Christ's Hospital of Abingdon
Encyclopedia
Abingdon, Oxfordshire
Abingdon or archaically Abingdon-on-Thames is a market town and civil parish in Oxfordshire, England. It is the seat of the Vale of White Horse district. Previously the county town of Berkshire, Abingdon is one of several places that claim to be Britain's oldest continuously occupied town, with...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Christ's Hospital was established in 1553 by royal charter
Royal Charter
A royal charter is a formal document issued by a monarch as letters patent, granting a right or power to an individual or a body corporate. They were, and are still, used to establish significant organizations such as cities or universities. Charters should be distinguished from warrants and...
under the full name of the Master and Governors of the Hospital of Christ of Abingdon. Sir John Mason, an Elizabethan
Elizabethan era
The Elizabethan era was the epoch in English history of Queen Elizabeth I's reign . Historians often depict it as the golden age in English history...
diplomat, served as the first Master from 1553 to 1566. The charity supported almshouse
Almshouse
Almshouses are charitable housing provided to enable people to live in a particular community...
s in Abingdon.
The charity has been involved with education, educating Abingdon boys from 1608 until 1870. There has been a close connection with Abingdon School
Abingdon School
Abingdon School is a British day and boarding independent school for boys situated in Abingdon, Oxfordshire , previously known as Roysse's School. In 1998 a formal merger took place between Abingdon School and Josca's, a preparatory school four miles to the west at Frilford...
since 1870.
Christ's Hospital also established Albert Park
Albert Park, Abingdon
Abingdon Park is a park in the northwest of the town of Abingdon, Oxfordshire , England.- Overview :The park is surrounded by large residential houses and, to the east, Abingdon School, an independent school. Abingdon Bowls Club is located in the park...
in northwest Abingdon (west of Abingdon School) during the 1860s on the site of the former Conduit Field.
The current charity is based at 1 Old Station Road in Abingdon (Registered Charity Number 205112).
See also
- Thomas TesdaleThomas TesdaleThomas Tesdale was an English maltster, benefactor of the town of Abingdon in the English county of Berkshire and the primary founding benefactor of Pembroke College, Oxford.-Life and career:...
, who served as Master of Christ's Hospital - List of almshouses in the United Kingdom