Turner's Trust

Turner's TrustTurner's TrustTurner's Trust

Turner's Trust

Turner's TrustTurner's TrustTurner's Trust
  • Home
  • About Us
  • History
  • How to Apply
  • Trustees
  • Awards 2023
  • Awards 2024
  • More
    • Home
    • About Us
    • History
    • How to Apply
    • Trustees
    • Awards 2023
    • Awards 2024
  • Home
  • About Us
  • History
  • How to Apply
  • Trustees
  • Awards 2023
  • Awards 2024

About Us

a portrait of Matthew Turner

Matthew Turner was a well to do printer who lived in Beverley

He died in1856 and his grave is in Coronation Gardens in Beverley. He guarded jealously some of the town’s privileges and often criticised the Town Council when he considered they did not spend the taxpayer’s money correctly. 


He left several investments and decreed the income from one of these investments should be used to reward ladies in domestic service. They had to be of good character, ‘live-in” at their place of employment, which had to be within eight miles of the Guildhall, Beverley and have worked for the same family for ten years or more. 


This began the Turner Trust, with the first Trustees, including Henry Edward Silvester (Mayor of Beverley) and Rev John Birtwhistle (Vicar of Beverley Minster). In their first year, working with capital of £800 they were able to grant awards totalling £718.

In the past 150 years many changes have taken place, residential domestic servants are almost non-existent and those who are employed are usually part-time. In 1939 the number of applicants for the award, the majority of whom were residential was about 100. By 2011 those qualifying for an award had reduced to 11 and non were residential. But the charity Turner began still makes annual awards, although with the Charity Commissions agreement the criterion for the awards has changed. 


Candidates still need to live or work within eight miles of Beverley Guildhall but now need only work for the same family for more than three hours a week and have worked for them for four or more years. Awards start at £100. The total of all awards made since the inception of the original scheme is over £121,500.


Trustees still include the Mayor of Beverley and the Vicars of The Minster and St Mary’s. Awards are presented in January each year. Closing date for applications is the end of October each year.

Contact Us

If you have any questions or would like to know more about the work we do, please get in touch.

Find out more
  • Home
  • About Us
  • History
  • How to Apply

Turner's Trust

Charity Commission Number: 215957

Copyright © 2024 Turner's Trust - All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies.

We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.

DeclineAccept