ALMSHOUSES

The following almshouses and charities, unless otherwise expressed, are vested in trust with the Corporation, and were formerly under the management of one of the members of the "Chamber," called the warden of the poor, but are now under the control of the General Charity Trustees. (See page 96.)

The TEN CELLS, in Preston street, are almshouses for ten poor widows, and were built by Simon Grendon, who, in 1406, endowed them with 4A. 2R. 8P. of land in St. Sidwell parish, called Culverlands. They have since been endowed with other land and buildings by the following donors, viz.:- Alice Heyth, in 1556; Wm. Buckenam, in 1563; David Hensley, in 1566; Wm. Herne, in 1562; and John Baker, in 1603. The property thus acquired is worth about £280 per annum, but is let for only about £30, on leases for lives, on the renewal of which large fines are levied. From the latter source, the trustees held £400 in 1821. The ten almspeople have also a share of the charities of Mrs. Tuckfield, Richard Lant, and Thos. Cook, as afterwards noticed. Their various allowances amount to about 5s. per week per head; and they have gowns and shifts yearly from the charity of Mrs. Joan Tuckfield, who, in 1567, left two houses in Fore street, to provide gowns and shifts and 5s. yearly for 12 poor women. These houses have been improperly leased for 1000 years, at nominal rents, in consideration of £530 paid in two fines to the Corporation. The ten almspeople have 4s. 8d. yearly, from the charity of David Hensley.

WM. HURST'S ALMSHOUSES for 12 poor men, comprise a row of 12 tenements, with a small garden to each. They are situated in Paris street, and were built in 1821, in lieu of as many old decayed almshouses, which stood without the East gate, and were built and endowed by Wm. Hurst, in 1567. The endowment consists 'of various houses and building sites in the parishes of St. David and St. Sidwell, now let on leases, at rents amounting to about £130 per annum, besides which the charity has the interest of about £1000, held by the Corporation, and derived from fines paid on the renewal of leases, &c. The twelve almspeople have each a weekly stipend of 4s. 6d., and occasional allowances of coals. They are allowed to have their wives with them, and when a married man. dies, his widow is sometimes permitted to remain in the same house till her death. The Devon and Exeter Subscription Rooms (built in 1821,) stand upon part of the hospital land, which is held on lease, at the yearly rent of £60. These rooms form a handsome public building, standing on the site of the old Bristol Inn, and their original proprietors pulled down the old, and built the present almshouses, pursuant to the terms of their lease.

PALMER'S ALMSHOUSES, in Magdalen street, consist of four tenements, with gardens, inhabited by as many poor widows, who each receive 2s. weekly, and other occasional assistance from Thomas Cook's gift, as afterwards noticed. They were founded in 1487 by John Palmer, who endowed them with two houses, a cottage and garden, &c., in Trinity parish, now worth £112 per annum, though let on leases for lives at small reserved rents, amounting to only £2. 13s. 4d., but subject to fines on every renewal of the leases.

BONVILLE'S AND LANT'S ALMSHOUSES, in Bartholomew street:- In 1408, Sir Wm. Bonville, Knight, left several tenements in Exeter, and 300 marks, for the endowment of an hospital for 12 poor people. In 1675, Richard Lant left a farm of 68A. 1B. 1P., at Buckland, in Dorsetshire, for the benefit of the poor in these almshouses and in the Ten Cells. The old almshouses went to ruin about 1700, and the present almshouses, near the North gate, were built in 1764, at the cost of £746, derived from the savings of income. The farm. left by Mr. Lant is now let for about £100 per annum. The only other property belonging to the almshouses in 1821 was about £1500, mostly in the hands of the Corporation. The 12 almspeople here receive 3s. 6d. each per week, and those in the Ten Cells have £2 per lunar month divided among them.

ATWILL'S ALMSHOUSES, in New North road, are neat stone dwellings on an elevated site. In 1588, Lawrence Atwill left about 320 acres of land, and several houses, &c., in the parishes of St. Thomas, Whitstone, and Uffculme, to the Corporation of Exeter, upon trust to apply the yearly profits thereof in setting the poor to work. As the charitable intentions of the testator could not be strictly or beneficially carried into effect, a new scheme was sanctioned by the Court of Chancery in 1771, directing that in future the rents and profits of the charity estate should be applied in the erection and support of almshouses for the reception of poor aged woollen weavers, &c., of the city, who should be provided with looms, &c., and small weekly stipends. Accordingly 12 almshouses were built in 1772. In consequence of the increased income of the charity, these almshouses were enlarged in 1815, at the cost of £425; and again in 1839, at the cost of £160. They are now occupied by 24 WYNalmspeople, who are provided with coals in winter; but only 16 of them have weekly stipends of 2s. 6d. each, and none of them are provided with looms. The charity estate is let to fifteen tenants, at rents amounting to about £250 per annum, and large sums are occasionally received for the renewal of leases and the sale of timber.

DAVYE'S ALMSHOUSES, for two married couples and two single women or men, are in Bartholomew street, and wore founded by John Davye, who endowed them, in the 42nd Elizabeth, with a yearly rent-charge of £16 out of the rectory of Mariansleigh; 6s. 6d. yearly out of the George Inn; and with five tenements, worth £30 a year, but let for only £6, in consideration of £200 paid in fines on the renewal of the leases. Including the dividends of £232. 1s. 6d., Navy five per cent. stock, the annual income of the almshouses is £33. 4s. 8d., from which about 2s. 6d. per week is paid to the occupants of each of the four tenements.

