IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0074 LMA/4410
Held at: London Metropolitan Archives
Title: MIDDLESEX VICTORIA FUND
Date(s): 1941-2000
Level of description: Collection
Extent: 0.35 linear metres
Name of creator(s): Middlesex Victoria Fund | charity for the aid of prisoners
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
The Middlesex Victoria Fund was created by the Justices of the Middlesex Sessions in 1892, primarily to aid discharged prisoners and the wives and families of discharged prisoners convicted at the Middlesex Sessions.
The fund was administered by trustees, the first ones being Sir Ralph Littler Q.C., R. Loveland-Loveland, and Lieutenant Colonel Harfield. In addition two auditors were appointed at the Easter Sessions, when the funds accounts were presented to the Court. The Court could, at its discretion, direct that donations be sent to specified institutions. Subscriptions were collected from Middlesex Justices.
By the 1950's the fund no longer needed to collect subscriptions as it was felt that the income derived from investments was sufficient to meet all reasonable demands on the fund. It was the practice for the Chairman or Deputy Chairman of the Court to approve an application, usually from a probation officer, for a grant for a specific purpose in individual cases, for such things as arrears of rent and mortgage; removal expenses; recovery of clothes from pawnbrokers; or purchase of clothing for an expected child. Cheques were given to the probation officers to dispose of as they thought best. Grants were also occasionally made towards legal assistance in bastardy appeals.
While the main object of the fund was to render individual help, this assistance was usually given after various forms of Public Assistance had been exhausted and careful enquiries made.
The charity wound up its affairs in 2001 and transferred its remaining assets to the City of London Sheriffs' and Recorder's Fund.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Records of the Middlesex Victoria Fund, a charity for the aid of discharged prisoners, including minutes; rules of the fund; reports of the Trustees; papers relating to grants to individuals and organisations; correspondence; and financial records.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English
System of arrangement:
The records have been sorted into an order which reflects divisions between the different functions and operations of the organisation and its administration.
Conditions governing access:
These records are open to public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to closure periods.
Conditions governing reproduction:
Copyright to these records rests with the Corporation of London.
Physical characteristics:
Fit
Finding aids:
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Archival history:
Immediate source of acquisition:
Gifted to the archive in December 2001.
ALLIED MATERIALS
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Date(s) of descriptions: June to August 2010.