About the Freemen
The Freemen
The Freemen of the City of Newcastle upon Tyne can trace their origins back to Anglo-Saxon times where the free men were a middle class, comprised of those who were permitted to carry arms for the defence of the city.
The organisation survives into modern times as a conservation body, primarily aimed at protecting the many of the parks, Town Moors and green spaces for the benefit of the City's residents. The organisation is also a charitable trust to give means-tested financial assistance to Freemen, their wives, sons and daughters.
The Stewards Committee (2008-2009)
The Stewards Committee is responsible for the business affairs of the Freemen as under the Newcastle upon Tyne Town Moor Act 1988. This involves the day to day administration of land, properties, grazing rights, investments and charities. Nominations for election may be submitted by any of the 84 Stewards representing the individual Companies of Freemen. A minimum of 9 and a maximum of 12 Stewards are elected by those in attendance at the Michaelmas Guild. Elections take place annually.
Both full and Sub-Committee meetings are held each month.
The Stewards Committee (2008-2009)
T. Carter, Mace Bearer. F.H. Alder. C.G. Atkinson. K. Hall. M. Grey. J. Johnson. Councillor David Leslie Wood, Lord Mayor.
Sir Leonard Fenwick, Chairman, A. Bainbridge. D. Wilson. P. Anderson. W.G. Frizzle. H. Alder. I.F. Miller. M. Osborne, Sword Bearer.
(All Guild photographs courtesy of Steve Brock Photography)
The Freemen's Finances
It is a popular misconception that the Freemen are a very rich body who divide untold wealth secretly amongst themselves! This is quite untrue. Income derived from use of the Moor is used only for administration, maintenance and improvement.
The income from the grazing rights, known as stints, is paid to a Freeman or his widow who have assigned their right to graze. This is £18 per head of cattle (2005).
Rental from Intakes is distributed to beneficiaries of the Town Moor Money Charity which operates under the authority of the Charities (Town Moor Money Charity Newcastle upon Tyne) Order 1970-685.
The Intake system has been in effect since the 1774 Town Moor Act although that name was not adopted until 1970. The Stewards Committee is empowered by Section 9 of the Newcastle upon Tyne Town Moor Act 1988 to designate any area of the Town Moor (apart from the Town Moor Festival site) as intakes. The intake land can be used for purposes other than grazing (such as allotments or playing fields) in order to provide the rental income for the Town Moor Money Charity to distribute. The area designated must not exceed 40.5 hectares (100 acres). The leases are on the basis of terms determined by the Stewards Committee but they may not exceed 99 years and if they exceed 21 years the consent of the Charity Commissioners is required. The leases are publicised and open to public bid at auction.
There is no obligation to use all 100 acres and Intakes do not necessarily remain on the same piece of Town Moor. If required, an Intake area can be removed from the system and put back to grazing or moved from its present site to somewhere more convenient to the management of grazing. This happened recently when the whole of Hunters Moor was able to be returned to grazing. In this case it has brought about an improved view and perception of Town Moor land. It is vital, therefore, for the long term benefit of the Town Moor and to the income of the Charity that the Intake system is closely monitored and the land put to best possible use at all times.
Disposal of the former Fenham Barracks site, which was the Royal Artillery Hospital in the early 1800's and had been used by the military as barracks for over a century, saw a change in the Freemen's finances. It was not possible to return the area to Moor when the military left the site. In the early 1980's negotiations began to enable developments to take place and amongst the first occupants of the site were the BBC and the National Blood Transfusion Service followed by small industrial units. It took over a decade to complete and in 1996 the final lease was completed. The capital receipts were divided equally between the City Council and the Freemen in accordance with the Town Moor Act. The Freemen had to gain the approval of the Charity Commissioners for each of the developments. The capital received is kept in a separate fund and the income generated applied to the maintenance of the Town Moor. The capital received by the City Council has to be used to finance improvements to the Town Moor. The capital received by the Freemen was invested and the income generated from these investments has obviously given the Freemen much greater security and the ability to maintain the Town Moor to a higher standard than was possible in the past. The Freemen are registered as a charity.
Address Details:
Freemen of Newcastle upon Tyne Moor Bank Lodge Claremont Road Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4NL United Kingdom Registered Charity number 227620 Contact the Freemen
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