Before 1853 there had been a number of ad hoc Royal Commissions
to investigate charities. In 1853 the Commission was put onto a
permanent footing and was given powers to appoint or remove charity
trustees, and to vary a charity's purpose by amending its 'scheme'.
The Commission still exists today: its records are public records
as defined by the 1958 Public Records Act.
Documents still held by the Commission may be consulted at its
headquarters:
Ryder Street
St James's
London
SW1 6AH
Peterborough Central Library has copies of the Charity
Commission Report for Huntingdonshire (1839) and for part of
Northamptonshire (including Peterborough) (1830).
Peterborough Central Library holds various commissioners'
reports within the Local Studies collection. See under 'Charities'
in the 'List of non-book stock in Local studies Collection' for
details. This list is available for consultation in the Local
Studies and Archives Room at Peterborough Central Library.
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