Our history
The Ewelme Trusts were endowed in 1437 by William and Alice de la Pole. Alice was the grand-daughter of Geoffrey Chaucer and William became the Duke of Suffolk. Their principal residence was in Ewelme in South Oxfordshire.
Who we are
Originally called ‘God’s House in Ewelme’ and founded as a Charity Foundation by William and Alice, its purpose was to provide almshouse accommodation in the village of Ewelme for ‘thirteen poor men and two priests’ and later, the provision of free education for the children from their estates. The income for these activities came from the endowment of land at Marsh Gibbon, Buckinghamshire, Ramridge, near Andover in Hampshire, and Conock in Wiltshire
Today, the Ewelme Trusts are a group of three separate charities, each with its own specific objectives and strictly regulated by the Charity Commission.
They have continued to meet those objectives ever since, adapting as necessary to meet contemporary social and educational needs and legislation.
The three charities
The Ewelme Exhibition Endowment provides educational grants and bursaries for the benefit of young people who are in need of financial assistance.
God’s House in Ewelme, known as The Ewelme Almshouse Charity, maintains and manages the Charity’s three almshouses, made up of 23 separate flats. They are The Cloisters and Suffolk House in Ewelme and Suffolk Court at Marsh Gibbon, near Bicester.
The Ewelme Elementary Educational Foundation owns the Grade 1 listed Ewelme School buildings and manages the structural and external maintenance.
The Ewelme Exhibition Endowment is fully funded by the Ewelme Almshouse Charity in accordance with the wishes expressed in the Scheme originally established in 1437.
It is managed by a Board of Governors and an Awards Manager. There are 8 Governors; 4 fixed term appointees who are appointed by the Trustees of God’s House in Ewelme (Charity No 200581) and four other Trustees who are appointed to represent the ‘various areas and interests that we serve.’
How the trusts generate income
From its residential and commercial rents from its properties, from almshouse maintenance payments and from its investments.
How income is used
Some of the money is used to provide a heavily subsidised operation and maintenance of the almshouses in The Cloisters and Suffolk House in Ewelme and Suffolk Court in Marsh Gibbon.
It’s also spent on the maintenance and repair of St John’s Chapel and the South Aisle of Ewelme Church, as well as a number of other residential, commercial and agricultural properties in Ewelme, Marsh Gibbon and Ramridge.
Additional use of income
After meeting its other commitments, the God’s House Charity’s greatest expenditure is the provision of a substantial annual sum to its associated charity, the Ewelme Exhibition Endowment, for the provision of educational grants and bursaries to young people, and schools, in need of financial assistance in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and the endowed estate areas in Hampshire and, formerly, in Wiltshire.
The Exhibition Endowment is required to give preference to young people resident on the endowed estates and also provides sizeable annual grants to the schools in the areas of those estates – the primary schools at Ewelme, Marsh Gibbon and Appleshaw, which serves the Ramridge Estate. Primary schools in deprived communities within the areas of benefit, are invited to apply every year for grants towards the enhancement and enrichment of educational opportunities for disadvantaged pupils.
Restrictions
The Trusts are bound to operate very specifically within the limits of their Governing Documents. Their income must be used exclusively for:
- management of almshouses for those in need
- upkeep and maintenance of their originally endowed properties
- provision of education as per the Exhibition Scheme
- upkeep of their other non-endowed properties, from which the necessary income is derived to support these activities.
It is not within the Charity’s power to provide funding for any other purpose.