Regd. Charity No. 203604

This photograph was taken in the delightful park, owned by the Feoffee Trust.

Left to right: Sally Axell (Clerk) and the five Trustees - Revd. David Arnott, Hilary Pearn, Brenda Huxtable (Chair), Liz Hitchins and Ralph James.

INTRODUCTION

The Trust responds to the needs of individuals within Brixton Parish and provides financial support for St. Mary's Church. It also assists organisations within Brixton village, such as youth groups and the Community Association.

This independent Trust was set up in the 1400s. For details of background, please see "History".

Funds are obtained from investments and from commercially let properties within the village. The Trust's charity number is 203604. Trustees are subject to Charity Commission regulations.

CAN THE TRUST HELP YOU?

If you feel that the Brixton Feoffee Trust can help you, or you know of any person in genuine need, please contact any of the Trustees (names and telephone numbers listed in the Brixton Magazine Directory) or the Clerk to the Trust on brixtonfeoffeetrust@googlemail.com

CAN YOU HELP THE TRUST?

The Feoffee Trust Car Scheme is entirely funded by the Trust, with a mileage allowance paid to volunteer drivers. Drivers are always needed - if you think you could give an hour or two a week on an occasional basis, it would be greatly appreciated. Please contact the Clerk on brixtonfeoffeetrust@googlemail.com or any of the Trustees, as mentioned above, in the Brixton Magazine Directory.

HISTORY

The first known Deed of the Trust (then known as the Brixton Feoffee Lands Charity) is recorded in Latin and was set up over 500 years ago in the early 1400s. It was for an estate near Yealmpton, named Blowden Torr.

The word Feoffee is an old English word meaning a gift, usually of land/property (Feoffment) to a charitable Trust.

The original Feoffee Charity was set up to distribute its income to the poor of Brixton, whose population of around 200 was scattered over five square miles of the parish in the hamlets and small farming communities which were all linked with the manors. In the late 1500s, it was described as follows:

"Being lands on the East side of the church, including the Higher Tenement and Lower Tenement ……. The rent and profit from the said lands shall - from time to time - be converted and employed for the reparation of the church and the relief and maintenance of poor and impotent in the Parish, and defraying other common charges of the Parish".

The Trustees in 1596 represented an area of the village:

Thomas Maynard - Church and Parish

John Fortescue - Spriddlestone

John Woods - Hareston

Walter Hele - Wollaton

John Frynke - Cofflete

Elize Towson - Winston (North of the main street, including Venn)

Robert Wourth - Brixton Reigny

Philip Forde - Brixton English, South of the main street.

In the earlier years, the Feoffee properties were not just confined to the area within the parish. The records show that they included:

Land at Plympton St. Mary

Wardscombe, Modbury

House and Orchard at Newton Ferrers

Houses at Silver Bridge.

The "Church Houses", North of the Church, also belonged to the charity and were occasionally let with part of the "Playing Place" (now The Park).

The line of Horse Chestnut trees in The Park (subject to a Tree Preservation Order) has replaced a line of elms. These elms were planted by the Fortescues of Spriddlestone in 1677. An extract from an engraved stone at that time reads "…. (when these elms are perfect in growth and sold), lands may be purchased with the money obtained for the relief of the poor of this parish and that posterity, reaping the advantage of our benefaction may be encouraged to provide for more successors by substituting others in the room of these."

In the late 1800s the charity provided the site - at no cost - for construction of a school beside Old Road. The school was constructed at a cost of £439, of which £400 came out of the charity's funds, with the remaining amount from voluntary subscriptions. Subsequently, in 1906, the Charity Commissioners ruled that no part of the income of the Brixton Feoffee Lands Charity may be used for educational purposes, and this situation remains.

APPLICATION OF INCOME AND BENEFICIARIES

The Trust Deed states that the net income each year shall be divided as follows:

1. One half to the Parochial Church Council of St. Mary's Church, Brixton, for the upkeep, repair and insurance against fire of the fabric of the Parish Church, Brixton.

2. The remaining half of the income is applied in relief either generally or individually to persons resident in Brixton who are in conditions of need, hardship or distress, by making grants of money or paying for items, services or facilities calculated to reduce such conditions.

If the funds are not fully spent on individuals, the remainder is to be placed in a third fund, which is available for use by organisations for the general benefit of the inhabitants of Brixton. It is from this fund, for instance, that funding is supplied for the successful Car Travel Scheme.