Establishment of Bridge Repair and "Uses Lands" Trust
In 1542 Sir Thomas Bell and his wife Joan assigned property on a sale and leaseback arrangement to the City Corporation to be used after their deaths for repairing Westgate Bridge and causeway, Gloucester:
- Conveyance by Alderman Thomas Bell Sen. of property in Broadsmith St., Southgate St., Gaudy Green and Brook St. to use of the Corporation for repairing Westgate Bridge and Over causeway, then for uses to be determined by the Corporation.
John Leland the antiquary commented as follows: "Bell a marchaunt of Gloucestar now livinge, consideringe to be a common-wealth bridges and cawseys, and to the towne of Gloucester, hath gyven x li. (i.e. £10) lands the yere toward the mayntenans of these bridges" The transaction was a three stage process, firstly the conveyance described above, then a quitclaim by Bell followed by a lease back by the Corporation to Bell, all in 1542. The trust so established became known in the Corporation's records as "Sir Thomas Bell's Uses Lands", since after the bridge had been repaired the Corporation was free to employ the fund for any other use. The lands were sold by the Corporation c. 1800 "for redemption of the land tax"
Read more about this topic: Thomas Bell (Mayor Of Gloucester)
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