Bamburgh Castle Welfare State
The will of Nathaniel, Lord Crewe, Bishop of Durham (1663-1721) set out that surplus income from his estates should be used for charitable purposes. Some of these funds were used to establish a pioneering ‘welfare state’ in the Northumberland village of Bamburgh.
In this module we look at the various aspects of this welfare state, Lord Crewe whose generosity allowed the establishment of the Charity, and Dr. John Sharp whose foresight and skills were responsible for it’s development.
For more information on Dr John Sharp’s initiatives on shipwrecks and the Lukin Lifeboat, see our module Shipwrecks & Rescues.
Documents
Nathaniel, Lord Crewe & Lord Crewe’s Charity
This section explores the life and legacy of Nathaniel, Lord Crewe, and the establishment of Lord Crewe’s Charity.
Dr. John Sharp
This section explores the life and work of Dr. John Sharp, and the Bamburgh Charities he established.
![Plan of Bamburgh Castle Girls’ School, Bamburgh, Northumberland, nd. [c.1790]. Ref: NRO 00452/D/8/4/8/44](https://i0.wp.com/northumberlandarchives.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/NRO-452-D-8-4-8-44-scaled.jpg?fit=500%2C400&ssl=1 "NRO 452-D-8-4-8-44")
Schools
This section explores documents relating to the boys’ and girls’ charitable schools set up at Bamburgh Castle.
Infirmary & Dispensary
This section explores documents relating to the infirmary and dispensary at Bamburgh Castle.
Corn Charity, Granary, and Cheap Shop
This section explores documents relating to the Bamburgh Castle Corn Charity and subsequent granary and cheap shop.
Shipwrecks
This section explores the frequency of shipwrecks around Bamburgh Castle and the measures introduced to assist ships in trouble along with shipwreck victims.
