Sheffield Town Trust
Encyclopedia
The Sheffield Town Trust, formerly officially known as the Burgery of Sheffield, is a charitable trust
operating in Sheffield
, South Yorkshire
, England
.
to the Town of Sheffield, granted in 1297. Thomas de Furnival, Lord of the Manor
of Sheffield, granted land to the freeholders
of Sheffield in return for an annual payment, and a Common Burgery
administrated them. The Burgery originally consisted of public meetings of all the freeholders, who elected a Town Collector.
In 1681, a commission formed a group of thirteen people, known as the Town Trustees, to assume the administrative role. This body was to be maintained by the nomination and appointment of the "greater number of inhabitants" of the town. The Trustees were headed by the Town Collector, one of the most senior officials in the town. They were to hold elections for new members only when three of their number were dead.
The Trustees were responsible for the repair of Lady's Bridge
, Barkers Pool, various highways and the city's well
s, and also for some charitable works. In 1700, they constructed a town hall by Sheffield Parish Church to provide themselves with a meeting place. By the eighteenth century, they were contributing to major works, including the River Don Navigation
and the Sheffield to Chesterfield
turnpike
road. However, the increase in population of the early nineteenth century limited their ability to fulfil their duties. Other than subscriptions to the construction of a new Town Hall
and Cutlers Hall, they restricted themselves to road works.
In 1757, the Town Trust paid 14s6d to cricketers on Shrove Tuesday
, in an attempt "to entertain the populace and prevent the infamous practice of throwing at cocks". The match took place against Wirksworth, and may be the earliest indication of the Sheffield Cricket Club that eventually became Yorkshire County Cricket Club
. Meanwhile, Joseph Hunter
's Hallamshire claims that the Trust initiated horse racing
at Crookesmoor in the early eighteenth century.
.
In 1818, the Trustees and the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire
were empowered with setting up the Sheffield Improvement Commission, which took over the Trust's responsibility for street cleaning and lighting. The local Town Trust Act 1827 introduced new regulation of the body, and compelled it to open its books. This revealed that it owned 26,000 square yards of property in Sheffield and 78 acres (315,655.1 m²) elsewhere in Hallam
. It also held shares in various local organisations.
Sheffield Town Council was established in 1843, superseding the Improvement Commission and acquiring new powers. In 1851, influenced by Chartist
councillor Isaac Ironside
, the Council formulated a Parliamentary Bill which would have seen them absorb the Town Trust and the Church Burgesses, but dropped the provisions in the face of opposition. Even without the absorption, the Council soon took over most of the role of the Trust, which struggled as its finances failed to keep pace with the city's growth.
The Town Council was granted a coat of arms
in 1875. An element of this is a crossed sheaf of arrows
, taken from the seals of the Town Trust and the Church Burgesses. It probably originated as a play on the name of the River Sheaf
, from which Sheffield takes its name.
. It has owned Sheffield Botanical Gardens
since 1898, and is represented on the Gardens' Steering Group.
The Trust sponsors postgraduate scholarship
s at the University of Sheffield
, has been associated with the Chair of Pure Mathematics
, and is represented on its Court.
Charitable trust
A charitable trust is an irrevocable trust established for charitable purposes, and is a more specific term than "charitable organization".-United States:...
operating in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Mediaeval period
The Town Trust was established in the CharterCharter
A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified...
to the Town of Sheffield, granted in 1297. Thomas de Furnival, Lord of the Manor
Lord of the Manor
The Lordship of a Manor is recognised today in England and Wales as a form of property and one of three elements of a manor that may exist separately or be combined and may be held in moieties...
of Sheffield, granted land to the freeholders
Fee simple
In English law, a fee simple is an estate in land, a form of freehold ownership. It is the most common way that real estate is owned in common law countries, and is ordinarily the most complete ownership interest that can be had in real property short of allodial title, which is often reserved...
of Sheffield in return for an annual payment, and a Common Burgery
Bourgeoisie
In sociology and political science, bourgeoisie describes a range of groups across history. In the Western world, between the late 18th century and the present day, the bourgeoisie is a social class "characterized by their ownership of capital and their related culture." A member of the...
administrated them. The Burgery originally consisted of public meetings of all the freeholders, who elected a Town Collector.
