THE LEGACY of a charity set up 300 years ago to give less-fortunate Droitwich youngsters a free education was celebrated this week by the schools that have benefitted from it.
Richard Lloyd’s charity, which established both Sytchampton Endowed Primary and Ombersley First Schools, was formed on October 17, 1723 to allow youngsters to learn at a time before government education became available.
Youngsters from Sytchampton marked the occasion by dressing up in clothes from the era and studying some of the artefacts kept by the school.
Over at Ombersley, youngsters learned about the history of the charity and what life was like three centuries ago before taking a whole school photograph in the shape of the number 300.
Trustees of the charity, now called the Lloyds Educational Foundation joined both schools on the day for a celebratory assembly and handed out a commemorative plaque as well as pin badges for students.
In 1702, Thomas Tolley of Comhampton died and left £20 in his will to help further local education, and 21 years later Thomas Baker of Boreley left £1,000 for the same purpose.
Local man Richard Lloyd, believed to have been the local church warder, used the cash to buy land and buildings before forming the charity.
Lloyd devised a scheme with Sir Samuel Sandys, the then Lord of the manor, to provide the schools and revenue to run them.
The charity had nine trustees, including whoever was Lord of the manor and the Vicar.
It was decided education would be free to children of Ombersley parish where the rateable value of the parent’s property was £5 or less.
The Trust also provided books, pens, ink, paper and sometimes clothing for the children.
The first school opened at Brookhampton in 1729, the year Richard Lloyd died, and two schools were later built in Ombersley village.
In 1826 Brookhampton School and its land were sold and the current Sytchampton school was built.
The replacement Ombersley school was built in 1873 to replace the smaller schools on land gifted by Lord Sandys.
The charity still owns the buildings used by Sytchampton and Ombersley schools and they provide ongoing financial support for the upkeep of these buildings.
