Notes on the History of Mere. 



lying in the parish of Grillingham, 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 Allotment 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 aud 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 allotmeut numbered 940, on the South by Inclosures in 

 the parish of GiUingham, and on the West by Huutleford Road." 



The present rent is £20 per annum. Mr. William Perrett is the 

 tenant. It was formerly rented by Mr. Greorge 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. 



Betty Butt's Charity. 



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 



