Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1820-1989 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
0.30 linear metres
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Aged Poor Society was established in 1708 as a benevolent Catholic charity to give permanent relief to poor Catholics of 'good character', at a time when it was a capital offence for a priest to say Mass. The Annual Report for 1820 reminded its supporters that 'The Aged Poor Society has met with the approbation and support of many persons equally distinguished for piety and learning, among whom our venerable and illustrous prelates have held first rank'. Other Catholic societies were also established in London during the 18th century which provided pensions and other support to aged poor, for example the Benevolent Society for the Aged and Infirm Poor, founded in 1761.
In 1851, the Aged Poor Society founded Saint Joseph's Alms Houses on the same plot as the new Catholic church at Brook Green, Hammersmith. The first foundation stones were laid by the Countess of Arundel and Surrey. In 1852 Miss J Molineux, of Curzon Street, Mayfair left a bequest of £1,740 to the Society, setting up the Molineux Trust and Pension Funds, which was used to complete building work at Brook Green, and later donations from the family were distributed as pensions among aged poor cared for by the Society. Donations also came from anonymous donors and T J Eyre.
Relief of the poor was achieved by:
a) the payment of pensions or making of allowances,
b) the provision of almshouses or other accommodation,
c) the maintenance and support of beneficiaries,
d) other charitable means.
In 1915 the Society reported that 130 weekly pensioners were receiving payments of £4 for men and £3 for women, and that 'among other benevolent works, the society grants pensions of £26 per annum to 40 aged and necessitous Catholics who must be persons "reduced from a superior station of society." The same condition applies to those who are admitted to almshouses conducted by the society at Hammersmith, some of whom are also eligible for an endowment of £20 a year'.
The Society was run by the following:
Governors: persons who have given not less than £20 in one payment to the Society, or an annual subscription payment
Officers: the President, not more than five Vice Presidents, and the Treasurer (all appointed by the Governors)
Directors: the President, Vice President, and Treasurer and five other members elected by the Governors Secretary (appointed by the Directors).
The Duke of Norfolk became President of the Society from 1874 and Patrons included the Archbishop of Westminster (1916), the Bishop of Southwark (1916), and the Bishop of Brentwood (1930).
During the 19th and 20th centuries, the Society had offices at the following premises:
37 Gerrard Street (1861)
Room 18, 82 Victoria Street (1916-1920)
60 Victoria Street (1930)
38 Eccleston Square (1931-1936)
39 Eccleston Square (1937-1956).
In circa 1980, the name of the Society was changed, and the organisation began work in Liverpool.
In 2002 London Catholic charities were running homes for the aged poor at Nazareth House, Hammersmith, and the convent of the Little Sisters of the Poor at Notting Hill and almshouses at Brook Green, Chelsea, and Ingatestone.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0074 LMA/4439 1820-1989 Collection 0.30 linear metres Aged Poor Society
The Aged Poor Society was established in 1708 as a benevolent Catholic charity to give permanent relief to poor Catholics of 'good character', at a time when it was a capital offence for a priest to say Mass. The Annual Report for 1820 reminded its supporters that 'The Aged Poor Society has met with the approbation and support of many persons equally distinguished for piety and learning, among whom our venerable and illustrous prelates have held first rank'. Other Catholic societies were also established in London during the 18th century which provided pensions and other support to aged poor, for example the Benevolent Society for the Aged and Infirm Poor, founded in 1761.
In 1851, the Aged Poor Society founded Saint Joseph's Alms Houses on the same plot as the new Catholic church at Brook Green, Hammersmith. The first foundation stones were laid by the Countess of Arundel and Surrey. In 1852 Miss J Molineux, of Curzon Street, Mayfair left a bequest of £1,740 to the Society, setting up the Molineux Trust and Pension Funds, which was used to complete building work at Brook Green, and later donations from the family were distributed as pensions among aged poor cared for by the Society. Donations also came from anonymous donors and T J Eyre.