LETHBRIDGE'S ALMSHOUSES for six poor people are in St. James, street, and were founded by Chpr. Lethbridge, who endowed them in 1669, with £15. 12s. yearly out of two houses, and about 18A. of land, worth about £100 per annum, but they were let, about 1790, on leases for lives, at rents amounting only to £12. 1s., in consideration of £510 paid in fines. This property is held by the Corporation, subject to the above-named annuity for division among the six almspeople, who have also £7. 14s. yearly from the charity of John Lethbridge, who left £216 to the Corporation, upon trust that they should pay that annuity and also the following yearly sums, viz., 10s. to the poor debtors in the city prison, and 50s. towards the maintenance of poor boys in St. John's Hospital. The six almspeople have each a weekly stipend of 1s. 6d. The surplus rents and profits of the property derived from Chpr. Lethbridge's Will, after paying for the repairs of the almshouses, "c., belongs to St. John's Hospital.

MAGDALEN HOSPITAL, in Magdalen street, was founded at an early period, for the reception of leprous persons, and its endowment was augmented by a charter of the Bishop of Exeter, about 1170. It now consists of an ancient building, containing eight rooms, occupied by as many poor persons, and of a more modern building of six rooms, divided into three houses, occupied by three poor people and their families. The eleven almspeople are selected from the poor inhabitants of Exeter, men or women, married or single; but preference is given to such as are afflicted with scrofula. They have 3s. per week each from the original endowment, and the interest of £1500, derived from fines paid on renewing the leases of the hospital lands and tenements, which are now let to 33 tenants for about £50 per annum. They have also 2s. per week each from the dividends of £2100 three per cent. consols, left by Thos. Cooke, in 1810, as afterwards noticed.

FLAYE'S ALMSHOUSES, in St. Paul's parish, were founded and endowed by Thos. Flaye, in 1634, and enlarged and further endowed by his widow, Elizabeth Flaye, in 1667, for the reception of six poor widows, two of them to be the widows of clergymen. The property belonging to the charity comprises three houses and about eight acres of land, let for more than £100 per annum, of which about £30 is expended for repairs, &c., and the rest is divided among the almspeople, at the rate of about 6s. per week to each of the two clergymen's widows, and 3s. to each of the other four widows.

MOOR'S ALMSHOUSES, On the east side of Exe bridge, are three old tenements, which were built by John Moor and Barthmw. Fortescue, for the residence of poor people, but there is no endowment either for the inmates or repairs. Livery Dole Almshouses are in Heavitree parish, as afterwards noticed.

WYNARD'S HOSPITAL, in Magdalen street, was built by William Wynard, in 1436, on the site of an ancient building, called God's House, without the South gate of the city, for the residence of a priest and twelve infirm poor people, for whose support he left two yearly rent-charges of £40 and £50, out of his estates, vested with twelve trustees and the Mayor of Exeter; the latter of whom, for the time being, is appointed as special visitor by the founder. The hospital and many adjacent houses were destroyed during the sieges of the city in the civil wars of the 17th century; and in 1654, a bill was filed in Chancery by the mayor and bailiff's of the city, against the owner of the founder's estates, who, after nearly four years' litigation, was compelled to rebuild the hospital, and to charge his property with the weekly payment of 2s. to each of the 12 almspeople, and with £12 per annum for equal division among them. He was also obliged to charge his estates with the maintenance and reparation of the hospital and chapel, and with the payment of the yearly salary of £6. 13s. 4d. to the chaplain for reading prayers to the almspeople, who are chosen from among poor decayed tradesmen. Eight of them are to be poor men of the city, appointed by the Mayor and Aldermen, and the other four are to be poor men of Devonshire or Somersetshire, appointed by Mark Kennaway, Esq., the owner of the founder's estates, who has lately repaired and beautified the Chapel, in which divine service is performed every Sunday evening. The Rev. Geo. Hy. O. Shield, M.A., is the chaplain.

VARIOUS BENEFACTIONS vested with the Corporation, and now under the control of the General Charity Trustees:- In 1556, GRIFFITH AMERIDETH left £1.18s. per annum, to be applied in finding shrouds for criminals executed at Ringswell; but since the erection of the new gaol executions have taken place there, and no shrouds have been provided from this fund. In 1567, ELIZABETH BUCKENAM left a house in St. Petrock's parish, then let for £2. 16s. 8d. per annum, in trust to pay 14s. 2d. yearly to each of the parishes of St. Lawrence, St. Paul, Holy Trinity, and Allhallows-on-the-Walls, for five poor householders of each parish: This house is now worth £30 a year, but was let in 1800, on lease for their lives, at £3. 1s. per annum, in consideration of a fine of £360. In 1568, MRS. JOAN TUCKFiELD, left three houses, then worth £6 a year, in trust for the distribution of 50 dozen penny loaves on Christmas eve, and the same quantity on Easter-eve, among the poor of the city and suburbs; and to divide the remaining 20s. among the mayor and officers for their trouble. These houses were let in 1821, for £66. 13s. 4d. per annum, and it is supposed that the donor intended the poor to have the clear yearly profits. For distribution among the poor citizens, CHRISTIANA CHAPMAN, in 1470, left a yearly rent charge of £5 out of land in Westgate quarter. In 1821, the Parliamentary Commissioners found that there was upwards of £2000 owing by the Corporation to Hurst's, Heyth's, Grendon's, Buckenam's and Palmer's charities, arising chiefly from fines received on the renewal of leases, and unapplied rents, &c. In 1598, LAWRENCE SELDON, left a cottage and 26 acres of land at Sowton, in trust for the weekly distribution of 2s. 6d. in bread and meat among the prisoner's in the gaol, Sheriff's Ward and Counter of Exeter; and the following sums weekly in bread among the poor of the parishes specified, 1s. in each of the parishes of St. Mary-the-More, Holy Trinity and St. Sidwell; 8d. in St. Thomas's; 6d. in St. Lawrence's; 4d. in Sowton; and 6d. among the prisoners in the High Gaol. The property is worth about £35 a year, but was let in 1798 for 99 years, at the annual rent of £5. 5s., in consideration of a fine of £500, lent to the Corporation.

