for entrance, and 2s. a-year for fire money. The course of
instruction in the school is chiefly classical; but algebra, geometry,
history, and writing are also taught. For the latter a separate charge
is made. In addition to the scholars on the foundation, the master takes
a limited number of boarders. We cannot but observe on the
inconveniences that have occurred, and are likely to occur, for want of
trustees. It is true that Dr. Donne recovered possession of a great part
of the school property, or an equivalent for it, at his own expense; but
few persons in his situation would have undertaken the same risk; and the
necessity for such proceedings was probably owing to the reluctance felt
by former masters to involving themselves in litigation with the tenants.
The Rev. Stephen Donne, M.A., is the head master.
_Thomas Owen_, in 1713, left £20 for the use of the charity school.
_Daniel Poole_, in 1716, left the interest of £20 for the same use. In
1737, £32 was laid out on the poor house in Church street, which sum was
paid out of the above legacies; and it was ordered at a vestry that a
yearly sum of 40s. should be paid towards the support of the charity
school. Nothing, however, has been paid in respect of these charities
for many years. The poor house in Church street has been sold, and the
produce applied to the general purposes of the town.
THE ALMSHOUSES.—_Dame Ellen_, widow of Sir Francis Eure, by will bearing
date 20th August, 1626, devised six tenements in William street, to the
bailiffs and burgesses of Oswestry, and their successors, to be used and
employed for the habitation of six poor men and six poor women, to be
appointed by the said bailiffs and their successors. _Jane Owen_, in
1732, bequeathed to the twelve poor persons, inmates of the almshouse
commonly called Porkington almshouses, the sum of 18s., to be paid to
them yearly for ever; and she ordered her executor to charge her real and
personal estate with the payment thereof. It does not appear that this
gift was ever in any way settled to the use of the almspeople, _Mrs. S.
Ormsby_, by her will in 1805, requested her daughter (now the wife of W.
Ormsby Gore, Esq.), and those who should succeed her in the Porkington
estate, would pay, “as she had done,” the poor people in the almshouse
for ever. _Mrs. Gore_ distributes £3 among the inmates on Christmas day,
that being the sum her mother had previously given. The almshouses are
kept in repair by Mrs. Gore, and she appoints the inmates.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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