Walton-on-Thames Charity

History

Walton-on-Thames Charity can trace its origins to approximately the year 1212.

Originally, a nobleman had been given free land in Walton. In return he and his successors had to give assistance to the poor of Walton.
Over the centuries, other charities were established in the area, including the founding of the Charity’s Almshouses. Towards the end of the 19th Century many of these charities began to amalgamate.
By 1963 that process was complete and the organization known as Walton Charities assumed responsibility for all the activities of these charities. In 1984 when the name of Walton-on-Thames Charity was adopted. This was also the first year that the Charity gave financial grants to other local organizations.

View a map of the Ancient Parish

The Charity’s history is important to us in how we work today not only in terms of its remit and powers, but also the spirit of many of the original bequests.

We are committed to ensuring that the Charity is rooted in its past, whilst at the same time modernising and responding to the ever changing manifestations of poverty and need.

Walton-on-Thames Charity has recently secured funding from the Heritage Lottery to celebrate and share its history. Work is underway on a number of projects, including conserving old documents, writing up the Charity’s history, and undertaking oral history projects involving older residents and local children. In 2011 we will have a range of events and exhibitions to commemorate the 800^th anniversary of the Charity.