A Brief History of Woollards charity
(Information taken , with thanks, from A History of Woollards
Charity by Derek Bower)
Thomas Woollard was born and buried in Chignall St James, but lived
most of his life in Broomfield, at Broomfield Hall, near the church,
farming the lands around.
He was active in village life, being Constable (1670); Surveyor of
Highways (1682); Overseer of the Poor (1675 and 1679) and
churchwarden for at least four separate spells up to 1692
.
He made his will on 20 th February 1700, four years after the death of his wife Mary, and two years before his own death. It is probable there were no surviving children as his personal bequests were to godchildren, in-laws and friends. Thomas made several charitable bequests-money tothe poor of Writtle, property and land to the poor of Chignall St James(still an existing charity) and to the poor of
Broomfield. At the time of his death he had two tenants, James Russell and John Batt, who he allowed the use of their houses for the rest of their life, and afterwards “I give the said tenements to the poor of Broomfield forever.”
The first use of these places for the poor was recorded in 1717, when
the parish ordered “that old Deaks be removed into the tenement of the late John Batts.” In 1720 the vestry minutes record “that Widow Russell shall be allowed 20 shillings a year if she leaves the Workhouse.” This is the first reference to Woollards cottages being used as the Parish Workhouse.
When Woollards Charity was established under the Charity
Commissioners in 1870 it consisted of the Parish Almshouses situated in Main Road, Broomfield, and Woollards cottages on Church Green. In theapplication to the Charity Commission the following points were made:
1. One of the charities was founded by Thomas Woollard in 1702 for
the benefit of the poor of the parish. The founder of the
Almshouses is unknown.
2. The Charities are endowed with the following properties vis
Woollards Cottages , four tenements on Church Green, and the
Almshouses being three tenements on Broomfield Road.
3. The ordinary yearly income of the Charities amounts to £23.8s.0d
vis Woollards £15.12s0d, The Almshouse £7.16s.0d
4. The net income is now distributed as coals to the poor.
5. The Almshouses are in very dilapidated condition and not worth
repairing. The parishioners are anxious to have these cottages
rebuilt for the accommodation of the poor.
6. As to Woollards, a considerable sum has been laid out upon the
cottages in the last two years. Woollards, until the passing of the
Poor law was used as a workhouse and since that period has been
divided into four tenements.
The Almshouses were rebuilt in 1871. Beef was distributed to
“necessitous widows of good character” at Christmas. Coal was
also distributed at Christmas.
The Charity began to make more donations; in 1914 to Broomfield
Nursing Society; the next year to Chelmsford Hospital and the
Broomfield Coal and Clothing Club. In 1920 tickets, four shillings
each, were introduced to be spent at the local butchers.
The Almshouses were demolished in 1948 as in poor repair and
only six foot headroom, which did not meet building requirements.
The site was finally sold in 1981 to become Star Engineering.
Woollards cottages were sold in 1978 following the death of the
last tenant and are now a single dwelling house.
With the final disposal of all its properties, the charity’s trustees
now work on investing the capital well and distributing the
investment income in response to individual requests from
residents and organisations of Broomfield. It is amazing that 300
years on we can still work to follow the wishes of a generous man.