CALWODELEY'S GIFT:- By letters patent of the 12th of Henry VII., we find that Thomas Calwodeley granted to the mayor, bailiffs, and commonalty, his manor of Awliscombe, to provide for the payment of two fee-farm rents, and the relief of poor citizens and inhabitants of Exeter. The property thus granted to the Corporation, comprises eleven houses and about 207 acres of land, let on leases for lives, at low rents amounting to only £7. 8s. 8d. per annum; but from 1758 to 1801, £2177 was paid by the tenants for the renewal of leases. The Council of Exeter pays two fee-farm rents, one of £20. 15s. 4d., to Earl Somers, but it is not known whether these are or are not the rents alluded in Thomas Calwodeley's grant. The rents, fines, and other profits of the manor are carried to the general account of the Corporation; no portion of them has ever been applied to any specific uses. Poor Debtors in the City Prison have the following weekly sums divided among them in bread,- 6d. left by Hester Reed; 1s. given by Francis Pengelley; and 1s. supposed to be derived from Hoydon's gift. They have several small annual sums from other charities.

SIR THOMAS WHITE'S LOAN FUND. - In 1550, Sir Thomas White gave £2000 to the Corporation of Bristol, on condition that they should purchase an estate, and out of the rents, pay yearly the sum of £104, in succession to one of 24 cities and towns named in the deed, one of which is Exeter. Of each annual payment, the donor directed £100 to be lent in sums of £25 each to four young men, "of honest fame," free of interest, for ten years; and the remaining £4 to be divided among the trustees for their trouble. The Corporation of Exeter have now received £1248, in twelve periodical payments, at intervals of 24 years. A large portion of this money has been lost or misappropriated.

NICHOLAS SPICER, in 1609, vested with the Corporation of Exeter a farm of about 106 acres of land in Halberton parish, in trust, after making certain annual payments for charitable and other uses, that they should apply the remainder of the yearly proceeds in loans of £10 to £20 each to poor industrious and honest citizens. The charity estate is worth upwards of £200 per annum. In 1811, an information was filed in the Court of Chancery, charging the Corporation with having in their hands large sums of money belonging to this charity; amounting, as appeared by the report of the Master of the Rolls, in 1821, to no less than £3211, exclusive of interest. The Corporation appealed against this report, and the case was not finally settled till a few years ago, when a new scheme was approved by the court for the future application of the funds of the charity. Out of the income, the founder directed the following yearly sums to be paid, viz., 20s. for distribution in bread among the poor citizens; 10s. for repairing the church of St. Mary Arches; 40s. for a public lamp in the city; 6s. 8d. to the night bellman; and 10s. towards repairing Halberton church.

In 1599, PETER BLUNDELL left £900 in trust with the Corporation, to be lent yearly in sums of £20, to 25 poor honest men of Exeter, and 20 of Tiverton, at two per cent per annum interest, which latter the Corporation were to have for their trouble. In 1815, the £900 was reduced by losses to about £240, then held by the Corporation at four per cent interest, there being no persons willing to borrow the sums of £20 on bonds, renewable every year. Joan Tuckfield, Joan Cleveland, and ten other donors left £980 to be lent to poor men, but the whole of it is lost, or was appropriated by the Corporation, many years ago, together with £3300 left by John Peryam, and eleven other donors, for loans and other charitable uses.

SIR JOHN ACLAND, in the 13th of James I., granted the rectory of Churchstowe to feoffees, in trust, to pay £75. 8s. per annum for weekly distributions in bread, in 27 parishes; £23. 6s. 8d. yearly to the vicar of Churchstowe, and £16 yearly to two exhibitioners at Exeter College, Oxford. The rectory has often yielded a clear annual profit of £320; and in 1821, there was a balance of unapplied income, amounting to about £1300, held by the Corporation. The two Exeter parishes participating in this charity are St. Thomas's and St. Lawrence's, the former having 52s. and the latter 26s. yearly, for weekly distributions of bread.

REBECCA BOROUGH, in 1649, granted £30 a year out of Naddir estate, in Whitstone, to be given in sums of £3 to £5, to poor deserving citizens, who have never received parochial relief, This charity is subject to the yearly payment of £2. 3s. 9d. for land tax. Six poor widows of the city have £5 yearly from the Corporation as the interest of £100, left by CATHERINE GIFFORD, in l665. Four poor men of the city are entitled to 21s. 8d. per annum, given by QUEEN ELIZABETH, out of the crown rent, paid by St. John's Hospital.

THOMAS FLOUD, Esq., one of the aldermen, gave to the trustees of Rebecca Borough's gift, £50 vested in the Exeter turnpikes, at four per cent. interest; and directed them to apply the yearly proceeds in the relief of one poor man above 30, and under 60 years of age.