Relief of the poor was achieved by:
a) the payment of pensions or making of allowances,
b) the provision of almshouses or other accommodation,
c) the maintenance and support of beneficiaries,
d) other charitable means.
In 1915 the Society reported that 130 weekly pensioners were receiving payments of £4 for men and £3 for women, and that 'among other benevolent works, the society grants pensions of £26 per annum to 40 aged and necessitous Catholics who must be persons "reduced from a superior station of society." The same condition applies to those who are admitted to almshouses conducted by the society at Hammersmith, some of whom are also eligible for an endowment of £20 a year'.
The Society was run by the following:
Governors: persons who have given not less than £20 in one payment to the Society, or an annual subscription payment
Officers: the President, not more than five Vice Presidents, and the Treasurer (all appointed by the Governors)
Directors: the President, Vice President, and Treasurer and five other members elected by the Governors Secretary (appointed by the Directors).
The Duke of Norfolk became President of the Society from 1874 and Patrons included the Archbishop of Westminster (1916), the Bishop of Southwark (1916), and the Bishop of Brentwood (1930).
During the 19th and 20th centuries, the Society had offices at the following premises:
37 Gerrard Street (1861)
Room 18, 82 Victoria Street (1916-1920)
60 Victoria Street (1930)
38 Eccleston Square (1931-1936)
39 Eccleston Square (1937-1956).
In circa 1980, the name of the Society was changed, and the organisation began work in Liverpool.
In 2002 London Catholic charities were running homes for the aged poor at Nazareth House, Hammersmith, and the convent of the Little Sisters of the Poor at Notting Hill and almshouses at Brook Green, Chelsea, and Ingatestone.
Records deposited in September 2002.
Records of the Aged Poor Society. The records cover an incomplete collection of minute books and annual reports for the Society and Saint Joseph's Alms House, Hammersmith. According to the Society's 'Historic Records' report (1957), no records prior to 1820 have survived.
Despite the gaps in the records, the minutes and reports provide detailed information on the establishment of the almshouses, the use of funds from will bequests, the admission and discharge of aged poor beneficiaries, and the membership and patronage of the Society.
10% of material, namely duplicate annual reports and photocopies, was not considered worthy of long-term preservation and has therefore not been kept.
The collection has been arranged into two series: Minutes (LMA/4439/01) and Reports (LMA/4439/02).
These records are open to public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to closure periods.
Copyright to these records rests with the Corporation of London.
English
Fit
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
June to August 2010. Organizations Associations Charitable organisations Charities Charities administration Health services Care Care for the elderly Information sources Documents Charity records Religious groups Christians Catholics Pensions Social security Social services Almshouses Residential buildings Buildings Architecture Aged Poor Society London England UK Western Europe Europe Nonprofit organizations
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Records deposited in September 2002.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Records of the Aged Poor Society. The records cover an incomplete collection of minute books and annual reports for the Society and Saint Joseph's Alms House, Hammersmith. According to the Society's 'Historic Records' report (1957), no records prior to 1820 have survived.
Despite the gaps in the records, the minutes and reports provide detailed information on the establishment of the almshouses, the use of funds from will bequests, the admission and discharge of aged poor beneficiaries, and the membership and patronage of the Society.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
10% of material, namely duplicate annual reports and photocopies, was not considered worthy of long-term preservation and has therefore not been kept.
Accruals
System of arrangement
The collection has been arranged into two series: Minutes (LMA/4439/01) and Reports (LMA/4439/02).
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
These records are open to public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to closure periods.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright to these records rests with the Corporation of London.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
- Organizations
- Organizations » Associations
- Health services
- Information sources
- Documents
- Religious groups
- Religious groups » Christians
- Social services » Social security » Pensions
- Social services » Social security
- Social services
- Architecture » Buildings
- Architecture
- Organizations » Nonprofit organizations
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English