Townland Governors

March 2005

During the reign of Henry VI and Henry VII various lands were granted – the income to be granted for good charitable purposes.
	However over the centuries the property was made as gifts to the relatives of the subsequent Trustees and so 12 male inhabitants of good standing were nominated as Governors of The Wantage Town Lands to direct income towards poor relief.
This was used primarily towards the upkeep of the local highways and to maintain the office of the Schoolmaster.
	The Governors originally looked after the incumbents of the almshouses in Mill Street and Newbury Street finacially and they also distributed the cloth and calico at the beginning of the Summerto provide the poor with clothing for the harvest – approx 300 people.
Each “in town” Governor also donated one greatcoat to the needy people who worked chiefly out of doors.
	When the old almshouses fell into disrepair the money originally used for poor relief was used to build 18 new almshouses: 10 in Eagles Closein 1867 and 8 in Mill Street in 1868/70/71.
One of the rules of regulating the occupancy stated that “it is expected that the Houses and Gardens will be kept in good order and that tenants will look upon them as God’s gift to enable them to pass their declining days in freedom from anxiety and earthly cares, and prepare to meet Him in Eternity.”
	The architect of the Mill Street almshouses was Mr Spencer of North Shields and the contractors were Messers John Wheeler and William Gregory of Wantage.
The original source of the charity funds and a list of the names of previous governors from 1597-1901 can be found in “Wantage Past & Present” by A. Gibbons.