William Wyggeston
Encyclopedia
William Wyggeston was an English
wool
merchant based in Leicester
. He was part of the Wyggeston family, which included at least one other William Wyggeston.
Although the family had been influential before, he became extremely wealthy (in 1522 records indicate he paid 22% of the tax levied on Leicester), and became Mayor of the Corporation of Leicester twice, and represented Leicester
in the Seventh Parliament of Henry VII.
He was also known as a benefactor, and set up an early hospital in Leicester in 1513, now called Wyggeston's Hospital, and funded by the income of the Swannington
estate, which he bought in 1520. http://www.duchyoflancaster.org.uk/output/page65.asp http://website.lineone.net/~terry.loftus/introduc.html The hospital still exists as an institution, although its activities have changed. It is now a retirement home
for old people, based on Hinckley Road in the West End of Leicester
.
After Wyggeston's death, his brother Thomas Wyggeston, as a trustee, used part of the money to establish a grammar school in Leicester. Whilst this eventually became defunct, it gave its name to the later Wyggeston Grammar School for Boys
, now known as Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College
. Wyggeston Grammar School for Girls, also known as Wyggeston Girls' Grammar School, was founded not long after the boys' school. In 1981 it merged with another girls' grammar school in Leicester, Collegiate Girls' School, and stopped taking in girls at eleven. It instead became a Sixth Form college known as Wyggeston Collegiate Sixth Form College. Later still it became known as Regent College
.
Wyggeston is one of the figures honoured by Leicester's Clock Tower
(which spells his name 'Wigston').
Freemasons' meeting in Leicester named a Lodge after William Wyggeston which was consecrated on the 1st July 1910. The Wyggeston Lodge, No.3448 also takes William Wyggeston's motto, "Date eleemosynam et ecce omnia munda sunt vobis"/"Give freely of yourself and behold all Worlds are yours". The Wyggeston Lodge, No. 3448 participates in the United Grand Lodge of England Universities’ Scheme and welcomes applications for membership from University of Leicester undergraduates, postgraduates, alumni and other members including staff.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
wool
Wool
Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals, including cashmere from goats, mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, vicuña, alpaca, camel from animals in the camel family, and angora from rabbits....
merchant based in Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
. He was part of the Wyggeston family, which included at least one other William Wyggeston.
Although the family had been influential before, he became extremely wealthy (in 1522 records indicate he paid 22% of the tax levied on Leicester), and became Mayor of the Corporation of Leicester twice, and represented Leicester
Leicester (UK Parliament constituency)
Leicester was a parliamentary borough in Leicestershire, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1295 until 1918, when it was split into three single-member divisions.-History:...
in the Seventh Parliament of Henry VII.
He was also known as a benefactor, and set up an early hospital in Leicester in 1513, now called Wyggeston's Hospital, and funded by the income of the Swannington
Swannington, Leicestershire
Swannington is a former mining village in Leicestershire, England. It was a terminus of the early Leicester and Swannington Railway that was built to carry away its pits' output...
estate, which he bought in 1520. http://www.duchyoflancaster.org.uk/output/page65.asp http://website.lineone.net/~terry.loftus/introduc.html The hospital still exists as an institution, although its activities have changed. It is now a retirement home
Retirement home
A retirement home is a multi-residence housing facility intended for senior citizens. Typically each person or couple in the home has an apartment-style room or suite of rooms. Additional facilities are provided within the building, including facilities for meals, gathering, recreation, and some...
for old people, based on Hinckley Road in the West End of Leicester
West End of Leicester
The West End of Leicester, England is an inner city area just west of the city centre, on the opposite side of the River Soar . The main roads in the area are Braunstone Gate, Hinckley Road and Narborough Road....
.
After Wyggeston's death, his brother Thomas Wyggeston, as a trustee, used part of the money to establish a grammar school in Leicester. Whilst this eventually became defunct, it gave its name to the later Wyggeston Grammar School for Boys
Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College
Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College, or "Q.E" is a sixth form college in Leicester, England.-Admissions:There are 1,865 full-time 16-18 year-old students and 140 teaching staff. More than 40 subjects are offered at A Level. Somewhat against the national trend Mathematics and Sciences account...
, now known as Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College
Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College
Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College, or "Q.E" is a sixth form college in Leicester, England.-Admissions:There are 1,865 full-time 16-18 year-old students and 140 teaching staff. More than 40 subjects are offered at A Level. Somewhat against the national trend Mathematics and Sciences account...
. Wyggeston Grammar School for Girls, also known as Wyggeston Girls' Grammar School, was founded not long after the boys' school. In 1981 it merged with another girls' grammar school in Leicester, Collegiate Girls' School, and stopped taking in girls at eleven. It instead became a Sixth Form college known as Wyggeston Collegiate Sixth Form College. Later still it became known as Regent College
Regent College, Leicester
Regent College is one of three sixth form colleges located in Leicester, England.The principal currently at post is Paul Wilson-History:It was previously known as Wyggeston Grammar School for Girls. This school was originally situated in Humberstone Gate from 1878 as Wyggeston Hospital Girls'...
.
Wyggeston is one of the figures honoured by Leicester's Clock Tower
Clock Tower (Leicester)
The Haymarket Memorial Clock Tower is a major landmark and popular meeting point in Leicester, United Kingdom. It is located roughly in the middle of the area inside the ring-road, and is at the point where five major streets meet, and also close by to the junction with Cheapside.The Clock Tower...
(which spells his name 'Wigston').
Freemasons' meeting in Leicester named a Lodge after William Wyggeston which was consecrated on the 1st July 1910. The Wyggeston Lodge, No.3448 also takes William Wyggeston's motto, "Date eleemosynam et ecce omnia munda sunt vobis"/"Give freely of yourself and behold all Worlds are yours". The Wyggeston Lodge, No. 3448 participates in the United Grand Lodge of England Universities’ Scheme and welcomes applications for membership from University of Leicester undergraduates, postgraduates, alumni and other members including staff.