Town Moor Charity 227620
The effective maintenance of Newcastle Town Moor, overseeing investments and income generated to fund improvements to the Town Moor. (Town Moor Act 1774 The Newcastle upon Tyne Improvement Act, The Newcastle upon Tyne Corporation Act and the Town Moor Act 1988).
Charitable Objects
Rights of resident Freemen and resident spouse of deceased Freemen to herbage over the Town Moor i.e., grazing rights for two milch cows. The number of cows to be pastured is limited to 800 represented by an equivalent number of “Stint Tickets” distributed to those successful Freemen and widowers and widows who apply. Section 11 of the 1870 Act sets out the procedure and in terms specifically acknowledges and permits the recipient to sell their Stint ticket for the best prices obtainable.
The Town Moor Money Charity
The Town Moor Money Charity (no. 227620-1) offers means-tested assistance to Freemen and their surviving spouse, and extends to assistance towards mobility aids, and to their children in full time further education aged 18 to 20 years. When a son or daughter reaches the age of 20, they need to take up his Freelage to enable them to make an application as a Freeman. The Charity is funded by income arising from the Intake system. The Trustees meet half yearly to assess applications and grants are distributed in June and December.
Application forms are available from the Company Senior Steward who will be able to guide prospective new applicants through the process. The application form is relatively simple to complete and allows a means test to be undertaken to ensure eligibility for the grant. A copy of the form is available below in order that anyone wishing to apply for the first time can access the information required to complete an application. This PDF form can also be downloaded and completed, details on the appropriate Senior Steward to forward the completed application form to for initial authorisation can be accessed by contacting the Danielle Batey, Administration Manager on 0191 2615970. Any questions in relation to the Town Moor Money Charity should be directed to Phil Powell, TMMC Chair via email at philpowell@freemenofnewcastle.org.
An information video , presented by Phil Powell can be viewed at: http://vimeo.com/1069629680/9aba980127?share=copy
You can download the application form.
St Mary Magdalene and Holy Jesus Trust
This Charity exists mainly to provide housing for older persons who are in need either through hardship or distress. The Trust can also provide domestic and maintenance services for beneficiaries requiring assistance.
The Charity’s area of benefit is the City of Newcastle upon Tyne and the surrounding area although applicants may be appointed who live outside the area or who have not lived in the area for the required number of years but who are otherwise qualified. Preference to some homes is given to poor Freemen, widows, widowers or single children of Freemen.
The individual circumstances of beneficiaries are considered on their own merit. A significant number of beneficiaries receive Local Authority support via housing benefit. The Charity works in partnership with other agencies to provide access to free and confidential advice regarding benefits and entitlements.
Qualifying applicants for the Hospital of Holy Jesus must be either poor single Freemen, widows, widowers or single children of Freemen who have resided within a radius of 5 miles of the Chapel of St Thomas the Martyr for not less than 1 year prior to the date of appointment.
Some qualifying applicants for the Hospital of St Mary Magdalene must be poor Freemen over 60 years of age whose partners, if they have them, may live in the homes with them. If there are insufficient applicants to fill those vacancies, poor women over 60 years of age who are the widows or single daughters of Freemen are eligible.
If there are insufficient applications to fill those vacancies, poor PEOPLE over the age of 60 years of age who are widows, WIDOWERS or single CHILDREN of Freemen are eligible.
Qualifying applicants for Magdalene Court must be persons in need because of their disability.
The Charity may also consider making grants to provide or pay for items, services and facilities for individuals, organisations, and institutions.
St Mary Magdalene & Holy Jesus Trust
Registered Charity No. 225979
Outside Charities
Background:
Historically the Hospitals of Ann Davison, Thomas Davison and Sir Walter Blackett formed part of the same range of buildings as the old Hospital of Holy Jesus.
On the part belonging to Ann Davison there was the following inscription: ‘This Hospital is for a governess and five Sisters, widows of protestant clergymen, merchants and Freemen of the town and was endowed by the Charity of Mrs Ann Davison, relict of Mr Benjamin Davison, Merchant. First erected by the Corporation of Newcastle AD 1725 and rebuilt at their own charge AD1754.’
Six widows of protestant clergymen, merchants or freemen were appointed to reside in this Hospital by the Mayor, Aldermen and Common Council and a sum exceeding £55.00 per annum was paid out of the funds of the Corporation for their support. Besides other allowances each alms-woman received £13.00 per annum by quarterly payments and the governess received an additional £1.00. The Hospital was maintained by the Corporation. The Hospital was actually erected by arrangement between the executors of Ann Davison and the Corporation.
Thomas Davison, on 29th July 1755, on behalf of himself and his sisters, Timothea and Mary, deposited with the Corporation the sum of £200.00 on receiving a bond under the Common Seal for that amount. It appears that the Corporation, in 1754, had erected a hospital forming part of the same range of buildings as the Hospital of the Holy Jesus, upon which there was the following inscription: ‘This Hospital, for six unmarried women, to be the daughters or widows of burgesses, built on the ground and at the common charge of the Corporation of this town, was founded by Thomas Davison Esquire of Ferryhill in the County of Durham AD 1754.’
Six unmarried women, daughters or widows of Freemen were appointed by the Mayor, Aldermen and Common Council and received £13.00 per year besides other allowances from the funds of the Corporation. The building was kept in repair by the Corporation.
Sir Walter Blackett, Baronet, one of the Aldermen of Newcastle deposited £1,200 with the Corporation and received a bond under their Common Seal for the amount dated 20th June 1754. In 1754 the Hospital was erected by the Corporation and formed part of the same range of buildings as the Holy Jesus Hospital and the inscription was as follows: ‘This Hospital, for six unmarried men to be poor and decayed burgesses built on the ground and at the common charge of the Corporation of this town was founded by Sir Walter Blackett, Baronet a munificent magistrate and representative in seven successive parliaments of Newcastle upon Tyne AD 1754’.
The six poor and decayed burgesses being unmarried were appointed to the Hospital by the Mayor, Aldermen and Common Council and received £3.00 a quarter out of the funds of the Corporation besides an allowance of coals. The building was kept in repair by the Corporation.
The Hospitals were pulled down in the making of the York, Newcastle and Berwick railway and all the beneficiaries continued to receive a small amount in lieu of residence.
Present day arrangements
These charities still exist and are maintained by the Mary Magdalene and Holy Jesus Trust. Each of the funds provides quarterly grants to up to 6 eligible applicants, Eligibility is assessed in the same way as for a Mary Magdalene and Holy Jesus bungalow i.e. income no more than 50% of average weekly earnings, excluding benefits that aren’t for general income but are for a specific purpose e.g. disability benefits such as Personal Independent Payment . Once people have been assessed as being eligible and are appointed, they stay on the scheme and receive the grant unless their circumstances change.
Ann Davison Hospital
The beneficiaries must be the poor widows or widowers of merchants, clergymen and freemen; preference being given to the widows of merchants. There are no age or residential qualifications.
Thomas Davison Hospital
The beneficiaries must be poor widows or widowers or unmarried children of Freemen. There are no age or residential qualifications.
Sir Walter Blackett Hospital
The beneficiaries must be poor unmarried Freemen. There are no age or residential qualifications.
Applications should be made to the Admin Team at stmarymagdalene@MMHJTRUST.COM
St Mary Magdalene & Holy Jesus Trustee Limited (Company No. 6662527), a company limited by guarantee, is trustee of The St Mary Magdalene & Holy Jesus Trust. Registered Office: Claremont Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4NN. Registered in England.
