History of John Bristow's Charity
John Bristow was rector of Charlwood from 1615 to 1637. A local Charlwood man, his family had lived here for over 200 years, he owned property in Horley and Charlwood. He built the cottage now known as Bristow’s Cottage and gave it, and the half acre adjoining, under the care of six trustees, to be “a Schoolhouse, and for the teaching of two poor children therein gratis”. In his will he added a field of seven acres, now called Charity Field, beside Beggarshouse Lane and increased to three the number of children to receive free education.
The cottage remained as the village school for over 200 years, until a new and larger boys’ school was built in 1840 and a new girls’ school (now the Parish Hall) in 1852. In 1863 it was recorded that the aged schoolmaster, John Mann, was still teaching without charge, four poor children to read, write and cast accounts. Subsequently the cottage was let, with the rental income being used to support education.
For many years the cottage was occupied by a well known Charlwood character, Eric Wickens, and his family. When he died in 1995 the Trustees decided that the cottage needed extensive restoration, to preserve it, and to bring the bathroom and kitchen up to date. The charity did not, however, have sufficient funds to finance this expenditure, and therefore suggested an amalgamation with the Thomas Alexander Mason Trust. ‘The Charity Commission decided that the merger made sense since the Bristow’s Charity and the Thomas Alexander Mason Trust both covered the same area of benefit, both covered education, both had the Rector of Charlwood as an ex officio Trustee, and it allowed the new charity to spend some of its capital on the restoration. The merger also allowed the cottage to be retained in community ownership, thus preserving a unique part of the heritage of the village.
The cottage remained as the village school for over 200 years, until a new and larger boys’ school was built in 1840 and a new girls’ school (now the Parish Hall) in 1852. In 1863 it was recorded that the aged schoolmaster, John Mann, was still teaching without charge, four poor children to read, write and cast accounts. Subsequently the cottage was let, with the rental income being used to support education.
For many years the cottage was occupied by a well known Charlwood character, Eric Wickens, and his family. When he died in 1995 the Trustees decided that the cottage needed extensive restoration, to preserve it, and to bring the bathroom and kitchen up to date. The charity did not, however, have sufficient funds to finance this expenditure, and therefore suggested an amalgamation with the Thomas Alexander Mason Trust. ‘The Charity Commission decided that the merger made sense since the Bristow’s Charity and the Thomas Alexander Mason Trust both covered the same area of benefit, both covered education, both had the Rector of Charlwood as an ex officio Trustee, and it allowed the new charity to spend some of its capital on the restoration. The merger also allowed the cottage to be retained in community ownership, thus preserving a unique part of the heritage of the village.
