Our History goes back to the 1700s

The Wivenhoe Housing Trust was formed as a result of the merger of two previous almshouse charities; the Jonathan Feedham Charity which managed the 7 bungalows at Jonathan Feedham Court, off Vanessa Drive, and the Mary Ann Sanford Charity which managed the 6 cottages in Rebow Road.  The merger of the two Wivenhoe charities officially took place on 20th December 2001.

Two separate almshouse charities

The Jonathan Feedham Charity and the Mary Ann Sanford Charity were run as two very separate charities although both charities used the services of Michael Siggs as their Clerk. His responsibility as Clerk was to handle all of the administration of both charities.  The trustees would meet quarterly to make decisions of a strategic nature and if necessary would hold other meetings and discussions between those quarterly meetings as required.

The Jonathan Feedham Charity was more fortunate than the Mary Ann Sanford Charity in that their almshouses properties were not as old, having been built in 1974, and therefore did not require as much maintenance.  Whereas the Mary Ann Sanford cottages were built in 1873 and required a huge amount of time, effort and money to bring them up to a modern standard including for example an inside toilet and a proper bathroom.

The Mary Ann Sanford Charity

For a long time there were just four trustees.  Local builder, Leslie Kemble had been a trustee for 40 years by the time of the merger. Charles Scofield wasn’t sure when he was appointed it was so far back, and then Chairman, John Worsp, had taken over when his father, Lewis Worsp, had retired. Don Hirst, the fourth trustee was a comparative new boy, becoming a trustee in 1984 and had the advantage, at least to the other trustees, of living in Park Road within a few yards from the almshouses cottages.

They all did a good job in modernising the cottages and bringing the finances of the charity up to a sufficient level that when the merger was quietly mooted by Michael Siggs they didn’ t feel the poor relation.  It also suited Les Kemble, as after 40 years of service, he felt he should retire and John Worsp also took the opportunity to retire.

Who was Mary Ann Sanford?

Miss Mary Ann Sanford was the sister of Thomas Sanford who had inherited the family oyster business and who had the Congregational Chapel built in 1846 that was opened in 1847.  Mary Ann inherited a lot of Thomas's wealth when he died.  She was always concerned for the welfare of the poor people in Wivenhoe. In 1873, and at the age of 81, she secured the plot of land in the road called Rebow Road and had 6 cottages built there for single women and the widows of sailors. Since then over 100 women have lived in these almshouses. A wonderful legacy.

The Jonathan Feedham Charity

Peter Hill was nominated by Wivenhoe Town Council in January 1991 to become a trustee of the Jonathan Feedham Charity. The Rev Stephen Hardie was Chairman at that time, or perhaps we should say the late Stephen Hardie as he has long since died. Co-trustees were Cllr Val Last, Tony Forsgate and Jeff Whaley, all of whom had been trustees for quite some time. Indeed Tony had been the Treasurer for the Charity in its early days taking over this role from founder trustee Alec Paterson until Michael Siggs became the Clerk. Cllr Bob Richardson later joined as a trustee, replacing Val Last, and Rev David Thomas replaced Rev Stephen Hardie who had left Wivenhoe for a new position in Harwich.  Peter Hill became Chairman in April 1992 and has been Chairman of the trustees ever since.

Why called Jonathan Feedham Court?

The Charity takes its name from the original benefactor, Jonathan Feedham, who lived on The Quay in a house now called the Granary.  He died in 1718, leaving no wife or family.

In his will, he left the ‘Minister and Churchwardens of the parish of Wivenho’ the sum of fifty pounds to be laid out in the purchase of some freehold or copyhold lands, the rents and profitts thereof may for ever hereafter be received and taken by the Churchwardens  and by them yearly upon New Years Day be paid and distributed amongst poor saylors and saylors widdows belonging to the said parish of Wivenhoe at the discretion of the Churchwardens for the time being.’

In 1803 the fifty pounds was used to buy three acres of land from the Lord of the Manor near the Flag Public House.  In 1863, rent from the land was six pounds a year which, a hundred years later, had risen to ten pounds a year.

This money was used to distribute as half-crown tickets for coal from Bowes, the coal merchant, or groceries from Jimmy Moore’s grocery stores.  (Jimmy Moore also happened to be a Churchwarden at the time).

