There is an entry in the old churchwardens’ book, under the date of 1634, reciting that divers lands and messuages had been formerly given to the repair of the churches of Holy Cross and St. Giles, and so decreed by commission of charitable uses, James II. The amount of these rents, £127. 4s. 10d., with such payments as are received for opening graves and for pew rents, the two latter amounting to about £20 per annum, supply the place of a church rate, and are sufficient for the repairs and ornaments of the two churches in this parish. ST. MARY’S PARISH. CHARITIES.—ST. MARY’S ALMSHOUSES were founded by the Company of Drapers, at a very early period, and are usually called the Drapers’ Almshouses. They appear to have been remodelled in 1461, during the wardenship of Degory Watur, a draper of Shrewsbury, who devoted a portion of his substance towards their endowment. This beneficent man is said to have “dwellyd in the almeshouse hall amongst the poor,” and when deprived of sight, and bowed with the weight of ninety-six years, he daily accompanied the participators of his bounty to the “church of our lady,” where he “wold kneele amongst them in a fayre longe pewe made for them and hym selfe.” In his will, dated 28th July, 1477, he devised certain lands to the wardens of the Drapers’ Company, to “sufficientlie susteyne poore people in St. Mary Allmeshouse.” Other charitable individuals have made subsequent additions to the endowment, which are under the management of the Drapers’ Company. The old almshouses stood on the west side of St. Mary’s church-yard, and having become much dilapidated, were taken down in 1825, when the stun of £476. 16s. was awarded to the Company of Drapers, as a compensation for the site and materials for the purpose of improving the town. The company then purchased a piece of ground on the opposite side of the street, for £750, and they have since built sixteen tenements, at an expense of about £2,000. The inmates receive about £6 per annum, and are appointed by the Drapers’ Company from amongst the poor parishioners of St. Mary’s. _Elizabeth Lord_, in 1696, bequeathed £100, and directed the profits to be employed in clothing ten poor persons. This sum is in the hands of the corporation, and £5 annually is paid as the interest thereof, which is laid out in warm clothing for poor women. _Sarah Bolles_, in 1747, bequeathed £100, the yearly income to be given to eight poor housekeepers. On account of this charity there is £132. 0s. 2d. new four per cents. standing in the names of certain trustees, who receive the dividends, amounting to £5. 5s. 6d.