JOHN MARTYN, in 1669, left £400 to the Corporation, in trust, to apply the yearly proceeds in apprenticing poor boys of the city. The greater part of this legacy was laid out in the purchase of land and tenements in Exe Island, now worth £78 a year, but let on leases at reserved rents, amounting only to £8. 10s. 2d., inconsequence of fines paid on renewal of leases, from which source there was £500 belonging to the charity in 1821. An apprentice fee of £20 is given yearly, and about every third year, two are given.

THOMAS COOKE, in 1810, left to the Corporation the following sums of three per cent. consols, in trust to divide the dividends yearly among the poor of the almshouses, named with each sum, viz., £2100 to Magdalen Hospital; £1750 to the almshouses called the Ten Cells; and £700 to Palmer's Almshouses.

For a WEEKLY LECTURE on Sundays, in such church in Exeter as may be thought most beneficial, £400 was vested with the Corporation by the Rev. Lawrence Bodley, D.D., in 1615, and £200 by Thos. Mogridge, in 1617. These legacies were laid out in 1631, in the purchase of the impropriate rectory and parsonage of Hennock, and the advowson of the vicarage of that parish. The rectory now yields a clear yearly income of about £100 per annum, which is paid by the Corporation to a Sunday evening lecturer.

The Society for the relief of Poor Clergymen, their Widows, and Orphans, in the Archdeaconry of Exeter, expends a large sum annually in these charitable objects, and is supported chiefly by annual subscriptions and donations. Mr. Chas. Henry Turner is the secretary. There are similar societies in each of the Archdeaconries of Totnes, Barnstaple, and Cornwall.

Tailors' Company Trusts. - In 1568, Joan Tuckfield left to the Corporation of the Tailors' Company, in Exeter, all her lands and tenements in the parish of St. Paul, on condition that they should distribute 6s. 8d. yearly among the poor of the Ten Cells and Magdalen Almshouses, and the prisoners in the City and County Gaols; and that they should repair the walls of the burial ground of Ringswell, formerly the place of execution. The Tailors' Company consists of a master, head warden, three under wardens, and twelve assistants. They hold their Hall in Goldsmith street, and several houses and gardens adjoining it, under Mrs. Tuckfield's will; and, they also receive £6s. 6s. per annum from the city Corporation, for distribution among the poor freemen of the company, or their widows and children. This annuity is supposed to be paid as the interest of £300, left by Mrs. Tuckfield, for the purpose of being lent on bond to needy tradesmen. A yearly rent charge of £2. 8s., left by Amniel Knight, out of land at Upton-Pyne, is distributed in shirts and shifts among twelve poor freemen of this company, or their widows and relations

The Incorporated Company of Weavers, Fullers, and Shearmen, who received their first charter in 1490, have the management of the following charities for the benefit of the poor freemen of the company. In 1676, John Pince gave an annuity of 20s. out of a house at Topsham, to be bestowed in hose and shoes for four poor freemen. Another yearly rent charge of 20s., left by Humphrey Bowden, in 1678, out of a tenement in St. Mary Arches parish, is divided among poor widows and children of free-men; as also is one of 40s., out of the Star Inn, left by John Reed, in 1687. An estate called ROWE'S BARN, comprising 27A. IR, 16 P., now let for about £50 a year, was purchased by the company in 1730, for £733, which arose as follows:- £550 given by Andrew Jeffery; £60 by Augustin Drake, in 1642; £50 by Henry Newcombe, in 1693; £10 by Wm. Marker; £20 by Nicholas Munckley; and £43 from the company's stock. In consideration of Jeffery's gift, £4 is paid yearly to the dissenting minister of Ford chapel, in Stokenham parish, and about £33 is expended in providing coats, hats, shirts, stockings, and shoes, for 14 poor freemen of the company, and six poor parishioners of Ottery and Stokenham. The rest of the clear yearly income from Rowe's Barn estate, is distributed in money, shoes, &c., to poor freemen, or their widows and children. The rent of a farm, called Chilleton, in Aveton-Gifford parish, comprising 20A. 2R. 39p., let for £30, is applied in apprenticing the sons of poor freemen of the company, pursuant to the will of Thos. Crispin, dated 1689. A premium of £5 is given with each boy; and those who can produce a certificate of good behaviour from their masters, are presented with £5 at the end of their apprenticeships. The company meet at TUCKERS' HALL, Fore street, on the last Thursday in August and the 5th of November, when a distribution of the several charities takes place. Being now used by two Lodges of Freemasons, their hall is commonly called the TUCKERS' AND MASONIC HALL. It was anciently a chapel, and has recently been restored and embellished by the Freemasons, but it is still used occasionally by the Company of Weavers, &c., who, till lately, supported a school in it for the sons of freemen. The members of this company elect a master, and senior and junior wardens yearly. Mr. H.M. Ellicombe is their clerk, and Mr. Wm. Doeg is the beadle.

PHIPP'S GIFT consists of a yearly rent charge of £30, out of land and houses, left by Robt. Phipps, in 1670, in trust for the relief of ten poor tradesmen of Exeter, who do not receive parochial aid. S. Kingdon, B.P. Pope, Jas. Terrell, and S.M. Cox, Esqrs., are the trustees.

POTTER'S GIFT. - In 1694, Thomas Potter left £600, to be laid out in land, and the yearly profits thereof to be distributed among eight tuckers and weavers of Exeter, not receiving parochial relief. The land purchased consists of 52A. 2R. 10P. in Ottery St. Mary, and 10A. 2R. 30P. at Farringdon, now let for £107 a year. The Rev, W.R. Ellicombe and H.M. Ellicombe, Jas. Creswell, Thos. Snow, and Henry Collins-Splatt, Esqs., are the trustees, and divide the clear income of the charity yearly among eight persons, who are or have been employed in the woollen trade, which flourished here till the close of last century, but is now nearly extinct. No person is allowed to receive the charity oftener than once in five years.

