The CHARITIES Of Aston-on-Trent

Extract from a typewritten copy made?? (sometime after 1934)

The Charities of Aston amount to £25 per annum the income being derived from various parcels of land as under:

A piece of land in ‘Thornboroughs’, a field adjoining the Aston-Chellaston road (back lane!) produces £4/5/0 per annum and is let to the Earl of Harrington’s Estate.

A piece of land on Longcroft Farm Aston in the occupation of Mr G Brace produces £2 per annum

A small field on Shadlow Road Aston at present let to Mr E Clulow, produces £2/16/0 per annum

The above are known as the Aston Charities and are managed by 5 Trustees 3 being life members (Messrs O. Forman, C. Wall, J. Orton) & 2 appointed by the Parish council on a four year basis.

Until 1916 the charities were distributed in the form of coal and was known as ‘COAL MONEY. The coal being carted from the station and tipped in the open space in front of the present post office, where it was weighed out and distributed by local farmers who did the carting for free.

As the price of coal increased the Charity monies have been given to the widows and deserving poor of the parish in sums varying from £1 to 5/-

THE ALMS HOUSES. (prior to I 935)

Under the control of the Rector are four Alms houses situated on the Green. These houses are maintained by the rents of ‘the Spring Gardens’ a piece of land on Derby Road let to various parishioners as allotments.

OTHER “CHARITIES”

The late MAJOR E.L.S HOLDEN when squire of Aston gave at Xmas time 2lbs of beef to all his tenants over 16 years of age. When Colonel Winterbottom became landlord he continued the same gift during his lifetime.

The late Rev. J.S.HOLDEN gave 2lbs of beef to all widow & old person as a Xmas gift.

The late Mrs W.D. WINTERBOTTOM at Xmas time gave widows, old people & those with large families, gifts of Plum Puddings, Rabbits, Blankets and other useful warm gifts.

During winter months soup was given to widows & old people from the 3 houses in the village, the Hall, Rectory and the Lodge. Also on the first day of the winter that people received soup, flannel was given to the women for petticoats & to the men for undershirts.