Leeds Pious Uses Committee, Minutes, Accounts & Other Records (WYL160/197)
1664 - 1934
‘To the Advantage of Estate and Town’
Property owned in the Centre of Leeds
The Decree of Pious Uses in 1621 established a Committee made up of the Vicar of Leeds and 11 other prominent citizens, who were to act as trustees for the management of all charities in the town. They would administer charitable gifts and donations, deciding what money was given where, particularly if it had not been specified, and were responsible for numerous charitable institutions.
A major part of their work was to act on behalf of the Highways Estate, managing the rent from the land owned and purchasing new property in order to improve the streets and layout of the town for the benefit of all. This would involve commissioning surveys and valuations, including of the houses, and deciding the best path of action to take, be it repairs or even demolition, in order to widen streets or footpaths.
Many of the records contained are leases, sales or purchases of land, and often detail the uses of the land, rent charged, and the ways it could be used for the better. The giving nature of the Committee is reflected in their reduction of rent where property had depreciated in value, and transactions show how they contributed to the development of Leeds with the giving of land for railway extensions.
A major part of their work was to act on behalf of the Highways Estate, managing the rent from the land owned and purchasing new property in order to improve the streets and layout of the town for the benefit of all. This would involve commissioning surveys and valuations, including of the houses, and deciding the best path of action to take, be it repairs or even demolition, in order to widen streets or footpaths.
Many of the records contained are leases, sales or purchases of land, and often detail the uses of the land, rent charged, and the ways it could be used for the better. The giving nature of the Committee is reflected in their reduction of rent where property had depreciated in value, and transactions show how they contributed to the development of Leeds with the giving of land for railway extensions.
'For the education and clothing of poor children'
Income sources for the Leeds Charity School
Of great interest are also the records from the Free Grammar School and the Leeds Charity School which are included, as the Committee were also heavily involved in the education of the poor in Leeds, which was not well provided for.
The Free Grammar School was for young boys, teaching classical education such as Greek and Latin, and the school still exists today as the Grammar School for Leeds. The minute book of the Estates Committee details the land owned and the income raised from it, and later on details discussions on the issues of school fees. Their actions often had to be confirmed by the Charity Commissioners who monitored the execution of charitable trusts throughout the country to ensure their compliance with legislation.
Money was also donated to the Leeds Charity School, originally established to equip boys to follow a trade, but which was later turned into a school for poor girls to teach them domestic skills. The records held cover the foundation, endowment and trusteeship of the school, account and minute books, as well as records of the estates they owned. There is even more related to the school under finding number WYL160/196.
View the entry on our online catalogue.
The Free Grammar School was for young boys, teaching classical education such as Greek and Latin, and the school still exists today as the Grammar School for Leeds. The minute book of the Estates Committee details the land owned and the income raised from it, and later on details discussions on the issues of school fees. Their actions often had to be confirmed by the Charity Commissioners who monitored the execution of charitable trusts throughout the country to ensure their compliance with legislation.
Money was also donated to the Leeds Charity School, originally established to equip boys to follow a trade, but which was later turned into a school for poor girls to teach them domestic skills. The records held cover the foundation, endowment and trusteeship of the school, account and minute books, as well as records of the estates they owned. There is even more related to the school under finding number WYL160/196.
View the entry on our online catalogue.
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