The William Marshall Charity has been operating in Welney for over 360 years and instrumental in supporting the community and its care during this time. It has funded the education of young people, the establishment and ongoing care of religious and community places, provided free almshouses and repaired and maintained the upkeep of local roads and bridges.
There is a fascinating history behind the charity founded by one man, William Marshall in the 17th Century wanting to gift land and income to the people of Welney. This was at a time when Welney was involved in the national investment project of draining of the fens in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk areas and a huge man-made engineering change in the landscape - the building of the New Bedford River was having a major impact on fenland life and local people’s way of life.
In 1661, land around Welney and Upwell was bequeathed by Wiliam Marshall Esq. of Lincoln’s Inn to the people of the village so that rents from the land could provide financial support for:
Not much is known about William Marshall or why he left the land in this way – research has placed him as an attorney working in the area during the draining of the Fens although there is no evidence of him working for the Earl of Bedford or the Commissioners directly. In the National Archives, there is a document recording a complaint in 1657 (National Archives C6/143/130), brought by Marshall against local men protesting against removal of their right to use common land for cattle and fishing as land was being apportioned up and sold to investors from London to be drained of water for farming – a scheme instigated by the Earl of Bedford.
It seems Marshall was born in Wisbech, where his father John Marshall is registered as a bailiff in the town. A William Marshall entered Trinity College, Cambridge in 1646, and graduated in 1648. A William Marshall is recorded in the archives of the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn enrolment in 1649, one of the four courts of law in Holborne in London.
Information from the late Ken Sorenson, via Peter Cox, webmaster of Welney Website.
Records of the charity, now kept at Cambridgeshire Archives, Ely, includes an Indenture dated 1661 which details William Marshall Esq, attorney of Lincoln’s Inn appointing local yeomen and husbandmen in ‘Wellhoney’ in the county of Norfolk and Cambridgeshire as feoffes to a trust to manage the income and spend the funds from the land in the village in the manner he states. Marshall bequeathed nine pieces of land, amounting to about 470 acres, in Welney, Upwell, and Littleport known historically as the Wield.
It is thought that his gift to the village was born out of returning kindness for when he may have been taken ill and helped by residents in his recovery although documentation of this is hard to find. To this day, this is still a mystery which we continue researching into! This extraordinary gift has sustained the village over three centuries and continues today.
Early records of the charity are scarce in the 18th century but it is known that a small chapel was built and work was carried out on local roads. It was a new scheme set up in 1819, when the charity, having increased its income significantly sought to extend its gifts to include a school, schoolhouse, new chapel and almshouses for widows.
The scheme set out to gift a third of the rents to go to the widows. The remaining two-thirds were to be devoted the establishment of a free elementary school on Church principles.
In a general report by Attorney General William Alexander in 1825, greater accounting was needed for the funds of the Trust and a surplus of funds to be used for ‘a Free school comprising a school room and dwelling house for a schoolmaster, salary, books pens and inks and coal and fuel to be set up for children aged 6years to 14 years (boys) 13 years (girls). To be known as Marshall Charity School for Welney Norfolk’
The school opened in 1827 in the vestry of the small chapel and the first schoolmaster was Christopher Green.
The charity funds were also supplemented by philanthropy from other people living locally and clergy who provided land and funds for more support to the school. As the population grew, In 1832, plans began for a larger Church of England church in the village, St Mary the Virgin on Main Street. Several architects were asked for designs, and John Buckler was appointed in March 1848. The Church was completed and opened along with six almshouses as free accommodation for widows in the village and a new purpose built school. By 1866 there were 135 children attending the school in Welney.
Another smaller school, known as the Mission School, had opened in 1874 also with support from William Marshall charity. It stood near the suspension bridge and was intended for the children living on the far side of the Bedford River.
An example entry from one of the early Account Books in a series kept at Cambridgeshire Archives for the charity lists all of the rents obtained and lists the names of tenants for their land taken in 1875:
The charity used this income for payments:
On top of this the charity also paid property tax for its land and allotments, school, church and alms houses.
Widows were paid monthly relief which totalled annually £105 and 61 shillings on the Isle side of Welney and £99 9 shillings on the Norfolk side.
For the school:
School master salaries paid to I Sharman of £67 4 shillings and 8 pence and Henry Godlington £62 pounds, 18 shillings and 8 pence.
A monitor, coals, trademsns bills for repairs, purchase of desks and bibles, cost of clearning the school.
Insurance for the Mission House School and church organ.
A donation to George Scott of £5 due to the loss of 30 of his sheep
Stamps, postage and the salary of the treasure to record and account for the income of the charity.
Payments by tenants of the land and allotments were listed individually and payment was taken on specific times of the year – Whitsun, Michelmas, Christmas, Midsommer and Lady Day.
A new scheme in 1906 for the charity made a change to allocate two thirds of the funds to the school and the remaining third to the poor of the village as the school population had grown to 163 pupils.
By 1907, the accounts show that the charitable contributions were split between specific accounts Church, Apprentices, Widows, School buildings and the William Marshall Education Foundation had been set up working with school managers from the county education committee., two thirds of the income was used on providing schools and education services for Welney and West Welney.
By 1912, there were grants to Welney Village Hall, repairs to almshouses, a third paid to widows monthly through the church and the Trust was using Wisbech Savings Bank and Barclays Bank for holding funds. The growing area of Welney and the development of local government to manage wider districts are shown through the accounts as payments were made to the Urban District Councils for infrastructure, transport and payment for utilities to the Waterboard for the school and church.
The Mission School closed in 1927 when its 43 pupils were transferred to Marshall’s School in the Village Then later in 1939 the Marshall school was closed and children moved to Upwell school only for them to be move back again in the 1930s.
The accounts are documented up to 1976 in this way with much of the regular rent collection, use of land and support of the schools, church, almshouses annually and contributions to playing fields and the parish hall with new trustees working for the charity and in later years, Littleport Parish Council providing the services of a clerk. The administration of the William Marshall Voluntary aided school continued until 2015 as part of Norfolk County Council education services when it closed due to low numbers of pupils – places for children were taken up at Upwell School instead. The school was sold now being used as a private residence in the village.
The William Marshall Charity remains a testament to Marshall’s enduring gratitude and the spirit of community that defined Welney centuries ago. From supporting vulnerable widows to funding vital community facilities, the charity has played a crucial role in shaping the social fabric of Welney. Today, it continues to be a beacon of local philanthropy and community support, reflecting Marshall’s original intent of giving back to the village that once gave so much to him.
We are so grateful to The William Marshal Charity for supporting Welney to host a coffee morning each week in the church. It has been hugely successful in helping reduce rural isolation for all ages. Each week is filled will chatter, laughter and delicious home baked cakes and coffee. It’s encouraged people to create new friendships and support networks and without The William Marshal Charity’s support this wouldn’t happen each week.
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