,
and fifth arches from the east are of two plain chamfered orders, but the second and fourth (first and
third of the original work) have a double cheveron
moulding on the outer order towards the nave, while
the inner order has a roll on the angle. Towards
the aisle both orders are chamfered. The two original
cylindrical piers on the north side have circular necks
with octagonal abaci, the second bearing traces of
having had volutes at the angles, now cut away.
The bases follow the section of the pillars. The
octagonal western pier has a moulded octagonal capital
and base and the arch springs at the west end from a
semi-octagonal fluted corbel. On the south side the
arches consist of two plain chamfered orders and the
piers follow the design of those opposite. Built into
the north wall in 1860 are three 12th-century fragments, one with an indented moulding and the others
with star and other diaper patterns.
The modern chancel has a three-light east window
and pointed chancel arch. The pre-Reformation altar
slab with its five crosses has already been referred to.
The reredos dates from 1880.
The tower (fn. 85) is of three stages with embattled
parapet and west window of three lights. It contains two bells cast in 1837.
The font is of the same date as the nave arcades
and consists of a circular bowl of Frosterley marble,
on a shaft and moulded base. (fn. 86) The pulpit and all
the fittings are modern.
The plate consists of a chalice and cover paten of
1571, the former with a band of leaf ornament, and
the latter with the date inscribed on the button (fn. 87) ;
and a chalice of 1839 inscribed 'In usum Eccles. S[ancti]
Johannis Bapt. in Greatham. D. D.—H. B. Tristram
olim Vicarius A.D. 1874.' There is also a plated
paten and flagon presented in 1842 by the Rev. John
Brewster, vicar, and a pewter plate.
The registers begin in 1559. The Churchwardens'
Accounts extend from 1715 to 1856.
The churchyard was enlarged in 1887 by the
addition of an acre of land a little way off to the south-east, given by the trustees of the hospital. In the
churchyard is a stone cross bearing the names of those
from this parish who fell in the Great War.
ADVOWSON
The church of Greatham, which
belonged in 1246 to the heir of
Roger Bertram, (fn. 88) was granted with
the manor to the hospital of Greatham by Robert
Stichill. (fn. 89) His charter gave the master and brethren
the right of appropriating the church after the death
or resignation of Maurice the clerk, then holding it. (fn. 90)
A new licence for appropriation was granted by
Anthony Bek (1284–1311), (fn. 91) presumably when the
living was vacated by Maurice. The appropriation
took place before 1291. (fn. 92) In 1312 the master of
the hospital entered a conditional appeal against the
claim of some persons unnamed to present a rector to
the church of Greatham. (fn. 93) A vicarage was ordained
before 1343. (fn. 94) The master and brethren of the
hospital have continued to exercise the patronage
down to the present day. (fn. 95)
A chapel is attached to the hospital, and the vicar
held till 1855 the office of chaplain. Robert Betson,
'parochial chaplain,' is mentioned in a visitation of
1501. (fn. 96) In 1594 the vicar said service at the hospital
twice a day and received in return his diet and a
yearly sum of £2. (fn. 97) The office of chaplain was
abolished in 1855 and a rule was made that masters
were to be in holy orders. (fn. 98) They were still permitted to combine the two offices, which are now
held separately.
A chapel at Claxton, belonging to the Prior of
Durham, was released between 1233 and 1244
to Leo de Claxton for his private use. He was
to be at liberty to have divine service celebrated
there at his own cost, but was bound to attend the
mother church of Billingham on the four principal
feast days. (fn. 99) This chapel was still in existence in
1430, (fn. 100) but is not again mentioned. Evidently
Claxton belonged originally to the neighbouring
parish of Billingham. Like Billingham, it was in the
original ward of Stockton, whereas Greatham was
part of the wapentake of Sadberge. The date when
it was transferred to Greatham parish is not known,
but the tithe corn of Claxton belonged to Greatham
Hospital in 1594. (fn. 101)
CHARITIES
The hospital of God was founded
by Robert Stichell, Bishop of Durham,
by letters patent bearing date the Sunday before the Epiphany 1272, and is administered
by the master and brethren under the provisions of a
scheme of the High Court of
Chancery of 31 July 1866,
and schemes of the Charity
Commissioners of 27 April
1883, 1 November 1910, and
18 June 1918. The trust
estate consists of the buildings
and 1,700 acres orthereabouts,
certain reserved rents on unexpired leases, a tithe rentcharge of about £120, the
income from real estate
amounting to about £5,000,
and £1,064 17s. from personal estate, being the dividends on India 3 per cent. stock
and consols, 5 per cent. War Stock, and 3½ per cent.
Conversion Stock with the official trustees. The
scheme directs that there shall be thirteen
in-brethren, who shall each receive £12 per annum
and clothing, and thirteen out-brethren, who
shall each receive £26 per annum, with medical
attendance, with provision for the extension of the
benefits, when the funds should warrant, to forty
brethren. The number of out-brethren at present
is twenty-seven. The in-brethren also receive a hot
dinner daily, and a daily allowance of milk, bread
and butter, fuel and light. A dole of meal is likewise
distributed to twenty-six poor persons. A grant of
£75 is made annually to the vicar of Greatham, and
under an order of the Charity Commissioners of
17 May 1904 a grant not to exceed £80 a year is
made yearly to the Greatham Church of England
Schools. (fn. 102)
Stichell, Bishop of Durham. Or a bend sable cotised azure with a molet argent between two bezants on the bend.
A piece of land containing 3 a. 1 r. in Greatham
is vested in the master and brethren of the hospital,
by whom it is let on leases for certain lives in
trust for the poor. The property known as
Poor Folks Cottage Field produces £13 a year,
which is applied, 5s. yearly in doles of white bread at
Candlemas, and the remainder in sums of 5s. to poor
widows at Whitsuntide and Christmas.
In 1669 Dr. Samuel Rand gave £100 by deed
for the use of the poor, which was laid out in the
purchase of a rent-charge of £6 issuing out of land
at Thornton in Yorkshire, which is applied in apprenticing boys and girls. The charge was redeemed in
1919 by the transfer of £240 2½ per cent. consols
with the official trustees, producing £6 yearly.
In 1762 Dormer Parkhurst, by deed, founded and
endowed almshouses for six almswomen or 'sisters,'
being widows or unmarried women of fifty years or
upwards. The endowments consist of the almshouse,
buildings, and a piece of ground in Greatham, and
16 a. 3 r. at Stockton-on-Tees; £4,853 17s. 7d.
consols, arising from sales of land from time to time,
and £232 14s. 1d. India 3 per cent. stock, which are
held by the official trustees, producing together £145
yearly. The charity is regulated by a scheme of the
Charity Commissioners 6 July 1886. Each of the
inmates receives £13 16s. yearly, 2s. at Easter and
Whitsuntide, and 4s. at Christmas, with allowances
for coal, clothing and medical attendance.
In 1819 Matthew Carr, by his will proved at
York, bequeathed £100, the interest to be distributed among the poor at Christmas. The legacy is
represented by £104 19s. 6d. consols, with the
official trustees. The annual dividends, amounting to
£2 12s. 4d., are distributed among poor widows and
single women in sums varying from 2s. 6d. to 5s. each.
In 1916 Maud Appleby, by will proved 10 February, gave £2,000 6 per cent. Exchequer Bonds,
one half of the income therefrom to be applied to the
upkeep of the churchyard and cemetery and the
remaining half to the deserving poor. The endowment now consists of £2,105 5s. 5 per cent. War
Stock with the official trustees, producing £105 5s. 2d.
yearly. In 1926 £27 3s. was distributed in money
grants and £33 8s. in relief in kind.