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Cullompton has a large number of charities applicable to many and
varied purposes, the greater number of which were bequeathed during the
early part of the seventeenth century. Four were devoted to gifts of
bread, four for the provision of linen, two were for religious books,
and four were for money gifts. That of John and Henry Hill was one of
the richest, and provided about forty coats and cloaks for poor men
every year.
The most important was that of George Spicer,
who in 1624 left the rent of the farm called Coombe for the binding of
apprentices, and usually about four or five boys were bound every year.
The
Almshouses were founded by John Trott who declared in his will 28
January 14 Henry VIII, 'that his executors and overseers should, with
the remains of such goods as he had then, and with the debts owing to
him, purchase lands as well as for the maintenance of a priest forever
to celebrate within the church of Cullompton, as also for the relief of
six poor men to have their habitations in an almshouse, which he willed
to be built in that town'. He also willed that 'the same poor men
should have their sustenation sixpence apiece by the week.'
The
priestly maintenance fee and the sixpence a week have disappeared, but
the present almshouses stand to commemorate John Trott's gift. They had
fallen into very bad repair, when in 1883 James Martin left £400 to
restore them. At this time a room was added. In 1906 the late Frank
Sellwood Esq. gave £100 to provide an income for upkeep, and in the
early sixties, they were renovated and modernised.
In 1921
the Charity Commissioners approved a scheme for uniting the
administration of a number of the charities of the town under the
management of a body of Trustees. In about 1962, the Cullompton United
Charities were still further regulated so that the funds of most of
them could be pooled and disbursement made in money rather than kind,
although a few, such as the Spicer Trust, are still kept separate.
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