Reformation to the eighteenth century
By the 1540s, the Burgery was unable to maintain essential public works, or to provide for local unemployed people. In 1554, a charter established the Twelve Capital Burgesses and Commonality of the Town and Parish of Sheffield to maintain the parish church and area immediately around it. This effectively split the old Burgery in two, while giving it increased powers and responsibilities.In 1681, a commission formed a group of thirteen people, known as the Town Trustees, to assume the administrative role. This body was to be maintained by the nomination and appointment of the "greater number of inhabitants" of the town. The Trustees were headed by the Town Collector, one of the most senior officials in the town. They were to hold elections for new members only when three of their number were dead.
The Trustees were responsible for the repair of Lady's Bridge
Lady's Bridge
Lady's Bridge is the oldest bridge across the River Don in the City of Sheffield, England. It is located in the central section of the city, linking the Wicker to the north with Waingate to the south.-The first bridge:...
, Barkers Pool, various highways and the city's well
Water well
A water well is an excavation or structure created in the ground by digging, driving, boring or drilling to access groundwater in underground aquifers. The well water is drawn by an electric submersible pump, a trash pump, a vertical turbine pump, a handpump or a mechanical pump...
s, and also for some charitable works. In 1700, they constructed a town hall by Sheffield Parish Church to provide themselves with a meeting place. By the eighteenth century, they were contributing to major works, including the River Don Navigation
River Don Navigation
The River Don Navigation was the result of early efforts to make the River Don in South Yorkshire, England, navigable between Fishlake and Sheffield...
and the Sheffield to Chesterfield
Chesterfield
Chesterfield is a market town and a borough of Derbyshire, England. It lies north of Derby, on a confluence of the rivers Rother and Hipper. Its population is 70,260 , making it Derbyshire's largest town...
turnpike
Turnpike trust
Turnpike trusts in the United Kingdom were bodies set up by individual Acts of Parliament, with powers to collect road tolls for maintaining the principal highways in Britain from the 17th but especially during the 18th and 19th centuries...
road. However, the increase in population of the early nineteenth century limited their ability to fulfil their duties. Other than subscriptions to the construction of a new Town Hall
Sheffield Old Town Hall
Sheffield Old Town Hall stands on Waingate in central Sheffield, England, opposite Castle Market.The building was commissioned to replace Sheffield's first town hall, which had opened in 1700 to a design by William Renny...
and Cutlers Hall, they restricted themselves to road works.
In 1757, the Town Trust paid 14s6d to cricketers on Shrove Tuesday
Shrove Tuesday
Shrove Tuesday is a term used in English-speaking countries, especially in Ireland, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Germany, and parts of the United States for the day preceding Ash Wednesday, the first day of the season of fasting and prayer called Lent.The...
, in an attempt "to entertain the populace and prevent the infamous practice of throwing at cocks". The match took place against Wirksworth, and may be the earliest indication of the Sheffield Cricket Club that eventually became Yorkshire County Cricket Club
Yorkshire County Cricket Club
Yorkshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Yorkshire as one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure....
. Meanwhile, Joseph Hunter
Joseph Hunter (antiquarian)
Joseph Hunter was a Unitarian Minister and antiquarian best known for his publications Hallamshire. The History and Topography of the Parish of Sheffield in the County of York and the two-volume South Yorkshire , still considered among the best works written on the history of Sheffield and South...
's Hallamshire claims that the Trust initiated horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
at Crookesmoor in the early eighteenth century.
Reform
The Trust faced criticism for a lack of elections, even to the extent of having frequent vacant seats. When an election was held, the Trust interpreted "greater number of inhabitants" as referring only to freeholders, but in 1811, several non-freeholders attempted to vote. In response, the Trust abandoned the election. In 1816, this position was supported by the Chancery CourtChancery Court
The Chancery Court of York is an ecclesiastical court for the Province of York of the Church of England.The presiding officer, the Official Principal and Auditor, has been the same person as the Dean of the Arches since the nineteenth century . The Court comprises the Auditor, two clergy and two...
