Records of the Drax Charity Trust and School

Papers concerning the establishment of the Trust, including the will of Charles Read, 1669, and the conveyance of the schoolhouse and almshouses, 1674; trustees’ papers, including lists of trustees, 1804, 1835, conveyance of charity lands, 1780-1889, and correspondence and related papers, 1830-1891; minutes of annual meetings, 1846-1882, draft minutes of annual meetings, 1858-1878, 1880, draft annual meeting resolutions, 1807-1872, annual reports, 1868, 1872-1874, 1878; financial papers, including annual statements of account, 1853, 1858-1859, 1861-1874, 1880-1881, account books, 1842-1886, bills and receipts, 1755-1894, and wages books, 1930-1935; estate papers, including deeds and papers relating to the trust estates in Drax, Camblesforth, Carlton, Newland and Goole, 1534-1893; , and surveys and valuations of land belonging to the charity, c.1800-1890; Chancery reports, schemes and papers, 1799-1860, Charity Commissioners reports, schemes and papers, 1837-1884; papers relating to the Drax Charity School, including correspondence and papers of the Endowed Schools Commission, 1858-1870, correspondence and papers of teaching staff, 1766-1888, applications and associated correspondence concerning the appointment of teaching staff, 1842-1864, petition to the school concerning the poor standard of teaching, 1860, assorted examination papers, 1873-1874, lists of pupil applicants, 1848-1878, reports on pupil attendance, 1869-1872, pupil apprenticeship indentures, 1734-1885, and associated correspondence and papers, 1822-1889; papers relating to the infant schools, including correspondence with the schoolmistress at Camblesforth School, 1869-1883, correspondence concerning Drax Infants School. 1874-1882, papers concerning Langrick School, including specifications and plans for new building, c.1854-1870, and correspondence, 1883, and papers concerning Newland School, including draft contract for schoolmistress, c.1880, and correspondence, 1883; papers relating to the Drax almshouses, including lists of candidates for election, 1869-1879, maintenance payments, 1871, and description of almshouses and other premises not productive of income, 1873.

The Drax Charity, also known was The Reade Charity, was established by the will of Charles Reade of Darlton, Nottinghamshire, in 1669. Reade left £2000 to be used to purchase lands in or near the parish of Drax, the rentals from which were to fund a free school for the boys of the parish and almshouses for six local poor men and women. The charity was to be administered by six local trustees.
Land was subsequently purchased in Newland, Camblesforth, Carlton and Goole and conveyed to the charity's first trustees in 1674. Under the terms of the will, the boys of the Drax Charity School received clothing and financial support for their food and maintenance. The almspeople likewise received a new suit of clothing every Christmas, as well as fuel and their living allowance for the remainder of their lives.
The school and almshouses continued under these terms until the nineteenth century when an investigation by the Court of Chancery found the charity to be in possession of significant surplus income. As a result, four additional infant schools were founded at Drax, Camblesforth, Newland and Langrick, to relieve pressure on the main school, and in 1860 the school and almshouses were rebuilt.
In the 1890s however the charity faced financial difficulties and following an inquiry under the Endowed Schools Act the school became a fee paying institution, although it continued to offer twelve 'Read Scholarships' to local boys. The almshouses were also closed and replaced by an annual payment towards pensions for six poor men and women of the parish.

Records are open to the public, subject to the overriding provisions of relevant legislation, including data protection laws.

The archive was deposited at the Borthwick Institute by representatives of the school in 1977. Further additions were made to the archive in 1978 and 2013.

The Drax Charity, also known was The Reade Charity, was established by the will of Charles Reade of Darlton, Nottinghamshire, in 1669. Reade left £2000 to be used to purchase lands in or near the parish of Drax, the rentals from which were to fund a free school for the boys of the parish and almshouses for six local poor men and women. The charity was to be administered by six local trustees.
Land was subsequently purchased in Newland, Camblesforth, Carlton and Goole and conveyed to the charity's first trustees in 1674. Under the terms of the will, the boys of the Drax Charity School received clothing and financial support for their food and maintenance. The almspeople likewise received a new suit of clothing every Christmas, as well as fuel and their living allowance for the remainder of their lives.
The school and almshouses continued under these terms until the nineteenth century when an investigation by the Court of Chancery found the charity to be in possession of significant surplus income. As a result, four additional infant schools were founded at Drax, Camblesforth, Newland and Langrick, to relieve pressure on the main school, and in 1860 the school and almshouses were rebuilt.
In the 1890s however the charity faced financial difficulties and following an inquiry under the Endowed Schools Act the school became a fee paying institution, although it continued to offer twelve 'Read Scholarships' to local boys. The almshouses were also closed and replaced by an annual payment towards pensions for six poor men and women of the parish.

A typescript finding aid, to file level, is available for consultation in the searchroom of the Borthwick Institute. This was created in 2009 and does not include material received after that date.

Created by S. A. Shearn, 23.06.15.

A reprographics service is available to researchers subject to the access restrictions outlined above. Copying will not be undertaken if there is any risk of damage to the document. Copies are supplied in accordance with the Borthwick Institute for Archives' terms and conditions for the supply of copies, and under provisions of any relevant copyright legislation. Permission to reproduce images of documents in the custody of the Borthwick Institute must be sought.

Further accruals are not expected.

Published

GB 193