Charity Commissioners' Report - 1826

by Jon Malings

In the early 19th Century Parliament appointed Commissioners to inquire concerning Charities and Education of the Poor in England and Wales. Their report for the Wootton Hundred of Oxfordshire was published in 1826.  

In the case of Deddington they detailed the history of charitable bequests going back to before 1611.  They also outlined the work of the Feoffees — not to mention some of their transgressions — the building of the Town House (Town Hall) and almshouses and the workings of Cartwright's Charity.

In his will, dated 1st of February 1633, Richard Cartwright left an annual sum of £6 1s. 4d. to be used to purchase bread for the poor of Deddington. The Commissioners reported that "this money is paid to a baker and he supplies 14 two-penny loaves every Sunday, which are given away by the minister at the church, after Divine service, amongst the poor who attend, unless there are any who are prevented by illness." 

The Final Commissioner's reports covering the whole country were published in 1839 and have been digitised by Google.  Click here to go to the pages about Deddington.