North Crawley United Charities
The Parochial Charities have by a scheme of the Charity Commissioners of 1st March 1907 been consolidated. They comprise the Charities of:
- Hester Bryan for apprenticing, will 1688, trust fund, £312.16s.9d. consols, arising from the sale of land at Marston Moretaine (Bedfordshire). The annual dividends, amounting to £7.16s.4d., are applied in providing premiums for apprenticing.
- John Bryan, will 1655, trust fund, £250. 10s. 3d. consols, arising from the sale of land in Marston Moretaine and producing £6. 5s. 4d. yearly, which is applied in distributing shoes and gowns for poor widows.
- Roger Hackett, D.D., will 1621, being an annuity of £1 issuing out of a field known as Eastfield’s in North Crawley, one moiety being applicable for the poor and other moiety towards the repair of the highways.
- John Cooper will proved in the Archdeaconry Court of Buckingham, 11th March 1635, being an annuity of 2s. issuing out of the rectory glebe, applied with the income of the town lands.
Town Lands Allotments, Folly Lane
- The town lands have been in possession of the parish from time to time immemorial, the earliest deed extant being dated 1625. The property consists of 6 acres, known as the town lands, 2a. 1r. known as the East End Pightle, and 2 roods as the Broad Mead. The lands, which are also supposed to include land given by one Richard Kilpin, are let in allotments producing about £12. 10s. yearly. The Charity is also possessed of three cottages let at £8. 2s. 6d. yearly and of a rent-charge of 2s. 6d.
- The net income is applied in the distribution of bread and tea, and a small part in doles of money.
- Nonconformist Charity – In 1895 Tryphena Coales, by her will proved at Oxford 23rd August, bequeathed £300, the interest to be applied for the benefit at Christmas time of necessitous persons worshipping at the Congregational Chapel at North Crawley.
- The legacy was invested in £330. 11s. 7d. consols, producing £8. 5s. yearly. The Charity is regulated by a scheme of the Charity Commissioners as of 16th October 1906.
- The several sums of stock above mentioned are held by the official trustees.
- The North Crawley United Charities still operates today with similar income and beneficiaries mainly for Education and Christmas Gifts.
- Other Registered Charities in the Village are
- St Firmin’s Church
- Friends of St Firmin’s
- North Crawley Institute