History
Thornham United Charities is four separate charities which were amalgamated under the same banner in the 1980’s – the Fuel Allotment Charity, Walter Walterson’s Charity, George Hogge Charity and Edward Robinson’s Charity.
The current Trustees of Thornham United Charities are Patricia Hewitt (Chairman), Ian Barrett (Treasurer), Robert Goddard, Janet Needham, Colin Venes and John Warham (Secretary).
Fuel Allotment Charity – Now The Jubilee Meadow
​
The Fuel Allotment Charity was set up by the Enclosure Act of 1797, which stripped villagers of many of their ancient common rights, under the auspices of improving farming methods.
​
Until 2007, the Charity owned 29 acres of land at Ling Common, about two miles to the south of the village. The land was rented out to the Bett family for many years, and the income was distributed to the poor of the parish in the form of bags of coal, which had replaced the “whins and furzes” which the parishioners originally gathered.
​
In 2007, the Trustees of the Fuel Allotment entered into an agreement with Stephen Bett's Thornham Farms Ltd to exchange the Ling Common Land for 17.5acres of land, just off the A149 at the west end of the village adjoining the Playing Field.
Until November 2022, the field was leased to Stephen Bett, when the lease was terminated. After consultation with the village, the Trustees decided to convert the field (with the exception of four acres at the west end which will be leased to Drove Orchards to grow endangered apple species) into a meadow interspersed with memorial trees, benches and picnic tables for the villagers and visitors to enjoy for generations to come. At the suggestion of local resident, Stephen Greef, West Bottom Field has been renamed Jubilee Meadow.
Walter Walterson’s Charity
Walter Walterson died on 15th March 1720 and bequeathed £100 to buy land, the income from which, was to be distributed, two thirds to the poor of Thornham and one third to the poor of Titchwell. Walterson is buried in All Saints’ Church. His tombstone lies at the front of the nave, just before the altar and this bequest is inscribed on his tombstone.
​
His £100 bought thirteen acres of land just outside the village on the road to Ringstead and this land is rented out for agricultural use. The income in early days was distributed, “in the form of coals amongst all the poor belonging to the parish in quantities varying from one bushel and a half to six bushels, those who did not receive parish relief having a larger share.”
​
Until 2007, The Trustees distributed sums of money to all parishioners over the age of 70 on the first Sunday of Advent at the Church. Since the amendment of the Charity’s articles, and with the expressed agreement of the Charity Commission, this practice has been discontinued and the income is now used, “for the general benefit of the residents of Thornham and Titchwell.”
​
Edward Robinson Charity
Of interest, mainly from a historical point of view, Edward Robinson’s will provides the princely sum of £1 per annum to the village! Robinson was a merchant of Lynn who died in 1700 and charged his house in Lath Street, King’s Lynn, which he gave to the Mayor and Burgesses of Lynn, with the payment of £1 every St. Thomas’s Day, to the minister and churchwardens of Thornham, to be distributed among twenty of the most religious poor and women in equal shares.
​
George Hogge Charity
George Hogge was a wealthy Lynn business man whose family built Thornham Hall in the late 18th Century as well as the Red House in the village. Hogge left an investment of £400 to be invested in income, “to be distributed amongst such persons resident in the parish as the trustees think most deserving.” The funds are now invested in stock held by the Official Trustees of Charitable Funds, a national organisation which invests on behalf of small charities throughout the country.
The main focus today is on the development of the Jubilee Meadow. Our hope is that this will be used for recreational and leisure purposes for many future generations of Thornham residents and visitors, in a way which, hopefully, will reflect the wishes of those generous Thornham benefactors nearly three centuries ago.