History
The Town Trust is one of the oldest bodies in New Alresford. Constituted in 1890, it is a direct descendant of the medieval local government system begun by King Edward 1 in 1302, when he made a grant of pavage (the right to collect tolls for the paving of streets) to a bailiff and "good men" in the town.
In 1572, Robert Home, the Bishop of Winchester, granted the borough to the bailiff and burgesses, in return for a fixed rent, and from that date the income of the borough was under their control. Home's Charter also included provision for fairs and markets, by-laws, fines, and "pickage and stallage" (money paid for breaking the ground to set up stalls, and the tax levied on trading stalls).
Then came the Municipal Corporations Act of 1883, a local government reform that brought to an end the duties of the Bailiff and eight burgesses. A parish council was formed, which set up the Town Trust to oversee aspects of the town outside its control, and formerly the responsibility of the bailiff and his men. The formation of the Trust was also a way of restricting Winchester's influence over the town.
The Town Trust became a formal legal entity in a Declaration dated 28 March 1890. Among its responsibilities were Alresford's water supply and a number of charitable gifts, including the Charity of Susanna Eliza Covey, which offered gifts for the benefit of Perins School, and elsewhere, to be used for exhibitions. This became the Perins Educational Foundation in 1993.
Revenues from property included land on which the Old Fire Station stood, tolls from sheep and other fairs and markets, a strip of land beside Broad Street, strips of land at Pound Hill and the hurdle house in Fairfield (the Hurdle House on the Bishop's Sutton road, was originally owned by the Trust but was sold 25 years ago. It was used to store sheep hurdles for the Broad Street Sheep Fair).
Subsequent amendments included the removal of the Broad Street sidings from the schedule of property and the addition of Stratton Bates recreation ground, although any Trust responsibility for the ground seems to have lapsed, and Stratton Bates is now registered in the ownership of the town council.
The very first meeting of the Town Trust was held on Monday, 10 June 1890 in the offices of its chairman, Mr.J. Shields. Present were the four co-operative trustees and five representative trustees.
The minutes record a full agenda including an item agreeing the setting up of two bank accounts, in which were deposited £346 17s 4d and £25 12s lOd.
The Trusts Responsibilities today
THE MINIBUS: The service was first started about 25 years ago to take the elderly and disabled shopping, to appointments, sometimes on day trips. Funded originally by the now-defunct Countryside Agency, replacements are bought with money set aside by the Trust, and the service is paid for by donations. The voluntary drivers, duties, vehicle maintenance and donations are co-ordinated by trustees or their agents.
THE AVENUE: Regular checks are made on the trees, bulb planting is organised, and the grass cut.
BROAD STREET: The collection of all dues and revenues from Broad Street, including its annual fair and the weekly Thursday market (dues collected weekly by a trustee - monthly income in 2006 was £150), upkeep and permission is given for road closures during the annual Watercress Festival and the October fair, and every week, car parking spaces at the top of the street are closed off for the market.
THE OLD FIRE STATION: As landlord of the 1881 building, its upkeep is the responsibility of the trustees. It currently houses a picture framing business.
THE EEL HOUSE: As part of the team working to save the partially collapsed building which sits astride the River Alre, the Trust has recently agreed to act as the umbrella under which various bodies will agree a scheme to save the ailing Eel House. A 99-year lease is being drawn up. The Trust's charitable status will be used to secure grants to fund the repair work.
PERINS EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION: To assist school leavers with funding for overseas trips, and helps to purchase equipment needed for starting careers.
The Trust finances
The Trust's current assets in 2006 amounted to £50,300 and its fixed assets to £69,400 (investment and minibus income), making net assets of £118,000, made up of a general fund, the Arthur Stowell History Fund, which currently stands at £2,800, the minibus fund and revalation reserves.
The Trust is a registered charity and its income derives from donations. rents (The Old Fire Station) and fairs, re-enactment events and market tolls - in 2007 the Southern Market Traders Cooperative took over management of the Thursday Market with pitch rents starting from £20 (contact Paul Lewis 07971 646483).
Other income comes from interest and dividends from Trust money invested by the Charity Commission; minibus donations from individual users, and local groups.
In May 2006, expenditure stood at £6,000, the operation and depreciation of the minibus being the largest expense at £4,600. Salaries, expenses and the maintenance of Broad Street and The Avenue amounted to £1,400.
The Trust Today
In general, the trust has a good relationship with the town and other local bodies. Nobody, not even Broad Street residents, seem to mind the occasional road closures, or when the fair moves into town, the fact that the big wheel does its stuff immediately outside bedroom windows. It seems to be ragarded as history and people live with it. With the Trusts involvement with Broad Street it will be involved with all of the controversial issues regarding parking in the town.
The Future
The work of the Trust lends a subtle layer of civic pride to the town, but many feel that it could and should be doing more and involving a greater mix of people. It could be doing more by acting as an umberella organisation in for charitable work as is being proposed for the restoration of the Eel House.
Who are the Trustees?
Some have likened the Town Trust to the House of Lords of Alresford - when people were too old and didn't want to be town councillors any more, they were co-opted onto the trust, but not now. The current trustees are from all age groups and this disparate voluntary group with one interest in common - they are all deeply imbedded in the Town and want to give something back.
| Robin Atkins - Co-chair | 01962 733778 robin.atkins@alresfordonline.net |
| Len Orton - Co-chair | 01962 733063 |
| Mark Luckham | 07711 624862 mluckham@aol.com |
| Peter Middleton | 01962 735222 |
| Andrew Merry | 01962 733593 |
| Roy Gentry | 01962 733893 |
| Pam Stevens | 01962 734861 heather-hollow@tiscali.co.uk |
| Frances Cowan - Clerk to the Trustees | 0771 863 7239 |