Threlkeld has several operating charitable bodies and trusts. Some are independent and some adminstered by others eg the Church
Towngate Estate is the oldest charity, itself being created by the combination of four other trusts in 1744. Those trusts pooled their money and bought the Towngate Estate - hence the name - for £105. It consisted then of a number of buildings and fields forming a farm. The income was divided between the founder trusts in proportion to the amount they contributed to the purchase.
15/105 to the parson
22/105 to the school
16/105 to the churchwardens for the church
52/105 to the Overseers of the Poor
Over the years the assets have changed with farm buildings being sold and the resulting financial assets producing more income. The demands on the income have changed too, with fewer poor needing help, so in 1997 the Trust received the Charities Commission's approval to divide the income three ways, equally, to:
The Church
The School
Projects to help the needy of the area
The Schoolmaster's House Trust was originally formed to administer Vale View, the house given to the village as a residence for the Schoolmaster. After George Hill (the fourth Schoolmaster to live there) moved into his own home in 1973 the trustees decided that the best course was to sell the house and invest the funds.
Since the sale in 1975 the Trust has provided money for the School and most recently made a substantial contribution to the building of a much needed extension
The Cockbain/Martin Fund arose from a gift in the 1844 will of the Rev Thomas Cockbain to the church of sufficient money to provide a Bible or Prayer Book for every child leaving the School. Unfortunately with inflation the fund became exhausted in the late 20th century but is now being replenished by a parishioner who is related to Rev Thomas Martin assistant curate and Schoolmaster in the 1770s and 1780s - he was the last to teach in the Church and the first to teach in what is now the Old School House
Recreation Field Trust was originally created as a welcome home gift to returning members of HM Forces in WWII on a site near Town Cross. When the A66 By-pass was built the compensation created a larger (7 acres) field. It is laid out as football pitches, but is used also for the annual Sheepdog Show and for Caravan Rallies. The new Pavilion was built to serve both the Recreation Filed and the Cricket field next door. The Sports Lottery Fund provided a substantial part of the costs.
Jublilee Recreation Field Trust The "Jobby", as it is know in the Village, was given to the village in perpetuity for the recreation of young people under 14 years old. It was given as a celbration of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. The field, opposite the School, was then know as Spout Close (one of the houses knocked down to build Merle Bank in 1901 was Spout House) but on the tithe map it was Job Croft - maybe that is why it has today's name.
Threlkeld Public Room Trust Having been built in 1901 the Public Rooms were vested in named trustees. This was an unsatisfactory long term arrangement and the deed was changed to make the Parish Council for the time being the Trustees. The Public Rooms are managed by the Public Room Committee which is a sub-committee of the Parish council
Threlkeld Housing Association was formed to provide lost cost housing for people with close connections to the two civil parishes of Threkeld and St John's in the Vale. There are 14 houses at Saddleback View in the Quarry Village, on land given by the Quarry company, which are jointly owned by the residents and the Association. Because residents own only 75% of the property and there are restrictions on whom may become a resident, houses change hand in a controlled manner at prices much lower than normal.