Mickleton has been relatively well endowed by past philanthropic residents. A number of notable charities exist, which support both residents and facilities in the parish, some of which date back centuries - such as the Porter, Dixon, Rose Cottage, Millard and Poor's Land charities.
The Richard Porter Trust, as it is known locally, comprises two charities: Richard Porter's Charity which dates from 1513, and Richard Porter School Foundation which was established by an Order under the Board of Education Act 1899 in 1905 as a separate charity. The former was set up to provide an income to the Church of St Lawrence and for education of the children of the ecclesiastical parish of Mickleton. The charity's income is apportioned 75% to the church and 25% to the School Foundation. The church's portion in recent years has gone towards the upkeep of the fabric of the Church. The School Foundation Charity has two sources of income; from the Porter Charity and from investments derived from the proceeds of the sale of the old village primary school and master's house on Chapel Lane. The income is used solely for educational purposes. Beneficiaries include the Primary School and children of the Parish in higher education.
Richard Porter (1429-1513) was from Chipping Campden. He owned land in Mickleton and was at one time leaseholder of the Manor. He donated land and property for the benefit of the church and of persons, under the age of 25, resident in the Ancient Parish of Mickleton. He must have been a man of means and local dignitary but other than that he does not seem to be notable except for his charitable legacy.
The Dixon Charity was originally known as the Cottage Charities but was renamed in 2002. The Cottage Charities was itself an amalgamation of several smaller local charities. The aims of the Charity are to make grants to organisations in the parish of Mickleton that are involved in the fields of education, literature, arts, science and technology and in the fields of physical education and domestic economy. This is a wide brief but unlike the Richard Porter Trust which can support an individual in education it only supports organisations.
John Marsh Dixon (d. 1936) was a ‘Barrister at Law’ and resident of the Parish of Mickleton. He was apparently also much involved with village life including local charities and organisations. He could be described as the “Mister Mickleton” of his time. He was amongst other things linked with the setting up of Mickleton Parish Council around 1896/8 which he chaired. He was also chair of the Poor’s Land Trust for 22 years, retiring in 1929. He and his wife are buried in St Lawrence churchyard.
The Rose Cottage Mickleton Charity Fund derives from the purchase of Rose Cottage in Lawson Square, Mickleton by a local benefactor for the provision of a house for a District Nurse who served the communities of Mickleton and Willersey. This was at a time before the introduction of the National Health Service (NHS) when health provision was limited. The house subsequently became redundant at the introduction of the NHS and was sold. The resultant funds were invested and provide an income which “benefits the sick poor” of the area. Each Christmas a number of widows, widowers and elderly couples are given vouchers which may be exchanged for commodities normally sold at local shops.
The Nanny Millard's Charity provides financial aid to residents of Mickleton, and particularly the elderly and people with disabilities. The aims are the advancement of health, saving of lives, and the prevention or relief of poverty. It makes grants to individuals. The charity was set up under the Will of Nanny Millard of Mickleton in 1833. Linked to the charity is the John and Eliza Taylor Memorial Fund, which was formed under the Will of John Taylor of Mickleton in 1914.
Nanny Millard’s family were from Pebworth, where she was baptised in the parish church in February 1755. She died in 1833 at the age of 77 and was buried in the churchyard in Pebworth in January 1833. As previously had her parents and two brothers been buried. She must have lived in Mickleton as the parish register entry describes her as being ‘of Mickleton’. She had no children. In her will she “... gave and bequeathed to the Minister Churchwardens and Overseers of the poor of the Parish of Mickleton and their successors the sum of three hundred pounds to be invested in Government or real security and the interest and proceeds to be used by them and paid annually at Christmas to and for the use of the poor of the Parish of Mickleton...”. Note the lack of punctuation, it being a legal document of the period. She also left a similar legacy for the poor of Pebworth.