Old Charities of St Ives

Old Charities of St Ives

In the early 1600s Robert Langley was battling his way through a heavy snowstorm across Hemingford Meadow, heading for home in St Ives. The meadow was more dangerous in winter 400 years ago. The New Bridges another 200 years in the future, south from St Ives bridge was a precarious causeway, the River Great Ouse much wilder and unmanaged. Robert had lost his way.


Suddenly, through the gloom pealed the bells of St Ives Parish Church. Heading towards the chimes, Robert reached St Ives bridge and safety. He remembered the bellringers to the day of his death in 1656 and willed a charge on his lands to provide them with 6s per year. They no longer receive support from his charity, although they will be pealing the bells one day each January from 2020 to guide lost souls across the ancient Hemingford Meadow.

This was just one of many charitable donations made to St Ives over the centuries, now managed by the St Ives United Charities. Read on to learn more about them.

Robert Langley

In addition to the annual payment to St Ives Parish Church bellringers, Robert also placed a charge of 40s on his lands, to be distributed amongst poor widows and fatherless children of St Ives in January each year. From 1860 the money was used to distribute bread to both widows and widowers, known as Langley Bread. By 1990 each were given a grocery bag containing bread, sugar, teabags and butter. Typically more than 200 widows and widowers benefit each year.

Robert also willed money for Hemingford Grey bellringers and poor.

Robert Wilde (Wylde)

Born in St Ives in 1609 to a shoemaker, Robert was a clergyman and poet. Educated in private school at St Ives, he gained an MA at Cambridge University and a BD at Oxford University. In 1646 he was appointed rector of Aynho, Northamptonshire.

Robert held strong puritan views. Considered something of a wit, he was ejected from his benefice following the Act of Uniformity in 1662 and poems promoting his royalist views landed him in prison. He died in 1679 aged 70 years from a fit of apoplexy.

Robert bequeathed £50 to St Ives for the vicar and churchwardens of St Ives Parish Church to purchase an acre of land, the rent from which to be used to purchase 'six well-bound Bibles' for which twelve residents, six males and six females, were to roll dice. He also gave 10s to the vicar for a sermon. Any residue was to be distributed amongst the poor of the town, used to provide blankets, warm clothing and other necessities.

The distribution of bibles still continues on or around Whit Tuesday. Known as bible dicing, St Ives schoolchildren vie for one of the twelve bibles on offer as shown above. The acre of land originally bought to fund the charity is still known as the Bible Orchard. A huge walnut tree grows there, a sole survivor from the original orchard.

Wright Ingle

Coming from humble beginnings, Wright was born to a mother found by travellers about to give birth on the roadside. They took her to the workhouse where she died during labour. The mother was too far gone to identify herself or name the baby boy. He was called after two workhouse attendants, Wright and Ingle, who gave permission for their names to be used.

Wright made his fortune in London and returned to St Ives to buy property in the area. In his will of 1862, Wright gave £200 to the vicar and churchwardens of St Ives Parish Church, the income from which was to be distributed twice yearly to four poor widows. He also gave £100, the income to be used for the upkeep of a tablet, tomb and memorial windows at the Church.

Wright's adopted son, George Wright Wright Ingle, also had an interesting upbringing and was equally benevolent. In 1934 George donated the island that today contains Holt Island Nature Reserve (map below) and the Sea Scouts base to St Ives. In 1915 he also donated the statues of St Peter and St Paul that appear outside the west door of St Ives Parish Church.

Thomas Cordell

From about 1646 an annual charge of 20s was made on a house called Bayley's for distribution of bread amongst the poor of St Ives on St Thomas' Day.

Thomas Sharp

About 1697 Thomas gave a ley of pasture called Fenters, 10s of the rent to be given to the vicar of St Ives Parish Church for a sermon on Ash Wednesday, any balance to poor widows on the same day.

Elizabeth Johnson

Sister of Thomas Sharp, Elizabeth gave £20, the income from which to be distributed to poor widows on Good Friday.

Dryden's Gift

John Dryden's will of 1708 gave £200 for investment, the income from which was to be used to the advantage of St Ives as judged by the justices of the peace and 'substantial residents'. Following a meeting of residents it was agreed that the charity be used to support the vicar of St Ives Parish Church.

Gilbert John Ansley

Gilbert's 1875 will gave £200 to the vicar and churchwardens of St Ives Parish Church, the income from which was to be applied to poor.

Johnson's Tomb

The will gave £23, the income from which was to be applied for the upkeep of a tablet and tomb in St Ives Parish Church graveyard.

John Brown

John's 1905 will gave £1,000 to the vicar and churchwardens of St Ives Parish Church to invest for income for the poor aged over 60 years who had been resident in St Ives for at least 20 years.

Town Estate

The Estate formed investments and property, the income from which was to be used for the upkeep of St Ives Parish Church, any balance going to the poor. For more details see Parliamentary Papers, Reports From Charity Commissioners 6 September 1831.