Miss Ellen Reardon, The Reardon Samaritan Fund and Others
Miss Ellen Reardon of 2 New Terrace, Islington (formerly Middlesex, now London) died on 4 February 1880. Her sister Margaret Reardon died 13 January 1876.
Miss Ellen Reardon bequeathed in her will, the residue of her personal estate free of legacy duty to ten charities. Thorner’s Charity being one so named. Other beneficiaries that we know of are as follows:
The Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association
In addition to Thorners she left money to the Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association and the link below takes you to further information:
In her will, the money was for the erection of troughs and drinking fountains with the inscription:
“MISS ELLEN REARDON’S BEQUEST IN MEMORY OF HER FATHER, MOTHER AND SISTER DANIEL, ELIZABETH AND MARGARET REARDON 1880”.
At least 13 “Reardon” troughs and more than 50 fountains were erected.
Note: In 1890 New Terrace became part of a renumbered Duncan Terrace.
https://www.londonremembers.com/subjects/miss-ellen-reardon
https://www.londonremembers.com/memorials/reardon-drinking-fountain-avondale-park
Reardon inscriptions (mdfcta.co.uk)
2021 photograph with thanks to Michael Harney, of the Ellen Reardon Fountain, Strand on the Green, Chiswick, London
Solicitors Benevolent Association
She also chose to leave money to support, with an annuity, solicitors and their widows. The charity, Miss Ellen Reardons Bequest, was removed from the register in 1995 but was connected to the Solicitors Benevolent Association.
St Thomas’s Hospital – Ellen Reardon Charity
Miss Reardon also left money to St Thomas’s Hospital in London for the purpose of supporting in or out patients in their travelling expenses. This charity was removed from the register in 2005, with the funds being transferred to Guy’s & St Thomas’s Samaritan Fund.
https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=256854&subid=9