PENGELLY'S GIFT. - In 1700, Fras. Pengelly gave for charitable uses the Dolphin Inn and two adjoining houses, which were sold in 1806 for £850, which was laid out in the purchase of £1095. 19s. 6d. three per Cent. Consols, still standing in the names of the six trustees. Out of the dividends £20 is divided yearly, in equal shares, among ten poor people, preference being given to such as are related to the donor or his wife. Out of the remainder the following yearly payments are made, viz., £6. 6s. is paid for educating six or seven poor boys; £3. 3s. to the Devon and Exeter Hospital; and £2. 12s. to the poor prisoners in the city gaol.

The Society for the Relief of the Sober and Industrious Poor, was established in 1799. It relieves its objects by the sale of coal in winter at reduced prices. B.P. Pope, Esq., is treasurer, and John Mortimer, of Bartholomew street, is the store keeper. The RELIEF SOCIETY was formed in 1838, in lieu of the old Mendicity Society, for the relief of travelling poor and residents. Mr. W. Sparkes, of 16, Bartholomew Street, is the registering clerk. The BLANKET SOCIETY was established in 1817, for supplying the destitute poor with blankets. The depot is at Mr. C. Pridham's, Magdalen street; and Miss Dacres is the secretary. The LYING-IN-CHARITY was instituted in 1808, and, during the year 1848, no fewer than 163 poor women partook of its benefits. Several medical gentlemen lend their aid gratuitously, and two midwives are employed by the society. Miss Canterbury, of 48, Holloway street, is the matron; and Mr. A. Kempe is the secretary. The CLOTHING AND DORCAS SOCIETIES supply the poor with articles of clothing, at greatly reduced prices. Mrs. F. Truscott is secretary of the former, (established in 1833,) and Mrs. Mackintosh of the latter, which was commenced in 1840. The STRANGERS' FRIEND SOCIETY was established about 44 years ago, for the purpose of visiting and relieving the destitute poor at their own habitations. Mr. Thomas Snow is the treasurer, and Mr. Thomas Foster secretary. Here are several other societies supported by voluntary subscriptions for the relief of the indigent poor of the city, and the following is a brief statement of the Church and Parish Lands, and the various Charitable Funds, &c., belonging separately to the different Parishes.

ALLHALLOWS, GOLDSMITH STREET. - The Church Lands comprise 2A. 22p. at East Teignmouth, and 1A. 2B. 12p. in St. David's parish, which were given in 1451 and 1527 by Richard Attehole and John Yeo, and are now let for about £22 per annum. The poor parishioners have 6d, in bread weekly, from Sir J. Acland's charity.

ALLHALLOWS ON THE WALLS. - The ancient parish church, and some of the adjoining buildings, were taken down in 1770, by the Commissioners of the Act for rebuilding and repairing Exe bridge, who pay £6 per annum to this parish in consideration of two tenements which belonged to the church and poor, and were taken down at the same time. In 1602, Richd. Bevys left 20s. a year to be given to a poor maiden on her marriage, provided she has lived in service in the parish during the two preceding years. The poor have a weekly distribution of 1s. 6d. worth of bread from Sir J. Acland's and Hester Reed's Charities. They have also 30s. in two rent charges, left by Nowell Pearse and Christian Wills.

ST DAVID'S. - For distribution in bread, the poor parishioners have the interest of £100, left by John Jordaine, in 1775, secured on the tolls of the Leskeard turnpike; and also 20s. a year from Tooker's Gift, noticed with the parish of St. Mary Major.

ST. EDMUND'S. - The Parish Lands, &c., which have been vested in trust from an early period, comprise various tenements, let to nine lessees, at reserved rents, amounting to £32, but subject to fines on renewal of the leases. The feoffees have also £850 Navy five per cent. stock purchased with money derived from fines, and £100 in two deeds poll of the Exeter turnpikes, obtained from the sale of a house, which was taken down when Exe bridge was rebuilt. The income is all applied in the service of the church, except 20s. per annum, which is distributed in weekly doles of bread among the poor, as also are the three following yearly rent charges, viz., £4 left by John Gubbs, in 1670, out of a house in Exe Island; 20s. left by Jph. Pince, in 1689, out of the land now held by the Gas Company; and 10s. left by Matthew Axe, out of a house in Frog lane. In 1767, £80 received as arrears of Gubbs's rent charge, and £18 from the parish stock were laid out in the purchase of £112. 10s. old South Sea annuities, the dividends of which are distributed among the poor parishioners, in sums of 2s. 6d. to each. The deserving poor not receiving parochial relief have the rent of 3A. of land in St. Leonard's parish, purchased with £150 left by Rebecca Leach, in 1713, and now let for about £13 per annum. Four poor widows have the dividends of £81. 19s. 8d. three per Cent. consols, purchased with £50 left by John Dewdney Worthy, in 1797.

ST. GEORGE-THE-MARTYR'S. - The poor of this parish have 13 penny loaves every Sunday, from a rent-charge of 52s., left by Richd. Shilston, in 1645, out of a house at the bottom of Fore street hill. They have also the following yearly sums, viz.: 6s. 8d. left by the above-named donor; 3s. 4d., by John Baker; 20s., by Thos. Gist; 20s., left by Johanna Cole; and 20s., by Iseat Peachy.

