Thomas Parsons' Charity is the shortened name of the ancient Charity whose full title is The Governors of
the Lands and Possessions of the Poor of Ely, otherwise Parsons' Charity, in Ely in the County of
Cambridgeshire (Registered Charity No. 202634).
1497
Thomas Parsons' Charity founded
The Charity was founded under the provisions of the Will of Thomas Parsons
who is believed to have been a resident of Ely in the 15th Century. He died in an unspecified
year, but before 1497, and in his Will “for the salvation of his soul and the souls of his
relations” he bequeathed certain properties in the Parish of Stretham to pay the income there
forth forever in the relief of the fifteenths tax levied upon the citizens of Ely. The tax was
levied from time to time for the benefit of the monarch and Queen Elizabeth was a frequent
recipient during her reign.
The Will set up a trust which was to be administered by 12 feoffees who
were to be citizens of Ely and were to serve for life or from so long as they resided there, and
the then current feoffees has power to elect their successors to fill vacancies.
Over time the tax was levied less frequently and the feoffees had surplus
funds in their hands with which they purchases property and also provided work, education and
benefits in cash and in kind for the poor of Ely.
1633
Petition was made to King Charles I
In 1633, a petition was made to King Charles I to grant a Royal Charter
for the Charity. It was granted and set up a formal framework for the Charity which stipulated
that is should become a body corporate with its own Common Seal and should be administered by a
board of 12 trustees to be knows as Governors. The board was to consist of 3 ex-officio trustees
who were the Lord Bishop of Ely, the Dean of Ely and the Archdeacon of Ely for the time being
and 9 elected trustees who were to be citizens of Ely and were to have the same power of
self-appointment as before. All the lands and other assets of the Charity were to be vested in
the new trust body and that remains the position today. The original Royal Charter is on public
display in Ely Museum. There have been a number of notable persons elected as Governors in the
past, including Oliver Cromwell during his time in Ely.
The Charity continued its work for the benefit of the poor of Ely,
acquiring considerable areas of land and other properties and also accepting gifts from other
charitable sources including properties used as Almshouses.
1860
Governors purchased a piece of land
In the mid 19th Century the Governors purchased a piece of land in St.
Mary's Street Ely, and began to build a court of Almshouses there. They were designed by George
Basevi, who designed other local buildings including Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. The
Almshouses were originally primitive by modern standards and by improvement and amalgamation
have been reduced to 11 dwellings in total which are known collectively as Thomas Parsons'
Square. In the early 1960s the Governors built 4 bungalows in Deacons Land Ely, to replace the
much older Almshouses elsewhere in the City which were out of date.
1976
Grand opening
In 1976 they opened, also in Deacons Lane, a block of 12 flats designated
as Almshouses which are named Bamford House in recognition of the chairmanship of the late Dr.
J. B. Bamford.
21st Century
Continually working to improve
The Charity continues to administer the 27 Almshouse properties and
provide support for the residents as beneficiaries. It also continues to make grants in cash and
in kind for the benefit of the inhabitants of Ely, Stuntney, Queen Adelaide, Prickwillow and
Chettisham whose parishes together constitute its area of benefit.
In current times the Charity derives its income principally from rents
received from agricultural and other land, and from residential properties. In this the
Governors are assisted and advised by land agents (knows as Receivers) and solicitors who act as
their Clerks.
The Charity is continually working to improve its estates and assets for
the benefit of its beneficiaries. In particular the Governors are mindful of their
responsibilities as providers of accommodation and other benefits to the local community in
following the charitable vision expressed by Thomas Parsons in his 15th Century Will with the
intention that it shall be carried forward into the 21st Century and beyond.