Food and Clothing.—­John Crowley, in 1709, bequeathed an annuity o 20s. chargeable on property in the Lower Priory, to be expended in “sixpenny bread” for the poor at Christmas.—­Some land at Sutton Coldfield was left, in 1681, by John Hopkins, to provide clothing and food for the poor of St. Martin’s.—­Palmer’s Charity, 1867, finds about L40 per annum, which is distributed among eighty recipients selected by the Town Council, the majority being poor old women, who go for their doles Dec. 12th.—­In addition to the above there have been a number of minor charities left to the churchwardens for providing food and clothing which have either been lost sight of, or mixed up with others, some dating as far back as 1629-30.

George Hill’s Charity is now of the value of nearly L5,000, bringing in about L120 yearly.  Of this 52s. goes to the churchwardens of the parish church to provide bread for the most necessitous and aged poor; 20s. to the incumbent of Deritend, and the residue in pensions of not more than L20 to decayed schoolmasters and schoolmistresses.

Hollier’s Charity was devised in 1789, the land now known as Highgate Park (originally 10 acres) being left to clothe, annually, twenty poor persons, twelve from Birmingham and eight from Aston.  The purchase money paid by the Corporation has been invested, and, under the direction of the Charity Commissioners, the income of this charity is appropriated thus:—­L50 for clothing for twelve poor men or women of Birmingham, and eight ditto of Aston; L25 for relieving deserving and necessitous persons discharged from Borough Lunatic Asylum; L150 to the Dispensaries of Birmingham and Aston; L25 each to the Children’s Hospital and the Sanatorium; and the remainder to the General Hospital.

James’s Trust, of 1869, which realises about L1,000 per year, was left to provide homes and pensions for deserving widows and others; five annuities for poor and decayed gentlewomen; and a scholarship at the Grammar School.  The Secretary is the Vicar of St. Clement’s, Nechells.

Kylcuppe’s Charity.—­Sept. 19, 1611.  Richard Kylcuppe devised certain land at Sparkbrook for charitable purposes, the income of which is now handed to the General Hospital and General Dispensary, as nearly as possible following the testator’s wishes.

Lench’s Trust, which dates from 1539, is one of the most important charities of the town, and has an income of over L3,000 a year at present.  The original objects of the trust were repairing the streets of the town and relief to poor.  From time to time other charities have been incorporated, and the funds administered with those of Lench’s Trust.  Among these are the “Bell Rope” fund for purchasing ropes for St. Martin’s Belfry, the donor of which is not known; Colmore’s Charity, dating from 1585, for relieving the poor and repairing streets; Redhill’s and Shilton’s (about 1520), for like purposes; Kylcuppe’s 1610, for