HEAVITREE. - The PARISH LANDS, &c., which were mostly purchased with poor's money, in the 16th and 17th centuries, comprise about 40 acres, and a house and other buildings, let for £63 per annum; and the Church House, occupied by paupers. There is a considerable quantity of timber on part of the parish land called St. Loyes. Out of the clear income, £5 is paid for schooling poor children, and the rest is distributed in money and clothing among the poor parishioners. Ducke's Almshouses consist of four dwellings, built in 1603, by Richd. Ducke, who endowed them with a yearly rent-charge of 20s., out of the marsh in Clist St. Mary's. The almspeople have also the rent of the Parish Field, (1½A.,) let for £1. 6s. 8d. The Livery Dole Almshouses were rebuilt in 1849, and contain ten distinct dwellings for as many poor women, and a house for the chaplain. Attached to them is an acre of garden ground, and a small chapel. They were founded in 1591, by Sir Robt. Dennis, and are endowed with a yearly rent-charge of £45, out of Whitechurch Farm, in the parish of Winterbourne. Of this annuity the chaplain receives £9, and the remaining £36 is divided in equal portions of £3. 12s. to each of the almspeople, who are appointed by Lord Rolle, from the poor women of this or any other parish. The poor of Heavitree have the dividends of £55. 10s. 10d. four per cent. stock, purchased with £50 left by Wenman Nutt, in 1800. They have also the interest of about £250, derived from the bequest of Ann Serle, in 1810.

ST. JOHN'S. - The Church Land consists of 1½A., let for £7. The churchwardens have also 6s. a year out of houses in Fore street hill. The poor parishioners have five annuities. viz., 20s. left by Richd. Bevys, in 1602; 10s., left by Nowell Pearse, in 1704; £2. 4s. 8d., from £76. 5s. 5d. stock, purchased with £50 left by Henry Bate, in 1811; 12s. as interest of £20 left by Edw. Bartlett, in 1778; and £3. 6s., as interest of £71 given by four donors, and expended by the churchwardens in the purchase of a cellar, which they let with an adjoining cellar, for £4. 4s. per annum. In Friernhay lane is a small Almshouse, for six poor aged women, founded by Alice Brooking, in 1680. It is repaired by Mr. White, the owner of adjoining premises, but has no endowment for the inmates.

ST. KERRIAN'S Church Lands, given by Richd. Foldhay and Jno. Wilford, in 1416-'7, now comprise several tenements and an acre of garden ground, let for £3. 3s., subject to fines on the renewal of the leases.

ST. LAWRENCE'S. - The churchwardens have a house, garden, and a field of 2 acres, in Northgate, given by Michael Dennys and Richard Wagott, in 1478; and a house in High street, given by Wm. Grigge, in 1587. They are let for only £4. 12s. per annum, which is applied with the church rates, together with the sums levied in fines on the renewal of the leases. The poor have a yearly rent-charge of £16 out of a cottage and 16A. of land at Whitstone, derived from £100 left by Judge Jermin, John Jermin, Thomas Willing, and Peter Risden. For weekly distributions of bread, they have the interest of £25, left by Robt. Dawe, in 1735; and £2. 12s. yearly from the charities of Sir John Acland and Lawrence Seldon. They have also 20s. worth of bread, from the interest of £20 left by Nicholas Abell, in 1742. Five poor widows have 13s. 4d. yearly from Eliz. Buckenam's charity.

ST. MARY ARCHES. - The Church Lands, &c., given by John Taylor, Gilbert Kirkeby, and Gervase Luyshant, in the reigns of Henry VII. and VIII., now comprise several tenements, let to six lessees, at small reserved rents, amounting to £8. 7s. 8d. per annum; to which is added 11s. 8d. derived from four chief rents; and also 10s. a year from Nicholas Spicer's charity. The yearly income is expended in the service of the church, as also are the fines received on the renewal of the leases. This parish participates largely in the benefits of Wotton's and Glass's Charity School, as already noticed at page 100. A house and stable, left by Richd. Poyntell, in 1611, for the poor of this parish, were let in 1806, for 99 years, at 20s. per annum, in consideration of a fine of £138, which was laid out in the purchase of £215 three per cent. Consols. The income of this and C. and J. Lethbridge's charities is dispensed in a weekly distribution of 5s. 8d. in bread. Chpr. Lethbridge, in 1609, left to the poor a yearly rent-charge of £3. 0s. 8d., out of a house in Fore street. To this gift are added the dividends of £90 Old South Sea Annuities, purchased with about 50 years' arrears of the rent-charge; and the dividends of £60 in the same stock, purchased with £52 left by John Lethbridge, in 1701. A yearly rent-charge of 20s. was left by Richard Bevys, in 1602, to be given to poor maidens of this parish, on their marriage. The Parsonage House was given by Joan Tucker, in 1709, for the residence of the rector or his curate, charged with the yearly payment of £1. 12s., for a weekly distribution of 1s. worth of bread every Sunday, among the poor parishioners; who have also a yearly rent-charge of 20s. out of an estate, called Star Barton, in Brampford-Speke parish, supposed to have been left by Chas. Watts, in 1722; and the dividends of £25. 12s. 2d. live per cent stock, left by Joseph Green, in 1807.

