Who was William Harding?

William Harding owned farmland, a house and an Inn as a yeoman farmer.  Yeoman is an official who provided honorable services in a royal or high noble household and was the ranking between a squire and a page.

When he died in 1719, he left his estate to provide 40 Shillings a year (equivalent to approximately £232.00 in today’s money) for poor men and women of Walton.  Money from his estate was also used to provide select children from poor families in Aylesbury and Walton, apprenticeships and clothes.

The William Harding Trust Grant - a Charity

Over the years, the land he owned has been developed and therefore the endowment has grown, enabling the Charity to continue supporting young people in education.

In the 18th Century, young people were able to do apprenticeships as coopers (makes wooden casks, barrels, vats, buckets, tubs, troughs and other similar containers), carpenters, milliners, blacksmiths and dressmakers. 

What does the Charity do?

Today, the Charity supports funding for school trips and school uniforms.  Grants are provided for young people at universities or higher education establishments as well as benefitting schools and education establishments with sports clubs, art societies and organisations working for residents of Aylesbury.

How can I access supporting with funding?

You can apply for help towards the cost of a school trip via the Harding Trust. The trustees are Parrott & Coales Solicitors in Aylesbury. You can contact them to begin the application process, the link for their contact details is;

parrottandcoales.co.uk/your-business/charities-and-not-for-profit