By John Findlater

“England has the richest tradition of philanthropy in the world. It reached its peak in the last part of the nineteenth century. The vast network of charitable societies which had been formed to supply every imaginable need represented a sort of private-sector welfare state “¹

“The Church provided welfare services for the Catholic middle ages, the wealthy merchants of Tudor and Stuart England took on the responsibility from the Church, and the period following the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 took from the economic life of the country the principle which was to become the pattern for charitable work down to our own day, the joint stock venture”²

One historian’s³ thesis was that the wealthy merchants and gentry had a more long-term view of eliminating poverty permanently by making the poor, self-supporting, through education (so this idea is not new’); donations for education accounted for over one quarter of all charitable giving.

Protestants, generous in supporting good causes, did not seem to regard building or beautifying churches as a good cause. Perhaps the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (founded 1699 by Rev. Thomas Bray) was the first large scale example of the ‘joint stock company’ type of charity which gave a big boost to charity schools, which peaked in mid-eighteenth century.

There was a tradition of charitable giving in Warton Parish which had grown, higgledy-piggledy over time, as in many other parishes. In an attempt to sort things out, following an Order in the House of Commons in 1898 the Charity Commissioners after Inquiry [30 May 1899], held in every Parish wholly or partly within the Administrative County of Lancaster into Endowments subject to the provisions of the Charitable Trusts Acts 1853 to 1894. It was published in 1900.

This Inquiry drew on a Report made 23 January 1826 and contained in a General Digest of 1865-8 an attempt to summarize the document, beginning with Warton township, follows.

The Free Grammar School and Hospital of Jesus had been founded by the Archbishop of York, Mathew Hutton, (licensed 15 November in the 37th Year of Queen Elizabeth’s reign). Stipulations were made about administration, salaries, and subventions.

The report said that the 1826 inquiry had shown:

..There is in Warton a building called an almshouse, consisting of three tenements under one roof and a room in the centre ..formerly used as a chapel, these buildings are now in good repair…By [Inclosure award 17 April 1817] an allotment was set out containing 2rIIp sm part of Warton Cragg to John Hutton of Maske Hall ..let by the late Vicar to Robert Jennings at a nominal rent upon condition he inclose it .he has put up a good fence and brought it into cultivation and it is supposed has already been re-imbursed his expenses. …There is also a schoolhouse upon which there is an inscription .1594. This house consists of a schoolroom on the ground floor four apartments above of which three are occupied by Robert Gibson the usher, and the other is used as a Sunday school. This building is now in bad repair. ..A part of Warton Cragg was also set out upon inclosure 4, containing 3rl9p to the trustees. This has not been inclosed and is used as a playground. Warton schoolhouse Considerable uncertainty seems to have surrounded the finance.“ since 1815 Mr Hutton has made no payment in respect of the charity.”

These disquieting matters were set out⁴:

“The last schoolmaster died in 1808 and the vacancy was not filled but the late vicar who died in 1823 insolvent, retained for his own use the yearly sum of £20 which ought to have been paid to a schoolmaster. From 1808 to the present time, the school has been kept by an usher, who, for a small payment which he receives from another charity, hereafter mentioned, leaches the poor children of the parish reading, writing, and accounts …the usher has received no allowance from this charity since 1815.

The hospital was, about 30 years ago, put into good repair and an additional room was then erected over each tenement the expenses of which., were defrayed by a subscription. It appears that two almsmen were formerly appointed for each tenement by the vicar, with the consent of the Huttons of Maske Hall and each received the annual allowance of £23-6-8 but, for many years past, the almsmen had ceased to reside in the hospital and let their respective tenements at the best rent they could obtain; since 1815 no almsmen had been appointed and the hospital is now occupied by persons who have been placed there by the overseers of the township., and partly by persons who were originally tenants to the almsmen.

It does not appear that since 1637 any person has been appointed to supply the places of the [original] warden or governors …and it may be a question whether the present vicar has any authority to fill up these vacancies or to act himself as warden or governor.

In 1818 an information was filed in the Court of Chancery by the Attorney General at the relation of Charles Clowes Esq. the owner of a considerable estate at Warton against the said Mr Hutton and the Rev. Mr Washington, vicar of Warton. and praying for an account of what Mr Hutton had received in respect of the yearly rent charge of £24 and in respect of the fourth part of rents and profits of the Manor of Woodham and, also, an account of his payments in respect of the charity. On 5th August 1818 the answer was put in by Mr Hutton; but on the decease of the relator. Charles Clowes, no further proceedings took place.

Under the circumstance, the interference of a court of equity seems necessary as well as the re- establishment of this charity and the recovery of the property belonging to it, as for the appointment of new governors or trustees ”

On 6 May 1830, after a Court decree a scheme was to be set up to re-establish, manage and regulate the charity. The Rev James Barns, Vicar of Warton and 24 other trustees were appointed. A charge against the defendant John Hutton, was allowed, with further accretions. £ 1289-13-7d consols had been purchased. All this had been confirmed by the court and decree nisi made absolute 4 July 1833.

The scheme established, directed that the schoolhouse and hospital be repaired and reopened; the cost defrayed; there should be 16 trustees, at least of whom the vicar should be one; when reduced to six, the number was to be made up again. When repaired the school should be re-opened.