ST. MARY MAJOR. - The Parish Lands, &c., comprise six houses, a large warehouse, 2A. 1R. 9P. of land, and five small chief rents. They yield only about £25 per annum, but fines are levied on the renewal of the 99 years' leases. Of the sums derived from fines, £330 was laid out in new seating the church, in 1816-'17; and in 1811, £100 was paid to the rector, to assist him in obtaining Queen Anne's Bounty for his benefice. Out of the rents, the feoffees pay £10 as an annual salary to the organist; £4. 10s. to the three following charities; and they apply the remainder in the service of the church. In 1686, Roger Endibrook left a clear yearly rent of £5 out of his tenements here, for distribution among the poor not receiving parochial relief. This annuity is distributed in bread and beef, at Christmas; as also are the five undermentioned yearly sums, viz., £3 from part of the parish land, purchased with £50 arising from arrears of the above-named rent-charge; 30s., as interest of£30 left by John Martyn and Thos. Southcombe, and laid out in the parish land; 20s., left by John Peter, in 1576, out of the great tithes of Cornworthy; and 20s., left by Thos. Tooker, in 1640, of Culver Park and other land in St. Sidwell's and St. David's parishes. The poor of this parish have 2s. worth of bread weekly from Seldon's and Acland's Charities; and 3s. worth weekly from three annuities of 52s. each, left by John Reed, in 1680, out of the Star Inn; by Chas. Cunningham, in 1685, out of a house on Bell hill; and by Samuel Daniel, in 1738, out of property given by him to the Episcopal Charity Schools. This parish is entitled, under Gilbert Keate's gift, to have two boys maintained in St. John's Hospital, and two girls in the Blue Maids' Hospital.

ST. MARY STEPS. - The Parish Lands, &c., comprise five houses, and several tenements, gardens, &c., let for about £44 a year, on long leases. After deducting for repairs, &c., the net income is applied in the service of the church. The property has been held by the parish officers from an early period, and part of it, consisting of two cottages and gardens on Stepcote hill, was left by Felicia Selman, in 1462. Four poor women have the use of a house rent-free, and the dividends of £175 Old South Sea Annuities, which arose from the gift of James Blade, in 1769. For distribution in bread, the poor have an annuity of 20s., left by Nicholas Evans, in 1618, out of a foundry in Ewin's lane; and another of 20s., left by Thos. Gist, out of tenements on Stepcote hill.

ST. OLAVE. - The parish has two houses, which are now let for about £20 a year, and have been vested from time immemorial for the use of the church. Some land which had been long held for the same use, was sold for £290, which was laid out in repairing the Church, which after being shut up many years, was re-opened in 1815. In 1602, Richd. Bevys left an annuity of 20s., to be paid on her marriage to a maid servant of this parish. The poor have 16s. yearly out of the poor rates, as the interest of £20, left by James Atkins, in 1730.

ST. PAUL. - This Parish has held from time immemorial, for the use of the church and poor, three houses and several tenements, with gardens, &c., now let for about £13 per annum. In respect of Henry Gandy's gift, this parish sends two poor boys to be maintained and educated at the Blue School, in St. John's Hospital. For distribution in bread, at Christmas. &c., the poor parishioners have the following yearly doles, viz.:- £3, left by Thos. Binford, in 1780, out of an estate here; 25s. as interest of £25, left by John Pillet; and 30s., paid out of a plot of building ground, which was purchased with £50, left by John York, in 1707. For distribution in shirts and shifts, they have £1. 7s, yearly, left by Paul Phillips, in 1714; and 20s. yearly, as the interest of £20, left by Mary Pillet.

ST PETROCK. - The Parish Lands, &c., comprise about five acres, and ten houses and cottages, now let for about £85 per annum; and two almshouses, occupied by two poor women. The property was mostly derived in the 15th century, from various donors, and the rents are applied chiefly towards the payment of the churchwardens' expenses. In 1799, £100 paid in fines by the lessees of part of the property, was laid out with a sum from Queen Anne's Bounty, in purchasing a field called Marsh Barton, for the augmentation of the rectory. The two women in the almshouses have £4 a year, as the interest of £100, left by Wm. Pitfield, in 1794, and now vested in the Exeter turnpikes.

ST. SIDWELL. - The Parish Lands, &c., comprise about 15 acres, and 22 houses and cottages, let at small reserved rents, amounting to only £14. 4s. per annum, but subject to large fines paid on the renewal of the leases. This property has been vested in trust from an early period, for the use of the church and poor. The greater part of the income derived from rent and fines is applied in the service of the Church. (See page 85,) In 1771, the feoffees laid out more than £100 upon the church bells; and in 1803, they erected an organ and a gallery, at the cost of £265. The rent of 3A. 3R. 30P. of land, called Summerlands, and let for about £20 a year, is applied in apprenticing poor children, pursuant to the gift of Chpr. Sandford, in 1689; except £2. 10s., which is yearly distributed among the most needy poor, as the interest of £50, left by Ann Baker, in 1689. Near the church are four Almshouses for four poor widows, founded by John Webb, who endowed them in 1676, with about 5½ acres of land, let for £30 a year. The almswomen have also a yearly rent-charge of 20s., out of three fields at the top of St. Sidwell street, left by an unknown donor. In 1717, John Moffatt left £100 for the benefit of the poor, and it was laid out in 1733 and '41, in the purchase of 2½A. of land, now let for about £17 a year, of which £5 is given to ten poor people not receiving parochial relief, and the remainder is distributed in sums of 2s 6d. each to other poor parishioners. The poor have 4s. worth of bread weekly, from four yearly rent-charges of 52s. each, left by Lawrence Seldon, Sir John Acland, John Cheeke, and Ralph Herman. An annuity of 9s., left by Wm. Chapple, in 1729, is given in as much linen as will make two shirts or shifts. The poor have also, in linen and money, £4. 5s. yearly, arising from four annuities, left by Thomas Tooker, Thos. Smalridge, and Thos. and Hester Bussel. They have likewise £21 per annum, as the interest of £420, paid by the Dean and Chapter, in 1630, as arrears of charity money, and vested with the Corporation. St. Ann's Almshouses, with a small antique chapel adjoining, was formerly an hermitage or ancient hospital, as noticed at page 73, but is now the asylum of eight poor persons, who receive 2s. 6d. each, weekly, from the Dean and Chapter.

