By T. H. Baker. 307 
Willm Rogers of Mere one tree, Mr. Andrew Ewens of Pen one tree, Mr. 
Augustine Goldsbrough one tree. Mr. ffrancis Potter pson of Kilmington gave 
ten shillings. Mr. ffeeld pson of Stourton gave ffyve shillings. 
“Item many of the pishioners of Meere gave their good wills some in money 
and some in carriage for the said building which said house soe built cost over 
and besides the said guifts gyven at the time of the building out of the said 
stocke 63 ,, 12 ,, 6. 
“Ttem it is ordered as well w'* the consent of the whole parish as alsoe by 
those whose names are hereafter sett Downe and subscribed for and in the behalfe 
of the whole pish. That all those poore people that are now placed and heareafter 
to be placed to Dwell in the said Almshouse shall leave all such goods and 
household stuffe as they or anie or either of them shall have of their owne at 
the tyme of their decease to the onlie pper use benefitt and behoofe of the said 
Almshouse for ever unlesse anie or either of them shall have Childe or Children 
of their owne lyveing at the tyme of their decease to gyve their said goods unto. 
1638. 
“The names of all those poore people w‘ are nowe put into the said Almshouse 
to dwell there viz. George Robyns and Welthyan his wife, John Alford and his 
wife, Thomas Allen and his wife, Robte Rake thelder and his wife, Willm Olliffe 
and Ann his wife, Christofer Casse and his wife, Honnor Browne, John Alferd and 
his wife, Elizabeth Kendell, Edward Lawrance.”’ 
The report of the Charity Commissioners (1836) says :— 
“The whole almshouse has constantly been occupied by four poor families of 
the parish of Mere, each family having one room below and one above. There 
is no ground belonging to it. The poor families are appointed by the overseers. 
When the families put in are diminished by going out to service, death, or other- 
wise, they are removed and otherwise provided for, and their place supplied by 
others more numerous. The parish repair the house, which is now in good 
condition. The inmates are entirely supported out of the rates.” 
The old almshouse having become untenantable and ruinous some 
twenty years ago, the site and materials thereon were sold by order 
of the vestry and £20—the proceeds of the sale—was invested in 
the Official Trustees of Charitable Funds at the Bank of England 
in 1880. This sum, with the interest accumulated, is now amalga- 
mated with other minor charities. 
Mere Forest Cuariry. 
This charity consists of about eighty acres of land in the parish 
of Gillingham, on which a farm-house and homestead were erected 
in 1857. These lands were given as compensation for the surrender 