In 1971, the land was sold for housing, making £41,000, twice what the agent thought it would make.  This land is now called Feedham's Close.

At around this time, the Wivenhoe Urban District Council, as it then was, offered a plot of land next to Wyvern Court in Vanessa Drive, for a very reasonable price.  Seven homes were built in the shape of a U, around a courtyard, and these we call JONATHAN FEEDHAM COURT.

The Jonathan Feedham Charity formed in 1974

The JONATHAN FEEDHAM CHARITY was established under a Trust Deed dated 17 May 1974 to administer these as almshouses for the benefit of ‘persons of good character who are resident in the area of the Ancient Parish of Wivenhoe’.  Under the terms of this Deed, the five trustees, which included the Rector of the Parish, must give priority to applicants who are or have been sailors, or are the widows of sailors.

In 1991, the Charity Commissioners allowed the Trustees to increase the amount of money spent on relief of poverty or distress from £50 to £1,000 out of income earned on investments.  Over these last several years, the Trustees have quietly and discreetly helped a large number of number of people with a financial difficulty.

The Merger in 2001 to Create the Wivenhoe Housing Trust

Encouraged by Michael Siggs, and my knowing John Worsp, talks began about a merger. In November 2000, I wrote a paper for all of the trustees of both charities that set out all of the facts about the two charities and, during 2001, the decision was made to merge. A formal application was made on 17th May 2001 to the Charity Commission for permission to merge. Approval for the merger was given on 21st September, subject to some formalities as advertising the proposed merger in the local newspaper. It all came into effect on 20th December 2001.

The people who became the trustees of this new charity were Tony Forsgate, Charles Scofield, Don Hirst, Jeff Whaley, John Worsp, Rev David Thomas, Cllr Bob Richardson with Cllr Peter Hill as Chairman.  Later Anne Horner replaced Rev David Thomas and Karl Douzier replaced John Worsp who had decided to retire.

Reflecting the make-up of the previous charities, St Mary's Church have the right of nomination of one trustee, the Congregational Church one trustee and Wivenhoe Town Council two trustees. The remaining trustees to all be co-opted.  

A Party to Celebrate the new Charity in February 2002

On Tuesday 26^th February 2002, Trustees of the two former almshouse charities, celebrated their successful merger with residents, former Trustees and Wivenhoe Town Mayor Cllr Steve Ford at a party held in the Wivenhoe Bowls Club. The new charity, the Wivenhoe Housing Trust, started on 1^st January 2002 with property and assets valued at over £1million.  During the evening, Chairman of the new Charity Cllr Peter Hill presented a book ‘Houses of Noble Poverty’ to retiring Trustee Mr Leslie Kemble who had served with the Mary Ann Sanford Almshouse Charity for 40 years. Mr Kemble was a former builder and well-known undertaker in Wivenhoe. He had also served for 14 years on the Wivenhoe Urban District Council and was its Chairman in 1967-68.

Big changes in Trustees in November 2013

This meeting held on 23rd November 2013 was the last meeting to be attended by Tony Forsgate, Mrs Anne Horner and Karl Douzier who were all retiring as Trustees to the Charity.  It was noted that Mr Forsgate had served the current Charity and prior to the merger for 40 years.  He was thanked for his dedicated and outstanding service to the Charity throughout this time.  Karl Douzier and Mrs Anne Horner were thanked for their diligent service to the Wivenhoe Housing Trust over the past 11 years.  Both had made great contributions towards the running of the Charity that was much appreciated.

The Wivenhoe Housing Trust and its Relief in Need Fund (Hardship Fund)

The Trust continues and with its nine trustees. Some names may have changed over the years since 2002, but the objects of the Trust remain constant and that is to manage the 13 properties for the benefit of older local people, that is people over 60 years of age.  One thing we have been able to bring forward from the Jonathan Feedham Charity was the Relief in Need Fund. This was established by this charity in 1991. Since that time, the Trustees have been able to give grants quietly and discreetly to many people to help them with a particular financial difficulty.  Our only proviso is that they must be a Wivenhoe resident.  In 2020, we started calling this fund the Wivenhoe Hardship Fund, as this sounded more in keeping with modern language rather than the language of charity law!