The Trustees and Clerk to the Town Trust wish to extend our welcome and we are pleased to give a brief outline of the functions of the Trust.  We welcome any interest in our work and will be pleased to answer any questions and glad of offers of assistance if anyone wishes to become involved.
History of the Town Trust

Prior to 1886 the Charities of the Parish were administered by the Mayor and Corporation of the Borough of Bradninch, Trustees appointed by them, and in some cases by the Churchwardens and the Overseers of the poor.  As the Corporation of Bradninch ceased to exist in 1886 the Charity Commissioners made the following schemes:

• To create a Town Trust, vesting in the Official Trustees of Charitable Lands, and the appointment of Trustees.   Order sealed 5th March, 1889.
• To create the Town Trust, then existing, the Trustees of the Parochial Charities.  Order sealed 7th November 1893.

The Trustees consist of 5 Co-optative and 4 Representative Trustees, elected for a term of 4 years, and can be reappointed.  The co-optative trustees are elected by the whole of the trustees at a meeting held for the purpose and the representative trustees are elected by Bradninch Town Council.

The Current Trustees:

The Trust is Responsible for administration of the Parochial Charities and owns and is responsible for the Guildhall (our Town Hall), the old school in Millway, 3 fields and 2 cottages.  The fields and cottages are leased to local residents and the old school area is under review.

The Guildhall is a listed building and is the principal meeting place for the community, housing the Council Chamber, two large function rooms (each with kitchen and cloakroom facilities with environmental health approval) and a stage and licensed bar.  The Guildhall is a useful, well-appointed venue for public meetings, private functions, block bookings for group meetings and tuition groups, various fund-raising activities including the popular regular Saturday coffee mornings run by local organisations.  

The day-to-day management of the Guildhall has for many years been undertaken by a Management Committee, appointed by the Town Trust.

It is essential that the Guildhall is fully used in order to maintain it – bookings can be made via the Bookings Clerk (see below).  It is worth checking out the competitive prices!

Please see the Bradninch Magazine or contact the clerk Jane Fogden (01392 881192 or ) for up to date minutes of meetings / fixtures/ coffee mornings etc.