Ings History
Ings Benefactors
Robert Bateman
Robert Bateman was born in Ings in 1678. It is said that local people made a collection for him so that he could seek his fortune in London, where he was apprenticed to merchants. They were clearly impressed such that in 1713 he was sent to manage the Livorno branch of of his firm, and was to spend the rest of his life there. Sadly, he died in 1743 at the age of 65 before he could return to Ings having made plans to do so.
He built a new house called Leghorn Hall, now Reston Hall; left money and directions for the re-building of the church in Ings, and founded and funded a Trust, which still exists today, to provide almshouses.
Rowland Wilson and the Village School
Rowland Wilson was born at Low Hall, Grassgarth in the late C16th and evidently made his way to London where he prospered. It's said that he was involved in the market for woollen cloths. His will, which states that he was a vintner, provides instructions for the disposal of his ‘Grosgarth’ property in the ‘Hamblett of Inge’ and for the distribution of bread after Sunday service. It further reads “I give and bequeath towards the maintenance and supportation of the school near the said Chapelle of Inge for the teaching of the children of the said Hamblett of Howgill the knowledge of God and good learning to be issuing out of my said lands at Grosgarth for ever.” A school was endowed in the village in 1650.
The Rowland Wilson Trust for the financial support of young people of Hugill Parish still exists today. The school building was rebuilt in 1869, and has a headstone with the legend R1650W REBUILT 1869 - the RW refers to Rowland Wilson. The school finally closed in 1972 and the building re-opened as the Parish Hall in October 1979.