The income to be applied as follows: £20 to the master, yearly by half-yearly payments, for the usher £6-13-4d, for each almsman £3-6-8d and £5 reserve for extra repairs after ordinary repairs. The remainder to be paid to the schoolmaster, or, if neglectful to the usher. In the case no usher be necessary, or a vacancy or discontinuance occur, the stipend should be paid to the schoolmaster. If through want of accommodation less than six almsmen be appointed, the trustees might give each almsman extra.

It was under this scheme that the school and hospital were being conducted, when Mr Bryce inspected in 1865 on behalf of the schools Inquiry Commissioners. The master placed his income at £70. There were 11 children, including one or two girls under 12 whose attainments were moderate. No classics had been taught for some while. There was no usher. The headmaster was required to be a member of the Church of England, though this had not been imposed, originally.

The attention of the Endowed Schools Commissioners had been drawn to the school in 1872 when 24 children attended, including three girls paying fees of 2d and 3d a week. Inspectors had pronounced the teaching inefficient, accommodation unsuitable, and the township was likely to be called on to supply deficiencies.

Upon application, by the vicar, an order was made to appoint 10 new commissioners in addition to the surviving six including the vicar and vesting real estate in the Official Trustees of the Charity Lands. By Order, the transfer of £971-16-5d residue had been directed and there was a conference between Mr Fearon an assistant Commissioner, and the trustees.

By the approved scheme, set up in 1875, repairs were to be conducted and £25 further provided yearly. The remainder of the endowment was to be applied to the education of children.

A new governing body of 11 was constituted, seven to be representative, three by the ratepayers of Warton, Silverdale, Yealand Conyers, Yealand Redmayne and two by Carnforth, Borwick, Priest Hutton and two by the subscribers to the school (under a complicated tenure), as well as four co-optative governors. The previous corporation was expressly dissolved.

The school was, thenceforth, to be conducted as a public elementary school, with weekly fees not exceeding 9d a week. Mr William Scott the existing master would retire, with a pension of £20. An upper department would be open to scholars who had passed appropriate examination for 11-12 year olds, with tuition fees between 30s and £4 a year, fixed. The tuition would be given by the principal teacher of the elementary school at an additional payment for each scholar, to include English grammar, composition, literature, geography, history, elements of geometry and algebra, natural science, latin or some foreign language, drawing, vocal music. Provision was made for funds to be available for exhibitions, if extra resources were available when Mr Scott’s pension ceased.

This situation had continued until 1884 when, lacking suitable accommodation, the upper department, was discontinued. Mr Scott had not died until 1894, so there had been no exhibitions. Between 1882 and 1884 there were 12 to 14 scholars, of whom half were girls and the fee charged was the minimum, 30s yearly.

Following an official inspection in 1889, a new scheme was approved in 1892. The 1875 scheme as regards the provision for the almshouses was confirmed, except that the number of the governing body was reduced to seven, of whom four were to be representative and elected, three by the ratepayers of Warton-with-Lindeth, Silverdale, Yealand Conyers and Yealand Redmayne, one by the Governors of the Grammar School at Lancaster, being the headmaster or assistant or some other fit person for five years: and three co-optative for seven years.

The present governors were William Oliver Roper, Beechfield, Yealand Conyers, solicitor, re-elected in 1899, The Rev William Sleigh vicar of Silverdale and Edmund Whinnerah, land agent of Cross Bank Warton, both elected in 1895; of the governors of Lancaster Grammar School, George William Barrow tailor, of Lancaster: the co-optative members were Edward Bousfield Dawson, Aldcliffe Hall, barrister and Henry James Jenkinson, Holmere Hall, Yealand Conyers, gentleman, both re-appointed. Edward Barton of Warton Grange, ironmaster, was appointed 16 March 1898.

The endowment was set out, which was producing a gross income £74-ls + £3-15s from the Warton charity annually. £25 was being applied to the almshouses, £20 between the three occupants and £5 for repairs. The house stands on the site of the ancient hospital but there is no evidence to show when it was built. It was occupied by three old men, aged 79, 76, 78 belonging to Warton, and Carnforth, they were appointed 6 January 1896, 28 March 1899, and 10 May 1899. None was in receipt of relief. There was little competition for vacancies.

The school average attendance the previous year had been 55. Fees were 1d a week for 4th and higher standards. The master was Arthur Francis Perfect appointed November 1876 at £80 per year, besides half school pence, use of the master’s house which formed part of the school building His wife taught sewing and received £10 yearly. There was one pupil teacher.

Since Mr Scott’s death in 1894 an exhibition of £20 had been offered, tenable for three years at the Lancaster Grammar School One had been awarded in 1895 and another in 1898. The governors were currently in debt to the bank for £44.

Notes

1. Whelan Robert, “The Corrosion of Charity”, Institute of Economic Affairs, Health and Welfare Unit (1996), ↩︎
2. Ibid. p3 ↩︎
3. W.K.Jordan, “Philanthropy in England; 1480-1660” George Allen and Udwin, 1959 ↩︎
4. This was reported in The Times ↩︎

Published in Mourholme Magazine Issue 32 1998