James Marshall was a landowner and resident within the old ecclesiastical parish of Wheathampstead which included Harpenden. He died in 1722 at the age of 61 and was buried at Wheathampstead, where some 50 years ago a large new stone was erected on his grave, near the church door. His Will was dated 50th December 1719 and in accordance with his wishes a charitable trust was formed with income from his properties in the parish. It was his intention to help poor children with apprenticeships to crafts and trades with the purchase of tools and in some cases clothes.
Tombstone of James Marshall, erected in the 1930s to replace a worn memorial, close to the porch of St Helen’s Church, Wheathampstead. Credit: Rosemary Ross, July 2012
It is thought that he may have lived at Leasey Bridge Farm, as this was one of the properties he left to the then combined Parish of Wheathampstead and Harpenden. The other properties included all those between the Fire Station (redeveloped as Harpenden Town Hall and driveway alongside in 1994) and 15 Leyton Road, with the exception of ‘Bennetts’ and ‘Bennetts Cottage’, but including the yard behind ‘The Inn on the Green’.
In the 1970s James Marshall House and the Day Centre were both built on some of his land at the rear of 17 Leyton Road, for which the County Council paid rent. The Trustees** are responsible for approving any alterations carried out on the various properties and for the distribution of the monies received from the rents. In 1987 these amount to approximately £15,000 a year, divided between Harpenden and Wheathampstead. Grants continue to be made to assist young people train for their careers, including helping with fees, travel and books.
James Marshall House, Care Home and Day Centre. Credit: LHS archives – scan from Jarvis brochure
* This page draws on an article first published in Harpenden People by Cornelia Clutterbuck (LHS archives BF 9/7), which was the basis of an exhibition she organised on 7 March 1987 about the people associated with roads or buildings named after them. Additional information from Harpenden Town Council website.
** https://www.jamesmarshallfoundation.co.uk
Bill Batchelor’s receipt for tools paid for by the James Marshall Trust in 1959. Credit: Bill Batchelor, 4 February 2021
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Bill Batchelor posted his appreciation of the James Marshall Trust on the Old Harpenden Facebook page on 4 February 2021 with these words: “When I was a Sheet-metalwork Apprentice at de Havillands Hatfield in the late 1950’s I was told about the Marshall Trust that gave grants to young people to help with their training. I applied for money to help towards the cost of some of the specialist tools needed for my work as a Sheet metal worker such as hammers and metal snips. I have also attached a just about readable, scan of my receipt from Gibbs and Dandy in Luton that shows I just managed to use up the large (at that time) amount of £10.”
Immediately there were many more comments of gratitude for grants for tools (still in use), books for a college course, a hairdressing apprenticeship, a typing course.
All are delighted that the Foundation is still going strong - https://www.jamesmarshallfoundation.co.uk 
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