History
The origin of Hornsey Parochial Charities lies in charitable gifts and donations to the disadvantaged people of the Parish of Hornsey and dates back to 1620. The Parish in those days extended over Hornsey, Highgate, Muswell Hill and part of East Finchley. During this time the majority of residents in Hornsey were living in extreme poverty. Hornsey residents in hardship relied upon around 20 individual charities. In 1890 all the individual charities were united to form Hornsey Parochial Charities and in 1955 Hornsey Parochial Charities Educational and Vocational Foundation was established to support young residents in Hornsey under the age of 25.
Hornsey Parochial Charities exist today, thanks to the generosity and stewardship of these gifts.
1620 The first recorded gift, of £250, was made in William Priestley’s will to provide in perpetuity funds to support 8 disadvantaged men of Hornsey. Over the centuries, many men and women followed his example, leaving gifts for education or assisting the disadvantaged
1641 Susannah Chambers gifted £125 for bread to be distributed to the people of Hornsey each Sunday.
1659 Roger Draper left £120 in his will to establish a scheme to support 6 boys’ apprenticeships in Hornsey. The scheme was expanded in 1866 to support boys and girls. By 1867, 32 apprenticeships had been supported.
1662 Anne Smith donated £80 to support 4 apprenticeships a year for the children of Hornsey.
1732 Catherine Joyner and her sister Elizabeth Joyner gifted £4 a month for bread to be distributed to the people of Hornsey.
1756 Daniel Midwinter left £1,000 in her will to fund apprenticeships and subsistence for one boy and one girl a year in Hornsey.
1758 Williams Evans left a gift of £6 a year for bread to be distributed to the people of Hornsey.
1791 Samuel Ellis donated £300 for bread to be distributed to the people of the Hornsey each week.
1797 Isaac Crunden gifted £150 for the distribution of bread each Sunday to the people of Hornsey.
1816 Richard Patmore donated £200 of shares with the interest to be distributed in bread to the people of Hornsey.
1813 The Hornsey Enclosure Act established the Poor’s Allotments Charity which granted the disadvantaged people of Hornsey the Wood Lane, Highgate and Fortis Green allotments for cultivation. The allotments were sold in 1960 and the proceeds were invested in funds for the disadvantaged people of Hornsey.
1818 The Parish of Hornsey Fuel Fund was established and made its first gifts of fuel worth £14 to the disadvantaged people of the Parish of Hornsey. In 1886, 1,351 sacks of fuel were distributed throughout the Parish.
1890 Hornsey Parochial Charities were established by a scheme made by the Charity Commission uniting all the Parish of Hornsey charities. The scheme also created the first Trustees of Hornsey Parochial Charities.
1890-1950 Hornsey Parochial Charities supported the disadvantaged people of Hornsey with grants to nursing associations, hospitals, community organisations and for apprenticeships. As well as through, providing pensions for residents and support to individuals when circumstances threatened to pull them into hardship.
1955 Hornsey Parochial Charities Educational and Vocational Foundation was established by the Minister education to support young residents in Hornsey under the age of 25.
1967 The Maria Tames Nursing Charity was united with Hornsey Parochial Charities.
1972 The Colonel John William Bird Charity was amalgamated with Hornsey Parochial Charities.
2005 The Hornsey Old People Society (HOPS) charity was dissolved and the funds donated to Hornsey Parochial Charities.
2016 Renate Campbell Trust was dissolved and a third of their assets were donated to Hornsey Parochial Charities.