Meltham Parson's Trust
The following source list was originally available only on paper in one of the West Yorkshire Archive Service offices. It may have been compiled many years ago and could be out of date. It was designed to act as a signpost to records of interest on a particular historical subject, but may relate only to one West Yorkshire district, or be an incomplete list of sources available. Please feel free to add or update with any additional information. |
In the West Riding there were very large parishes and so a number of chapels of ease were erected for the benefit of inhabitants who lived a considerable distance from the parish church. No monetary position was made for the maintenance of the Ministers who performed Divine offices in the chapels. As there were many large commons within many of the parishes, it was considered advantageous to the Ministers if they might, by enclosing some parts of the commons, improve the land for the benefit of themselves and their successors.
By an Act of 1713 it was possible for any of the inhabitants of West Riding parishes where there was a chapel of ease and where there were large commons, with the consent of the lords of the manor and three-quarters of the freeholders, to enclose any part of the common not exceeding 60 acres for the benefit and as a maintenance for the Ministers who had less than £40 a year and resided within the same parish or chapelry and performed Divine offices in the parish church or chapels of ease.
It was further enacted that after enclosing the land it was not in the power of the Ministers or any trustees to use the profits of any such enclosure to the use of anything other than for the support of the Minister. In January 1771, it was decided to evoke this Act at Meltham, a parcel of land was agreed near Badger Steps and Mean Bridge, with the lords of the manor agreeing to waive their rights to the minerals. By deed dated 8 April 1773, Richard Henry Beaumont and others granted the said enclosure to the use of Reverend R Smith, Vicar of Almondbury and others in trust for the benefit of the Minister of the Chapel at Meltham. This was known as Parson's Close.
In 1832 Meltham Enclosure Award granted the trustees of Meltham Curacy two allotments in respect of the Parson's Close. Under various orders of the Charity Commissioners, building leases for 999 years were granted. The income raised went towards supporting the Minister.
Records relating to this Trust are held at WYAS Kirklees, collection reference KC651.