Mid Sussex Times - Tuesday 03 October 1933

THE LATE MISS EDITH ANNIE PAYNE: CUCKFIELD

PARTICULARS OF HER GIFT TO THE URBAN COUNCIL

Probate of the will of the late Miss Edith Annie Payne, of Long Acre, Cuckfield, who for many years prior her death on August last had been a member of the Cuckfield Urban District Council, now been granted to the Executors. Mr. Ernest Payne arid Miss Winifred Fanny Cleare.

By her will Miss Payne gave the freehold premises known as Long Acre, Cuckfield, to the Urban District Council of Cuckfield, or any other local authority or public body which, as the successor of the said Council, may be responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the Free Library and Reading Room at Cuckfield present carried on at the Queen’s Hall, Cuckfield. The Council may either retain the property or sell it and invest the proceeds of sale in trust investments. The income of the property, or of such investments, is to be called

THE EDITH PAYNE TRUST FUND

and to be applied towards the maintenance of the Free Library and Reading Room for the benefit of the inhabitants of the town and parish of Cuckfield. If the Free Library and Reading Room shall at any time cease be maintained, or considered unnecessary the fund is to be devoted to such other public educational purposes of a charitable nature as the Council may consider to be for the benefit of the inhabitants of Cuckfield.

By a codicil made a few days before her death. Miss Payne explained that the gift was intended solely for the benefit of the Free Library and Reading Room at Cuckfield with the organisation and working of which she had been concerned for many years past (as distinct from the Queen’s Hall) or of any other Free Library or Reading Room which should be maintained the Urban District Council of Cuckfield or its successor by the East Sussex County Council or any other Local Authority for the benefit of any Local Government area which should include the present urban district of Cuckfield.

In the administration of the said trust fund Miss Payne wished consideration given primarily to the requirements of the inhabitants of the present urban district of Cuckfield but this should not prevent the inhabitants of any larger district in which the present urban district is included from sharing in the benefits. The gift is subject to an option given to the legatee to retain sufficient ground for the erection a small bungalow.

Visit Cuckfield Museum for ‘Horsepower – Before machines altered the pace of life forever’ display and much, much more. Follow the link for details https://cuckfieldmuseum.org/