The Samwaies Trust

In 2011, Ripon Civic Society awarded Samwaies Hall a ‘Commended’ certificate in the category ‘Best Restored Building’.

Wath Samwaies Trust

History

The Reverend Peter Samwaies was born in Eltham in Kent and was baptised there on 29th August 1614. He was afterwards of Trinity College Cambridge where he was elected Fellow but was dispossessed by the Parliamentary Visitors.

He was instituted to the Rectories of Wath and Bedale on the 31st December 1660 and died 6th April 1693 at Bedale where he is buried. He had also been the Vicar of Cheshunt Co. Herts.

He built and endowed at Wath the Free Grammar School in the year 1684. By his will, dated 28th November 1690 he bequeathed to the Rector of Wath in trust for the poor of the Rectory £10 per annum. To the master of the school £5 per annum to be paid out of his estate at Middleton Quernhow, which was bequeathed to Trinity College Cambridge for charitable purposes. He also desired that the residue of his estate should be applied to the erection of an Alms-houses at Wath and Bedale, each to be built and endowed according to the proportion of the poor in each parish and as far as the residue would extend.

CURRENT CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

Based on these bequests, Wath Samwaies Trust is now a charitable organisation set up to advance the education of people under the age of 25, assist those over 75 years of age and to improve the community provision within Wath.

To these ends, in 2009, Samwaies Hall was created from part of what was the Free Grammar School, funded primarily by the Trust.  The Trust is also able to offer grants to those in need.

Grant recipients must be residents of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Mary’s Wath, which includes Wath, Melmerby, Middleton Quernhow and Norton Conyers.

Trust Members: Julie Clarke, Judith Graham, Jane Bastow, Roger Lawrence and Mark Ranson.

Requests for assistance which will be held in strictest confidence, should be sent in writing to:

Mrs Julie Clarke Chairman,  Wath Samwaies Trust, The Sidings, Melmerby, Ripon HG4 5EX