MISC POOR

Reference code

MISC POOR

Title

Eton Poor Estate

Level

Sub-fonds

Administrative / Biographical history

Matthew Page in his will dated 15 June 1582 bequeathed to Eton College £40 on condition that the College and its successors should give for ever 40/- to the poor people of the parish of Eton. In 1639, this money, together with £30 from the will of John Chambers, fellow, was used to purchase two houses in Windsor and Sir Henry Wotton and the other grantees covenanted that they would yearly distribute all the rents and profits of the two houses (the 40/- to be included in the rents) for the benefit and relief of the poor inhabitants of Eton. Other property was given or purchased over the years for the same use, including Wheat Butts in Eton Wick and land in Langley.

The Eton Poor Estate was constituted under a Scheme of the Charity Commission, 27 September 1938, and in 1991, several smaller charities with similar objectives amalgamated with the Poor Estate, including Geoffrey Hale’s charity, Reverend Jonathan Davies’, John Bateman, Dr Henry Bost, Dr Robert Lupton, Page’s Charity, Breakfast Money, and the Gift of Mr Brede.

The College provides in-kind support to the Poor’s Estate in the Ancient Parish of Eton (Charity No. 200640). The Poor’s Estate is established for the relief of persons in the Parish who are in need, hardship or distress by reason of age, infirmity or poverty and its principal activity is the provision of a day centre for the elderly. The College provides payroll, income and expenditure processing, management and statutory reporting services in kind and also leases Charteris House to the charity at a concessionary rent for use as the day centre.