Poors Lands
There was only one document relating to these Poors Lands presented to the Charity Commissioners when they made their report in 1824.
The Deed dated 20th April 1627, said that widow Ann Monday and her son William lately of Belle Eau Park, Kirklington released to Abraham Barton, John Gates, Leonard Bacon and William Rawlinson, then churchwardens of Edwinstowe, “a message or tenement, with appurtenances (accessories) in the occupation of Thomas Elmer and in all the houses, gardens, orchards and closes (meadows)”.
In 1824, the charity had a small house and homestead, six fields of old enclosed land totalling about 16 acres and two allotments in the south of Sherwood Forest – 57 acres and 34 acres which were enclosed under an act passed in 1818 for disforesting, dividing and inclosing the land, together with 40 acres in the forest sold in 1820 for £375 to cover the cost of fencing. The whole property was occupied by Joseph Peatfield, let to him at Michaelmas 1823 at a fair rent of £60 per annum. The two allotments were unoccupied and produced no rent.
From the interest of around £60, George Fletcher, churchwarden, used £30 for the poor of the township of Edwinstowe whilst another part was divided between Clipstone and Budby. In Edwinstowe, Fletcher prepared a list which he gave to a shopkeeper with instructions to make weekly payments either in money or goods, at the option of the poor persons! Weekly sums varied between 5 shillings and £1. There was a separate list of non-resident poor and even a small amount to relieve anyone who from accidental circumstances may be considered particular objects of charity. The Commissioners noted that the accounts had not been audited annually by the inhabitants and were not kept neatly in a book.
The poor in Budby received various sums at Christmas, but in 1824, £1 was also put towards apprenticing a poor local boy. At Clipstone, the churchwardens distributed the money between the poorest settled inhabitants at Christmas, with the exception of a small balance to distribute bread on Good Friday, when every poor widow received a sixpenny loaf, every other person a penny loaf. The charity continued to distribute money to the poor, mostly pensioners but the fund brought in little money.
When Ann Monday’s Almshouses on Mill Lane were demolished in the 1970’s, the remaining funds were invested. By the 1980’s in Clipstone it totalled about £25. A study group set up in 1998 took advice from Voluntary Services, Age Concern and Newark & Sherwood District Council and resulted in a scheme to provide emergency transport for the elderly in the villages. A Voluntary Drivers Scheme was set up in Edwinstowe in 1999. (see A Celebration of Kings Clipstone, 2005).
When Reverend John Ford wrote for Acorn community newspaper in the 1990’s, “195 useful gifts had been made to Edwinstowe residents the previous Christmas, but the committee decided to concentrate on clubs for senior citizens, local schools and higher education students. “
Today, the trust trustees will consider applications for grant relief within Edwinstowe, Budby and Clipstone Parishes. Enquires should be made to the clerk at the church office. Telephone 01623 822430