Historic transfer of charity after almost 400 years

Historic transfer of charity after almost 400 years

With effect from 24 June 2011 the trusteeship of the William Jones’s Almshouse Charity transferred from the Haberdashers’ Company to Bristol Charities. This Monmouth-based charity was founded in 1614 and the Haberdashers’ Company, one of the ‘Great Twelve’ Livery Companies of the City of London has been trustee since that time.

Bristol Charities has acted as consultant and then as managing agent since 2005. A planning consent for a new almshouse, consisting of 24 one-bedroom flats was recently obtained and it anticipated that the new development will commence in the autumn of 2011. The new almshouse flats will be built to the same specification as the extremely popular John Foster’s Almshouse in Henbury, which was completed in 2009.

The photograph shows Andrew Hillman, Chairman of Trustees (on the right) and David Jones, Chief Executive, Bristol Charities, in front of the portrait of William Jones held at Monmouth School; holding a drawing of the proposed new almshouse

The new almshouse, together with the construction of 10 houses for private sale that will assist with the construction cost, will be built on the current almshouse site off St James’s Square in the centre of Monmouth, close to shops, library and all facilities. The existing almshouse, built in 1961, will be demolished to make way for the new project.

The trustees of Bristol Charities are delighted that a 400 year old charity will provide twenty first century accommodation for older people in need in Monmouth, thereby continuing to meet the objectives laid down by the founder, William Jones. He was a local man who made his fortune as a merchant in Stade, near Hamburg and then went on to found the almshouse charity at Monmouth, as well as a school. He appointed the Haberdashers’ Company, as Trustee and they served in that role until 24 June 2011. The Haberdashers’ Company will assume a role as Patron, in recognition of the historic links, and the two organisations will retain close ties in future.

In the photograph the Master of the Haberdashers’ Company, Bruce Powell, in his gown of office, hands a vellum scroll to Andrew Hillman, chairman of trustees, Bristol Charities, to ceremonially mark the transfer of the trusteeship after 397 years. Also in the photograph is Mrs Helen Bosanquet, who has long standing links with the Haberdashers’ Company in Monmouth and David Jones, Chief Executive of Bristol Charities.