Present state of the City. 95 



fifteen Trustees, and the income is now about ;£ 1,700 per 

 annum, which, as the leases fall in, will be very largely 

 increased. Six old men and as many old women of the age 

 of fifty and upwards, and who have not been in recent 

 parish relief, are provided with rooms in the Hospital, near 

 the Hot Bath, and receive a weekly allowance of loi-. 

 Pensions are also granted of the same amount to twenty- 

 two men residents, and the number of this class will be 

 from time to time increased as funds permit. 



,5'/. Catherine's Hospital, or the Black Alms and the 

 Grammar School. 



These distinct charities are under one foundation. They 

 owe their nominal origin to a grant made out of the monastic 

 property by Edward VI., but this was, as there is small 

 doubt, a mere re-constitution of earlier charities which had 

 been administered by the Prior and monks. 



The Hospital is in Bimberry-lane, and affords accommo- 

 dation for fourteen aged women, each receiving 5J. per 

 week and a small allowance of coal. The income appro- 

 priated to this charity is ;^28o, the remainder of the revenues 

 being required for the maintenance of the Grammar School. 

 This, after being for a time held in some rooms above the 

 West gate, and afterwards in the nave of the desecrated 

 Church of St. Mary, intra muros, found a home in the 

 building in Broad-street. The School was plundered like 

 the rest of the civic charities, but is now a credit to the 

 city. The average number of scholars on the books is 120. 

 An excellent education is provided, and the fees amount in 

 the senior department to ;£q, and in the junior to £^ 

 per annum. 



