The oldest of the charities in the Wiveliscombe Area.

Residents of the Wiveliscombe have left land and money in their wills and benefactions for the good of less fortunate parishoners since the 1600s. These benefactions were administered by the Vicar and Churchwardens with the Overseer of the poor until the mid 1800s when the Government of the time resolved that all parochial charities throughout the land should be under the control of The Charity Commissioners in London and locally under the control of a body of persons more representative of the parish as a whole. To this end “local men of quality and standing in the parish” were chosen so the local Trustees, 13 in all, came into being in 1877. These new trustees became responsible for bequeathed land and money and were (and still are) charged with the duty to administer these for the benefit of the parish of Wiveliscombe and its residents. Many of the original bequests specified how the bequest was to be applied, for instance, the relief of the poor, the parish church or the fostering of learning amongst the poor children of the parish. During the 1800s and the early 1900s the land in the care of the trustees was sold and the proceeds of the sale invested, the Trustees of the time obviously thought it best to divest themselves of land, much of which was old tenement property and to invest the proceeds with the prospect of regular income. Over the years the Trustees have seen capital decrease in value and social conditions change. However the present Trustees try to abide by the provisions of the original bequests as far as is possible.Young people and senior citizens still benefit as far as the limited income from investments will allow.