ST. STEPHEN. - In 1654, the Countess of Pembroke gave to this parish 41A. of land near St. Ann's chapel, then worth £12 a year; in trust, to apply £10 thereof in apprenticing a poor boy or girl yearly, and to distribute the remainder in sums of 2s. each among the poor parishioners. This land is now let for about £30 a year, and there is now £150 three per cent. consols belonging to the charity, purchased with money derived from the sale of timber on the land, and from unapplied income. In 1662, George Potter left £500 towards rebuilding the church, and a house for the use and residence of the successive rectors. The house is worth £20 a year, and is in King's alley. In 1672, John King left £125 in trust, that the interest should be paid yearly to the rector for preaching a sermon on the last Saturday in each month. This legacy was laid out in the purchase of £152. 12s. 2d., three per cent. consols. The poor parishioners have the dividends of £65. 13s. 11d. three per cent. consols, purchased with £50 left by James Green, in 1807. They have also the interest of £10 left by Thos. Vigurs, at an unknown date.

ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE. - This is one of the suburban parishes of Exeter, in Wonford Hundred, partly within the parliamentary, but not included in the municipal limits of the city. The two Church Houses are occupied rent free, by paupers, and stand on the site of two houses, which were destroyed with the church, during the civil wars of the 17th century. A house, given by the Rev. Walter Battyn, in 1564, for the repairs of the church, was rebuilt by the parish after the civil wars, and was occupied by the Vicar till 1801, when it was let for 99 years, at the yearly rent of 10s., in consideration of a fine of £280, which with £105, raised by a parish rate, was given to the then Vicar, (Rev. J.B. Copplestone,) towards the erection of the present Vicarage House, which cost more £1000. The poor parishioners have 8d. weekly, left by Lawrence Seldon, and 12d. weekly left by Sir J. Acland, for distribution of bread. In 1636, Bartholomew Berry, left a house and half an acre of land, in trust, to pay 20s. yearly for two sermons, and to divide the residue of the rents among the poor. The house was rebuilt after the civil wars, and is now worth £25 a year. An annuity of £10 left by Wm. Gould, Sen. and Jun., in 1632 and 1642, out of the Barton of Hayes, is paid to a schoolmaster, for teaching 24 poor children. The poor have £4 a year out of the same estate, left by Wm. Gould, Senior. Two annuities are paid out of the Barton of Cowick, pursuant to the will of Robert Pate, Sen. and Jun., viz., 20s. for the poor, and 30s. to a schoolmistress, for teaching four poor children. The poor have also the dividends of £150 three per cent. consols left by Elizabeth Painter, and two annuities of 20s. each left by John Peter, in 1570, and Nicholas Evans, in 1618.

HOLY TRINITY. - The churchwardens have a cottage, stable, and 1A. 33P. of land, given by Robert Were, in 1465, and now let for only 20s. a year but a fine is levied on every renewal of the lease. The Lamb and Flag public house, was purchased in 1684, for £65, given by William and John Mathew, Hy. Fitzwilliams, and Alice Hele, two-thirds for the use of the church, and one-third for the poor. In 1817, this house was sold for £160, which was invested in the purchase of £190. 18s. three per cent. reduced annuities. The churchwardens have also three annuities amounting to £1. 12s., left by Hy. Fitzwilliams, Margt. Parker, and John Palmer. The poor parishioners have 2s. worth of bread weekly from Seldon's and Acland's Gifts; and five poor widows have a share of Eliz. Buckenam's Charity, as already noticed. They have also the following yearly doles, viz., 15s. in two rent-charges left by John Hance, in 1625; - 20s. out of two closes, left in 1629, by Roger Selsby; 20s. out of a house in Exe Island, left in 1629, by Wm. Mathew; - 52s. for a weekly distribution of 1s. worth of bread, left by John Cheeke, in 1678; £4 out of a house in Southernhay, left by Thomas Facy, in 1700, for distributions of shirts and shifts; - £5. 13s. 4d. from £190 three per cent. consols, purchased with £100 left by Sarah Spry, in 1788, for similar distributions; and 10s. left by Alex. Pope, in 1816, out of three houses in the Mint. The sum of £163. 6s. 4d., left to the poor by James and Thomas Clutterbuck, and Ann Baker, was laid out in 1696, in the purchase of two fields, which were sold in 1799, for £1500 three per cent. reduced annuities. The yearly dividends of this stock, (£44. 16s. 4d.,) are received by the Churchwardens, and carried to their general account, out of which they pay yearly £4 to four poor parishioners, and £2 for apprentice fees, as the gifts of J. and T. Clutterbuck; and £2. 10s. for distribution among the poor at Easter, as the gift of Ann Baker. The residue of the dividends is applied in such manner as the trustees think most beneficial to the poor.

Brian Randell, 21 Oct 1998