The Feoffees
Of The
Common Lands Of
Rotherham

Rotherham's Oldest Charity

History

Find out why The Feoffees started and what they did.

Regalia

Read more about the Feoffees mace, gold medallion and chain.

Charitable Works

Find out how the funds are distributed in the local area.

Future Plans

See what the future holds for the charity going forward.

How You Can Help

Help out The Feoffees fund raising efforts in this section.

Our Supporters

Get to know the companies that back The Feoffees.

We are grateful for donations, of any value, that you may care to give. Use the white button to find out more or the red button to donate today.

Who Are The Feoffees And What is ‘The Common Lands Of Rotherham’?

The Common Lands of Rotherham is in fact Rotherham’s oldest charity. It was established in the early part of the 14th Century and since then has continuously supported Rotherham’s citizens and population. The Feoffees are 12 individuals who are in effect ‘Trustees’ of the charity and who control, manage and govern the various elements associated with it. Feoffees are unpaid and all have some form of close association with and interest in Rotherham. The Charity is now regulated by The Charities Commission and its Registered Number is 223050.

Although originally formed under some form of Royal Warrant the last significant Charter was issued by Queen Elizabeth I in 1589. Between about 1328 and the dissolution of the monasteries the Feoffees supported the ‘poor, needy and impotent’ of Rotherham and were also the guardians of Common Land; land, generally pasture, that was freely available to any person who wished to graze their stock and not under the ownership of any particular landowner. The Charity also owned land and property in the area from which the rents received were used for the benefit of the inhabitants of the town. In 1584 Queen Elizabeth I returned to The Feoffees lands and property that had been confiscated by Henry VIII, subsequently confirmed by the Royal Charter of 1589 mentioned above.

At about this time, as well as their charitable function of supporting the ‘aged, poor and impotent’ of the town, The Feoffees took on more wide ranging responsibilities and basically became the Town Council or Corporation. They continued to perform this function until 1871, when Rotherham was incorporated as a Borough. However, over the intervening almost 400 years some areas of responsibility did move to other organisations, one example of this being the Workhouse which, through the Poor Law Relief Act of 1834, saw this area of responsibility move to a Board of Guardians for the Workhouse.

Over this 400 year period The Feoffees were responsible for such as health, welfare, defence, law & order and the provision of a safe drinking water supply. Associated with this latter element they were also responsible for the brewing and distribution of English ale and beer. Also, information on which can be found elsewhere on this site, The Feoffees were heavily involved in the development and provision of education. To this day there are still up to 12 individuals who have continued to accept responsibility for governing and developing this charity and are continuing a tradition which is now almost 700 years old. 

Rotherham Feoffees (1899)

To find out more about our history and regalia please use the buttons to the right

Current Feoffees

The individuals who are serving currently as Feoffees of The Common Lands of Rotherham are:

J F Bingham

J A Collier

A E Grice

C D Hamby

T J Mulroy

A L Ogley

M J Ridsdale

R Russum

G W Thompson

H J Yarlett

J Bloomer (Secretary)

Some of the present Feoffees preparing for the 2019 Remembrance Day parade and wearing their traditional headgear of Bowler hats

Past Feoffees

It is of course impossible to provide photographs of all those who have served as Feoffees although a selection of those of whom photographs were taken are here.

C P Badger

R J G Bloomer

J F B Clark

J F Dickinson

N D Elmhirst

J J Mason

New Greave for 2024/25 

At its AGM in April 2024 the Greave for 2024/2025 was installed. This is the first time Chris Hamby has been Greave of the Feoffees and he said how honoured he was to be serving in this position for the first time.

Pictured here, on the left, is Nigel Elmhirst, the outgoing Greave, who has just handed over the chain of Office to the incoming Greave, Chris Hamby. 


Greaves of the Feoffees of the Common Lands of Rotherham from 1977

1977 Keith Wainwright
1978 Christopher P Badger
1979 Francis Ogley
1980 Derek R Branson
1981 Henry J Parkin
1982 A Phillip Badger
1983 Lt Col James W Muntus
1984 Keith Wainwright
1985 Christopher P Badger
1986 Lewis D Purshouse
1987 Anthony Hastings Pickles
1988 John F Dickinson
1989 Lt Col James W Muntus
1990 Keith Wainwright
1991 Christopher P Badger
1992 Lewis D Purshouse
1993 Anthony Hastings Pickles
1994 John F Dickinson
1995 Lt Col James W Muntus
1996 Keith Wainwright
1997 Christopher P Badger
1998 R J Giles Bloomer
1999 John F Beatson Clark
2000 Anthony Hastings Pickles
2001 Keith Wainwright
2002 Christopher P Badger
2003 Peter C Watson
2004 John F Bingham
2005 John F Beatson Clark
2006 R J Giles Bloomer
2007 Anthony E Grice
2008 Christopher P Badger
2009 Nigel D Elmhirst
2010 John F Bingham
2011 John F Beatson Clark
2012 Jeremy J Mason
2013 R J Giles Bloomer
2014 Anthony E Grice
2015 Christopher P Badger
2016 Jane Collier
2017 Nigel D Elmhirst
2018 John F Bingham
2019 R J Giles Bloomer
2020 J. J. Mason
2021 A. E. Grice
2022 J. A. Collier
2023 N. D. Elmhirst
2024 C. D. Hamby

Contact Us

Please get in touch, we would love to hear from you

Rotherham Feoffees

is a registered charity (no. 223050)