The Bradninch 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:-

1. To create a Town Trust, vesting in the Official Trustees of Charitable  Lands, and the appointment of Trustees.  Order sealed 5th March, 1889.
2. 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 

Trust Responsibilities

The Trust is Responsible for administration of the Parochial Charities and owns and is responsible for the Guildhall, 3 fields, Bussells Orchard, 2 Cottages and recently purchased another house in Jubilee Close.  The fields, cottages and house are all leased to local residents.

The Guildhall

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 in the upstairs room, 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. The Town Trust are always looking for more helpers on the Management  Committee.  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.

Town Trust Chairman: Mrs Joan Brown, 28 Hele Road,  Telephone 01392 881518

Clerk to the Trust/Bookings Clerk: Mrs. Jane Fogden, 19 High Street, Tel No. 01392 881518