Description:The Dukes of Sutherland commanded enormous wealth in the nineteenth century, owning extensive lands in Staffordshire and Shropshire. The important public role of the Dukes meant that they were involved in many local initiatives, and evidence in the Sutherland Papers Collection indicates that they were patrons of numerous local and national charities.
Amongst an account of estate expenditure in 1853 includes a list of some of the charities and institutions which the Sutherland family supported locally and nationally.
The charities are listed as below including the amounts of money which were donated to them:
Staffordshire General Infirmary: £23, 3s
Staffordshire General Lunatic Asylum (Duke’s orders): £10
North Staffordshire Infirmary: £20
North Staffordshire Agricultural Society: £5, 5s
Birmingham Deaf & Dumb Institution: £2, 2s
Pottery branch of Manchester Deaf & Dumb Institution: £5, 5s
Widows of Clergy in Stafford Archdeaconry: £5, 5s
Newcastle & Pottery Bible Society: £2, 2s
Diocesan Board of Education £5
Trentham Sunday School: £10, 10s
Blurton Sunday School: £10
Normacott Sunday & Day School: £7
Lane End Sunday School: £5
Leek National School: £1, 1s
Schoolmaster of Trentham: £10
Schoolmaster of Tittensor balance of salary stationary etc £40
Schoolmistress of Hanford balance of salary stationary etc £35
Rent of Schoolmistress of Hanford House £10
Schoolmistress of Trentham £26, 5s assistant £13, 2s, 6d
The Singers at Trentham Church: £3,3
The Teacher & leader of the Singers at Trentham Church: £25
Longton Mechanics Institution: £10
Reverend J. Ford for church service at Tittensor: £30
Tittensor Dispensary & clothing club £2, 2s
These subscriptions amounted to £306, 17s and 6d in 1853. However, crosses in pencil appear through the payments to the Schoolmistress of Hanford leaving a pencilled in total of £271, 5s, 6d. It is significant to note that the Duke ordered a donation to be made to Staffordshire's General Lunatic Asylum, reflecting his philanthropic role in the local community.