.
In 1818, the Trustees and the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire
Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire
The Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire is a trade guild of metalworkers based in Sheffield, England. It was incorporated in 1624 by an Act of parliament. The head is called the Master Cutler...
were empowered with setting up the Sheffield Improvement Commission, which took over the Trust's responsibility for street cleaning and lighting. The local Town Trust Act 1827 introduced new regulation of the body, and compelled it to open its books. This revealed that it owned 26,000 square yards of property in Sheffield and 78 acres (315,655.1 m²) elsewhere in Hallam
Hallam
-Places:* Hallamshire, an area in South Yorkshire, England; the source of the name for:** Hallam F.C. - a non-league football club in Sheffield.** Hallam FM, a radio station based in Sheffield.** Royal Hallamshire Hospital...
. It also held shares in various local organisations.
Sheffield Town Council was established in 1843, superseding the Improvement Commission and acquiring new powers. In 1851, influenced by Chartist
Chartism
Chartism was a movement for political and social reform in the United Kingdom during the mid-19th century, between 1838 and 1859. It takes its name from the People's Charter of 1838. Chartism was possibly the first mass working class labour movement in the world...
councillor Isaac Ironside
Isaac Ironside
Isaac Ironside was a British Chartist and socialist politician.-Early years:Born near Masbrough, Rotherham, Ironside grew up in Sheffield, the son of Samuel Ironside, a Wesleyan lay preacher, and Mary Bradbury...
, the Council formulated a Parliamentary Bill which would have seen them absorb the Town Trust and the Church Burgesses, but dropped the provisions in the face of opposition. Even without the absorption, the Council soon took over most of the role of the Trust, which struggled as its finances failed to keep pace with the city's growth.
The Town Council was granted a coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
in 1875. An element of this is a crossed sheaf of arrows
Arrows
Arrows Grand Prix International was a British Formula One team active from to . For a period of time, it was also known as Footwork.-Origins :...
, taken from the seals of the Town Trust and the Church Burgesses. It probably originated as a play on the name of the River Sheaf
River Sheaf
The River Sheaf is a river in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. Its source is the union of the Totley Brook and the Old Hay Brook in Totley, now a suburb of Sheffield. It flows northwards, past Dore, through the valley called Abbeydale and north of Heeley...
, from which Sheffield takes its name.
Present activities
The Trust exists today as a grant-making trust "for organisations whose objects are charitable, public and within the City of Sheffield". It also owns some land around the town, such as the centre of Paradise SquareParadise Square
Paradise Square is a Georgian square in the City of Sheffield, England. Located to the northwest of Sheffield Cathedral, the square is set on a slope and was formerly used for public meetings.-History:...
. It has owned Sheffield Botanical Gardens
Sheffield Botanical Gardens
The Sheffield Botanical Gardens are botanical gardens situated off Ecclesall Road in Sheffield, England, with 5,000 species of plant in 19 acres of land....
since 1898, and is represented on the Gardens' Steering Group.
The Trust sponsors postgraduate scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
s at the University of Sheffield
University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield is a research university based in the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It is one of the original 'red brick' universities and is a member of the Russell Group of leading research intensive universities...
, has been associated with the Chair of Pure Mathematics
Pure mathematics
Broadly speaking, pure mathematics is mathematics which studies entirely abstract concepts. From the eighteenth century onwards, this was a recognized category of mathematical activity, sometimes characterized as speculative mathematics, and at variance with the trend towards meeting the needs of...
, and is represented on its Court.
Further reading
- J. D. Leader, The Records of the Burgery of Sheffield: Commonly Called the Town Trust (1897)
- Ed Bramley, A Record of the Burgery of Sheffield Commonly Called the Town Trust, From 1898 to 1955 (1957)