PEARCE’S CHARITY

Situated on the west wall to the south of the door.

"Mr. Philip Pearce, late of this parish by his will dated 18th day of August 1803 and proved in the Consistory court of Salisbury gave the sum of £2000 (then in the hands of the Right Honourable the Earl of Ailesbury) to the Minister, Churchwarden and overseers of the poor of the Parish of Burbage and their successors in office and to the Earl of Ailesbury, his heirs and executors, In trust, for the interest to be given about Christmas Annually to the second poor of the said parish not receiving parochial Relief reserving £10 per year out of the said interest in aid of a Charity School for the purpose of educating poor children in the said parish in Reading - The Master or Mistress of the said school to be chosen by the trustees."

Some time later, against the wishes of the Vestry but at the insistence of the Charity Commissioners, the sum was taken from Lord Ailesbury's keeping and invested.

The charity is now administered by the Parish Council and it still pays out every year.

© Colin Younger 1998