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Earl Soham Town Lands Trust (The following is based on a talk given by Commander N. Woodcock, MBE, RN (Retd) at the Earl Soham Annual Parish Meeting in 2001.)The Charity Lands, now known as The Town Lands Trust, were established in 1798 but details of the founders are shrouded in history and mystery. The administration of the trust was vested in trustees consisting of The Rector and the two churchwardens (ex-officio) and seven other suitable persons appointed by the churchwardens. The trust obtained a rental income from its estate which consisted of a block of 3 cottages in Little Green, a detached cottage with a large garden at Soham Town Corner, 12 acres of arable land near The White House Farm on Bedfield Road, 7 acres of arable land to the north of The White House Farm and adjoining the detached cottage, 4.5 acres of arable land in the Main Street (The Falcon Field) and 21 acres of arable and pasture land adjoining Churchyards Farm next to Old Hall Farm at the top of Church Lane, some 46 acres in all. The 1841 tithe map reveals the landowner at the time was Lord Henniker and the tenant Mr. John Churchyard - hence Churchyards Farm. The trust's income, after funding the repairs and costs of its holdings, was given for the relief of poor parishioners in Earl Soham, the necessitous poor, by the provision of money, clothing and food. What price charity? Part 3 of a notice to parishioners interested in the trust, published by the trustees in 1882, stated: "No parent shall receive any portion of The Charity on behalf of any illegitimate child born after 1st January, 1882, until such time as the parents of the child become husband and wife". The trustees at that time viewed charity very differently even though the child could be starving and unclothed. Even by the 1930's life was not made easy for the recipients of trust help. Vouchers were issued to the beneficiaries and in December each year they appeared before the trustees in the village school where they had their purchases checked and/or the receipts for the goods examined. A humbling experience! In the 1940's it became apparent that an increasing amount of income to the trust was required for repairs to its properties and at that time, Blyth Rural District Council submitted an adverse health and defects report on two of the four cottages. This spurred the trustees into action and on 16th September, 1949, with the approval of the Charity Commissioners, all the Town Lands estate, with the exception of The Falcon Field, was sold by public auction at The Crown Hotel, Framlingham, by Messrs. Flick & Son of Saxmundham, for £1463. 7s. 6d. After deducting the solicitors and agents fees, the remaining £1426. 5s. 0d. was invested in two and a half per cent Consolidated Stock. In 1962 the investment was transferred to the Charities Official Investment Fund (Charifund) where it still remains. At the time of the auction it was considered to be in the best interests of the parishioners to retain The Falcon Field. In 1951, The Charity Commissioners changed the Board of Trustees to consist of The Rector (ex-officio) and two persons nominated by The Parish Council. It is mandatory that the Falcon Field ("allotment garden") is cultivated and that no livestock are kept on it. In 1957 there were 27 allotments on the site. Various uses for The Falcon Field have been considered within living memory. In 1960 the East Suffolk County Council was interested in purchasing half of the field on which to build a new school to replace five neighbouring infant schools; in 1964 it was a possible site for a village playing field and in 1978 it was considered by Suffolk Coastal District Council as a possible site for Old People's Bungalows, with preference being given to Earl Soham people. Each of these interests faded. In 1982, under a twenty-five years' lease agreement with Earl Soham Tennis Club, which on expiry is renewable for further periods subject to agreement, a tennis court was constructed on the Town Lands, the rent for which is determined by an independent valuer. The remainder of the field is leased under an agricultural tenancy agreement. Until 1993 the disposable income from the trust was amalgamated with that of the Earl Soham Church Charities, administered by The Rector and churchwardens, to provide for payments, known as "Christmas Dole", to elderly parishioners, and to special cases involving hardship within the parish. In 1993 it was agreed by both the trustees and the churchwardens, that the Town Lands money would be used for the benefit of the elderly, and the Earl Soham Church Charities' money for special cases, including those among younger people. The Town Lands criteria for payments are: - recipients live in rented property; - the qualifying age should be 65 years for men and 60 for women payable one per household; - recipients to reside in the parish or have been a recipient whilst formerly residing in the parish (to whom a reduced payment is made); - recipients are not in full-time employment. The Town Lands Trust now holds 959 shares in Charifunds and the value of the investment on 31 December, 2000 was £10680 29p., each share being valued at £11 13.69p. The present trustees are: Mr. L. William Vincent, OBE, (representing The Reverend Clare Sanders, Priest-in-Charge), Commander Norman A. Woodcock, MBE, Royal Navy (Retired) and Mr. Nigel D. Sheffield, both representing Earl Soham Parish Council. The Honorary Clerk to the trustees is Mrs. Pamela Sykes, appointed by the trustees. The Trustees do not have access to any official information regarding entitlement and welcome enquiries from those who may be interested in the matter. Copies of the accounts for each year ending 31st March are presented to the village at its Annual Parish Meeting. An annual financial return, completed by the Clerk and signed by a Trustee, is sent to the Charity Commissioners. |