510 Notes on the History of Mere. 
lying in the parish of Gillingham, in Dorsetshire, to be by them 
distributed yearly on the Sunday next before Christmas Day, by 
equal portions to such ten poor housekeepers of Mere, not having 
any relief from the said parish, as the minister and churchwardens 
and their successors should direct.. The close called the Grove 
consists of about eight acres of pasture land, now the property of 
Mr. Henry Phillips. 
Mere ALLorMEent CHARITY. 
This charity dates from the Mere Inclosure, 1807—1821. By 
the award the commissioners allotted 
‘© unto and for the vicar, churchwardens and overseers of the Poor for the time 
being of the parish of Mere, to be held and enjoyed by them and their successors 
for ever in trust for the benefit of the poor of the said Parish in such manner 
and under such orders, regulations and restrictions as the said Vicar, Church- 
wardens and Overseers of the Poor of the said Parish for the Time being or the 
major part of them shall from time to time order and direct All that allotment 
or parcel of Land situate at Whitehill Common numbered 939 on the said Map 
containing by admeasurement twenty acres bounded on the North by allotments 
to Mary Burfit and William Wickham, on the East by an allotment to Thomas 
Schutz and the common allotment numbered 940, on the South by Inclosures in 
the parish of Gillingham, and on the West by Huntleford Road.” 
The present rent is £20 per annum. Mr. William Perrett is the 
tenant. It was formerly rented by Mr. George Perrett at £32 per 
annum from 1856 to 1868, then till 1877 at the same rent by the 
present tenant, when it was reduced to £25 and in 1878 to £20. 
In 1826 Mr. Noah March rented it at £17 per annum. 
This charity is distributed every autumn to such poor people as 
do not receive the Forest Charity. 
Berry Burvt’s CHariry. 
Mrs. Betty Butt, of Mere, who died 2nd February, 1818, be- 
queathed £20 for the use of the Salisbury Infirmary, and £20 to 
be laid out in bread and distributed amongst the poor of the town 
of Mere, Zeals, and Mere Woodlands. This bread was accordingly 
distributed amongst the said poor on the 26th February by the 
executrix at the deceased’s late dwelling-house. She also, by her 
will, dated May 8th, 1810, left to her trustees £60 to be invested 
