Harpur Trust
Encyclopedia
The Bedford Charity is a charity in Bedford
, England
which is principally concerned with the operation of private schools. The Bedford Charity (The Harpur Trust) is the legal name, but it is most often referred to as the Harpur Trust.
The stated aims of the Harpur Trust are as follows:
(1496-1573). Harpur was a merchant
from Bedford who became Lord Mayor
of London
in 1561. He was knight
ed in the following year. In 1566 he and his wife Dame Alice gave an endowment
which consisted of some property in Bedford and 13 acres (52,609.2 m²) of water-meadows which are now Holborn
. It was to support free schooling, dowries
for poor maidens and “nourishing and informing poor children”. The school which he had founded in Bedford eventually became Bedford School. It was not until 1882 that girls' education was introduced.
It is these schools run by the Harpur Trust that make Bedford famous for the quality of its private education. In March 2009, the Harpur Trust confirmed it would enter the state education sector with the opening of a new academy in Bedford: Bedford Academy opened in September 2010, and is sponsored by the Harpur Trust along with Bedford College
.
of Bromham
, and has a grants programme for local good causes. The Trust's gross income for the year to 30 June 2006 was £46,646,000, and at that date it had investments valued at just over £80 million. Its current Chief Executive is David Russell
.
Bedford
Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town...
, 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...
which is principally concerned with the operation of private schools. The Bedford Charity (The Harpur Trust) is the legal name, but it is most often referred to as the Harpur Trust.
The stated aims of the Harpur Trust are as follows:
- The promotion of education
- The relief of hardship and need
- Recreation with a social welfare purpose for the people of Bedford and its surroundings.
History
The Bedford Charity was founded in 1566 by Sir William HarpurWilliam Harpur
Sir William Harpur was a merchant from Bedford who moved to London, amassed a large fortune, and became Lord Mayor of London. In 1566 he and his wife Dame Alice gave an endowment to support certain charities including education...
(1496-1573). Harpur was a merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
from Bedford who became Lord Mayor
Lord Mayor
The Lord Mayor is the title of the Mayor of a major city, with special recognition.-Commonwealth of Nations:* In Australia it is a political position. Australian cities with Lord Mayors: Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Parramatta, Perth, Sydney, and Wollongong...
of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1561. He was knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
ed in the following year. In 1566 he and his wife Dame Alice gave an endowment
Financial endowment
A financial endowment is a transfer of money or property donated to an institution. The total value of an institution's investments is often referred to as the institution's endowment and is typically organized as a public charity, private foundation, or trust....
which consisted of some property in Bedford and 13 acres (52,609.2 m²) of water-meadows which are now Holborn
Holborn
Holborn is an area of Central London. Holborn is also the name of the area's principal east-west street, running as High Holborn from St Giles's High Street to Gray's Inn Road and then on to Holborn Viaduct...
. It was to support free schooling, dowries
Dowry
A dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings forth to the marriage. It contrasts with bride price, which is paid to the bride's parents, and dower, which is property settled on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage. The same culture may simultaneously practice both...
for poor maidens and “nourishing and informing poor children”. The school which he had founded in Bedford eventually became Bedford School. It was not until 1882 that girls' education was introduced.
Schools
Today the trust runs a range of fee-charging private schools:- Bedford SchoolBedford SchoolBedford School is not to be confused with Bedford Modern School or Bedford High School or Old Bedford School in Bedford, TexasBedford School is an HMC independent school for boys located in the town of Bedford, England, United Kingdom...
for boys (formerly Bedford Grammar School), - Bedford Modern SchoolBedford Modern SchoolBedford Modern School is a British co-educational independent school in the Harpur area of Bedford, in the county of Bedfordshire, in England.Bedford Modern comprises a junior school and a senior school...
co-educational - Bedford Girls' SchoolBedford Girls' SchoolBedford Girls' School is an independent school for girls which opened in September 2010 in Bedford, England. The school is a result of a merger of Bedford High School and Dame Alice Harpur School, and is operated by the Harpur Trust...
(The school was founded in 2010 as the result of the merger between Dame Alice Harpur SchoolDame Alice Harpur SchoolDame Alice Harpur School is an independent girls school in Bedford, United Kingdom, for girls aged 11-18. In September 2010 the junior department of the school merged with the junior department of Bedford High School...
and Bedford High School) - Pilgrims Pre-Preparatory SchoolPilgrims Pre-Preparatory SchoolPilgrims Pre-Preparatory School is a co-educational, Independent day school for children aged between 3 months and 8 years. The Little Pilgrims unit is a nursery school catering for children from the age of 3 months–3 years...
co-educational
It is these schools run by the Harpur Trust that make Bedford famous for the quality of its private education. In March 2009, the Harpur Trust confirmed it would enter the state education sector with the opening of a new academy in Bedford: Bedford Academy opened in September 2010, and is sponsored by the Harpur Trust along with Bedford College
Bedford College (Bedford)
Bedford College is a further education college in the Cauldwell area of Bedford, Bedfordshire, England. It is the only public further education college in the Borough of Bedford, and it is a member of the 157 Group of high performing schools....
.
Other activities
The Harpur Trust also runs almhouses in Bedford and the nearby villageVillage
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
of Bromham
Bromham, Bedfordshire
Bromham is a village and civil parish in Bedfordshire, England, west of the town of Bedford. It is within commuting distance to London via Bedford railway station.-Notable features:...
, and has a grants programme for local good causes. The Trust's gross income for the year to 30 June 2006 was £46,646,000, and at that date it had investments valued at just over £80 million. Its current Chief Executive is David Russell
David Russell (Royal Navy officer)
David John Russell was born in Leeds in 1952 and attended Leeds Central High School. He joined the Royal Navy in 1970 and commanded three submarines and one surface warship during a career in which he reached the rank of commodore...
.
External links
- Official site
- Harpur Trust page from the Charity Commission - includes links to annual reports