The December 15th meeting of the Society had a decidedly festive feel, as members arrived bearing cling-filmed plates, boxes and bottles for the “bring and share” (and chat!) Christmas Supper which by custom follows this particular gathering, and to which all members and visitors are welcome.
The lecture arranged for that evening was especially suitable for the Season, having “charity” as its subject, in this case the Peter Lathom Charity. We had been looking forward to Chris Byron being the lecturer, but in the event he was unable to attend but forwarded the notes of his presentation. Our Chairman, Michael Rogers, did a heroic job in bringing the script to life as he read to us from Chris Byron’s notes.
The special interest to us of the Peter Lathom Trust lay both in it being a local charity and most special, being a charity which, though having its roots in the very beginning of the 1700s, (Peter Lathom died in 1700 or 1701) is still going strong to this day.
The start of the story, in the 17th century, when the only hope for the lower classes of society – that is for a majority of the population – if disaster struck, were to depend upon the provisions of the unpredictable and usually parsimonious and judgemental Poor Law.
Always inevitably living from hand to mouth, should the breadwinner fall out of work, have an accident or die, or should the mother of a family become ill, should a harvest fail, the landlord put the rent up or old age take away ability to work, destitution and starvation were almost inevitable. It might be that by surprising good fortune a friend or relative might help in the short term. After that the only life line was practical charity, often given by the church, by benevolent individuals, or by those who made provision in their wills for a sum to be used annually for some section of the deserving poor of a particular area.
It is here that Peter Lathom comes in. Born in Bispham near Mawdesley he had acquired during his lifetime lands in about nine parishes in South Lancashire. Though very little is known about his life it seems obvious that he was a prudent man and took care of his properties. He was born and lived through very turbulent times in national affairs, and for holding unwise political opinions his forebears had been thrown into poverty. This background may have influenced him so that once he became moderately wealthy he gave generously to the poor, especially for children. These grants usually took the most practical form such as coals or lengths of warm material which could be made up into winter clothing. It is notable too that he sent money for poor prisoners in Lancaster Castle. Also significantly he laid it down that, when he came to form his Trust he decreed that no public officer should serve on it.
When, Peter Lathom died without an heir, it fell to the Trustees he had already chosen to take care of the land in all the parishes in which he had an interest. Annually they were to give an account of how they had run the Trust so as to make continuing and lasting profit and record how they had provided gifts to the needy. Again, these were in kind rather than cash. From early times these included gifts towards schooling and apprenticeships, in an attempt to break the cycle of destitution, especially where bright young people born into poverty were concerned.
Each succeeding generation of Trustees has had to change its approach according to the sometimes violent ups and downs of farming, industry, invention and the poverty which they caused or abated. One can imagine, on the other side, the effects on the calls on charitable trusts of changes in expectations coming from, for instance, the forceful Victorian self-help movement, the emancipation of working and artisan men, and later of women, the upheavals of war and economic depression, and in more recent times the Welfare State and the move to secondary education for all.
What does not need to be imagined but was obvious from Mr Chris Byron’s Paper was the shrewd carefulness, honesty and professionalism which must have characterised generations of Trustees , and which has resulted in three hundred years and more of wise and useful care for the needs of the less favoured in society. Today the Trust is in good heart, and is able to continue the work Peter Lathom started. Their present emphasis is on educational grants, including both University sponsorships and the encouragement of the taking up of apprenticeships and other forms of practical training.
At the close of the lecture we were glad to applaud the flexibility, responsibility and foresightedness displayed right up to today. Raise a glass to Peter Lathom and his Trustees. Long may they flourish!
Users Today : 13
Users Last 7 days : 193
Users Last 30 days : 395
Total views : 15698