HITCHIN HUNDRED 



for various dissenting sects. 8 ' An Independent chapel 

 was built in Back Street in ^go, 100 which is now 

 represented by one in Queen Street. The Baptists 

 began to meet in Tilehouse Street in 1669,"" and 

 built a chapel there in 1692,""* which was rebuilt 

 in 1838. 10 * In the middle of the 19th century 

 the Particular Baptists built Mount Sion Chapel 

 in Park Street 103 and Bethel Chapel in Queen 

 Street."" In 1850 a dwelling-house was used by 

 the Baptists, 1 " and in 1869 they built a chapel in 

 Walsworth Road." 6 About the same time Salem 

 Chapel was built for this same denomination." 17 

 There are other modern churches and chapels in 

 the parish. 



The first record of Quakers in Hitchin, where they 

 now form an important part of the community, is of 

 1657. It is said that they then held a firm footing in 

 the town. 109 John Bunyan used to preach in Wain 

 Wood, where there is still a dell known by his name, 

 and a service has been yearly held at this spot in 



Educational Chanties : The Free 



CHARITIES School founded by John Mattocke 



and subsidiary endowments,' 10 the 



Girls' Charity School, 111 the Charity School in Back 



Street. 11 * 



Elizabeth Ann Lucas's Educational Charity, 

 founded by will proved at London 8 June i860, 

 consists of £187 14/. $ti. Bank stock and £3,156 

 ii/. 6d. India 3 per cent, stock, held by the official 

 trustees. By a scheme of the High Court (Chancery 

 Division) 8 August 1894 the income, amounting to 

 £112 a year, or thereabouts, is applicable in the 

 advancement of the education of children, in exhibi- 

 tions and prizes, in providing evening classes, and in 

 subscriptions for the benefit of a public elementary 

 school. See also under the Eleemosynary Charities. 



Hailey's Educational Foundation, founded by will 

 dF Elizabeth Hailey proved at London 7 January 

 1864, consists of £878 Great Western Railway 4^ 

 percent, debenture stock, in the names of trustees, pro- 

 ducing £39 icy. a year, which is applicable for the 

 education of children residing in or near Walsworth. 

 See also under Charities for Nonconformists. 



In 1894 Robert Curling by a codicil to his will, 

 proved at London 2 1 March, bequeathed £454 

 London and North Western Railway 3 per cent, 

 debenture stock (with the official trustees), the 

 dividends amounting to £13 12.*. \d. to be applied 

 in gifts for children attending St. Andrew's School 

 for good conduct. 



The Parochial Charities have under a scheme of the 

 Charity Commissioners, 19 June 1908, been consoli- 

 dated under the title of the United Charities. 



I. The almshouse Branch comprises : — 



{a) The almshouses, founded by will of John 

 Skynner 4 Jane 1666, consisting of eight houses in 

 Silver Street, erected on land known as Benn's Mead 

 given in 1670 by Sir Thomas Byde, and endowed 

 with certain lands producing £80 a year or there- 

 abouts. 



In 1675 Ralph Skynner gave £82, which was laid 



HITCHIN 



out in land known as Benn's Mead. The official 

 trustees also hold £50 consols. 



In 1743 Sarah Skynner Byde by deed conveyed 

 to trustees 6 a. 2 r. in Hill Grove Field, the rents to 

 be divided between these almshouses and the alms- 

 houses founded by Ralph Skynner. The land is let 

 at £5 a year. 



In 1768 Richard Tristram by deed gave land in 

 Ippollitts, the rents to be divided between the same 

 two almshouses. The land was sold in 1904 and 

 the proceeds invested in £221 12J. id. consols. 



In 17;; John Whitchurst by deed gave land at 

 Hexton, the rents to be divided between the inmates 

 of J. and R. Skynncr's Almshouses and the Girls' 

 Charity School. The land has been sold and the 

 proceeds invested in £1,617 S J ' console, of which 

 one moiety, £808 12J. 6d. consols, belongs to the 

 Girls' Charity School. 



In 1788 Hannah Wilson by will bequeathed £100 

 for the poor of Hitchin, now £100 consols, applied 

 for the benefit of the almshouses of J. and R. Skynner. 



In 1794 John Davis bequeathed £300 for the 

 augmentation of the same two almshouses, now 

 represented by £450 consols. 



In 1802 Dame Penelope Farnaby RadcIifFe, by 

 will proved in the P.C.C., 24 July, bequeathed £200 

 for poor widows, now £235 4/. consols, applied for 

 the benefit of the same almshouses. 



In 1824 Elizabeth Whittingstall by will bequeathed 

 £1,000 stock, now £1,000 consols, to be equally 

 divided between John Skynner's, Ralph Skynner's, 

 and Daniel Warner's almshouses. 



(&) The almshouses, founded by will of Ralph 

 Skynner 19 May 1696, consist of eight almshouses 

 contiguous to John Skynner's almshouses, and are 

 endowed with 39 acres in Kelshall producing £27 I j.r. 



In 1794 John Pierson by will bequeathed £100, 

 now £133 6s. %d. consols, for these almshouses. 



In 1795 Joseph Margetts Pierson by deed gave 

 £100 consols, the dividends to be applied in repairs. 



For other land and stock given for the joint benefit 

 of John and Ralph Skynner's almshouses see above. 



(r) The six almshouses near the churchyard known 

 as Daniel Warner's almshouses, originally parish 

 houses, were rebuilt in 1 76 1 by Daniel Warner 'for 

 the warmer and better comfort of the poorer widows 

 or ancient couples of his town.' These almshouses 

 were endowed by the before-mentioned John Pierson 

 with £200 consols, by Joseph Margetts Pierson with 

 £940 consols, and with £333 6s. 8d. consols under 

 the will of Elizabeth Whittingstall (see above). 



{d) The scheme further provides that the building 

 known as ' The Biggin ' (see Joseph Kemp's Charity 

 below) should, together with two cottages in Tilehouse 

 Street, be used for the residence of almspeople being 

 members of the Church of England. See also 

 Elizabeth Simpson's almshouses under Charities for 

 Nonconformists. 



II. The Eleemosynary Branch, &c. :- — 



In 1 59 1 Simon Warren by will charged two houses 

 in Tilehouse Street with £1 a year. 



35 Urwiclt, Nonconformity in Herts. 

 645-4. J00 Ibid. 649. 



101 Baptist Handbook, 1908. 

 1Mb Urwiclt, op. cit. 646. 

 1U2 Index to Loud. Gaz. 1830-83, p. 82;. 

 HO Urwick, op. dt. 855. 



14 Ibid. J Index to Lond. Gas. 1830-85, 

 2;. 



15 5«i. R. (Herts. Co. Rec), ii, 460. 



16 Baptist Handbook, 1 908, p. 70. 



* Urwick, Nonconformity m Herts. 



s Ibid. 637-8. 



