[The Almshouse Charity Estate and the Fifteen Houses Charity Estate, Baldock, Hertfordshire.] Itemised manuscript double-entry account books for the trustees of the two charities, covering thirty years, with entries signed off for the commissioners

The two volumes in matching green cloth quarter-bindings, with marbled covers (one set green and the other brown). Both affected by damp at the head, and in worn bindings, but in acceptable overall condition, with text entirely legible. Two interesting and informative documents of local and social history. ONE (Almshouses Charity): 64pp., tall 8vo. In manuscript on cover: 'ALMSHOUSES CHARITY ACCOUNTS'. Among the signatories are two Rectors of Baldock, W. J. Skilton and John D. Nairne, and T. Rigby Kewley, Thomas G. Simpson and Frederick Archdale. The debits in the volume mainly record the receipt of funds from stock and rents (including Baldock Police Station). There are also occasional irregular debits, for example, on 5 October 1891: 'Received of Messrs. Barker & Thurston for damage done to Wall by their Van 5s'. Among the credits are regular payments to 'the Widows in the Almshouses' (also called 'Widows quarterage'), also the payment of bills from named individuals employed in the upkeep of the property (blacksmith, bricklayer, iron monger, brazier, carpenter, plumber), as well as fire insurance premiums, 'Quit Rent due to the Lord of the Manor', poor rate. On 29 May 1865 the book records: 'Paid Mr. Oliver an allowance for loss of buildings blown down £27 10s'. On 6 May 1886 'Paid Webster for emptying ash pits and repairing paths &c. 5s'. On 15 December 1893: 'By allowed George Deans 15 per cent on rent for Michs 1892 & 1893, as agreed consequent on agricultural depression £4 5s 6d'. TWO (Fifteen Houses Charity): 68pp., tall 8vo. In manuscript on cover: 'FIFTEEN HOUSES CHARITY ACCOUNTS'. With same signatories as Item One, and in addition John Smith, J. Layton and Thomas Pryor. A similar disposition of debits and credits to Item One. Among the debits is the rent of the premises of the 'Volunteer Fire Brigade'. Among the credits are payments to 'the Sexton of Baldock', 'the Overseers of Baldock Poor Rate on Cottages', the churchwarden, surveyor, gas rate. On 6 June 1867: 'Paid Editor of Luton Times for advertizing Sale 7s 6d'. On 7 July 1874: 'Paid W. Jackson contract for new Sewer &c to house in his own occupation £4 5s 0d | Paid Do for new Stone Steps to Cottages occupied by Lovell & Thurgood 9s'. On 18 February 1889: 'By allowance to Joseph Spicer for Xmas box as usual 2s'. The Victoria County History contains the following: 'In High Street are Wynne's almshouses built in 1621, consisting of a row of six red brick houses with tiled roofs. [...] Above the mullioned windows is the date Anno Domini 1621, and in the middle there is the following inscription on a stone: 'Theis almes howeses are the gieft of Mr. John Wynne cittezen and mercer of London latelye deceased who hath left a yearely stipend to everey poore of either howses to the worldes end September Anno Domini 1620.' And the same source gives the following account of the Fifteen Houses Charity, which is still active: 'The charity estates belonging to the town, called the Fifteen Houses Charity, for the payment of fifteenths and other purposes, originated under deed of feoffment, 30 October 1575, whereby Anthony Fage and James Fage granted to feoffees certain properties upon trust to apply the rents and profits thereof for the support and reparation of the parish church, as also for the bearing and paying of the fifteenths and other taxes of the inhabitants, and also for sustaining the burdens and charges of warriors and soldiers of the inhabitants in or at war for the defence of the kingdom of England.'