The Charity of George Hulbert

On the 26th June 1639 a local man called George Hulbert stated this in his will :-

“Item I confirm that fifty two hillings for ever that for many years past I have given unto the poor of Lacock. It being the parish in which I was born which fifty two shillings my Will is shall be paid out of my lands at Wolmer in the Parish of Melksham and to be distributed every Sunday in bread unto the poor at the disposal of the Minister Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor as formerly it has been”

(52 shillngs equates to about £2.60 today however in the 1600s a tradesman or agricultural laborer typically only earned 1 shilling per day. So 52 shillings would have represented almost 2 months employment)

This was formally founded as a Charitable Trust by an application made on 14th July 1922 by the Reverend Charles Rhodes Gott, Vicar of Lacock and James John Newman and Edward Brinkworth, the Churchwardens of Lacock: who formed the majority of the Trustees of the Charity.

A board was fixed to the outer porch of the church on the 15th August 1922.

This established the Hulbert Charity as an official charity and is still exists today and is known as Lacock Combined Charities.