Page 13 - Frittenden Parish Mag - November 2021

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“and so Although the Idenden Charity was established and, as a result, Frittenden’s workhouse became electricity at Charity and Jubilee Cottages. There
in 1566, the feoffees would have to wait for
was also an annual distribution to the poor. In
redundant and was leased out as a farm.
1911, this payment was made to 110 men and
Elizabeth’s death 32 years later before they could
endure for claim the property. However, they then faced Edward Moore, Rector from 1842 to 1869, was women, representing 12% of the population.
an advocate of allotments to enable working
another long delay as, within just two months
However, as a household could only receive a
class parishioners to provide for their families
ever.” of Thomas’s death, Elizabeth had married a new better. The charity decided to let out seven acres single charitable gift, some 52% of Frittenden
husband, William Evernden, and he refused to
households were in receipt of this benefit.
of the farmland as allotments, generating an
hand over the properties, claiming that under
English Common Law all his late wife’s assets income of nearly £22 in 1870. (The allotments Today, 455 years after the will which created the
The Thomas Idenden Charitable had become his at the time of their marriage. remained in use until 1953 when the farm was Idenden Trust, it continues to be administered
Trust: a talk by Phil Betts A legal suit ensued which was only resolved a sold by the feoffees and the proceeds invested in by six feoffees. Up until WWII, these were
predominantly drawn from longstanding
Government Stock.)
further 24 years later when, in 1622, a petition farming families but since then the net has
was made to the Right Rev John, Lord Bishop of In 1897, the feoffees decided to mark Queen
The year 1566 was notable for the birth of Lincoln, Lord Keeper of the Great Seal [today Victoria’s jubilee by building two cottages on widened considerably. The charity now owns
James I and the death of Nostradamus. It was The Lord Chancellor]. By this time the feoffees Idenden land “situated at the rear of the Bell no land or property. Instead, it receives
also the year in which the Thomas Idenden complained that “4 times ye value of ye land has Inn”, at a cost to the charity of £269. These were income from its holdings with the Charity
Charitable Trust came into being to provide been spent at law”. then let for a total of £30 a year. Apart from rents Commissioners and Charities Aid Fund,
support to poor villagers in Frittenden – and it on its various properties and landholdings, the enabling the feoffees to make an annual
continues to this day. Phil’s talk looked at how Thomas’s bequest included the building known charity also derived income from payments for distribution to parishioners receiving pension
the charity came into being and then evolved today as Charity Cottages and adjacent land access to wells and pumps until mains water credit.
over the following centuries. farmed, as a Poor Farm, by its inhabitants, who arrived in 1924/5. And so, Thomas’s beneficence endures –
by 1777
Thomas numbered up Over the centuries the feoffees spent the income hopefully for ever. (See page 37 for details)
inherited his to 40. Around on: small marriage dowries; actively supporting
father’s lands this time the the education of poor children; maintenance of Sue Betts
in Frittenden farmhouse the farm; and installing running water and later
in 1560 but became a
had little Workhouse
time to enjoy with the From the kitchen
them, dying appointment
just 6 years of a of the Old Dragon.
later. In his Governess We can offer you a large range
will he left and a set of homemade preserves, jams,
the land to of 32 very marmalades, chutneys, sauces
his widow, restrictive and curds.
Elizabeth, for rules detailing meals and beverages, working
her lifetime but directed that, after her death, and bedtime hours, church attendance etc. Free from preservatives. We
the profits from this land should be used for Unusually though, Frittenden’s rules did allow use locally sourced fruit and
“poor maidens’ marriages, the relief of poor dissenters the liberty of visiting a Meeting House vegetables whenever possible.
householders in the parish, and to such deeds instead of church. In 1838, the Cranbrook Call Jenny & Tim anytime
of charity” as the six trustees (called feoffees) Poor Law Union built the Union Workhouse on 01580 852 468
should determine “and so endure for ever”. at Hartley for 6 parishes including Frittenden

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