Bequest to fund new Haddington homes fulfilled after 85 years

Bequest to fund new Haddington homes fulfilled after 85 years

John Richardson (Image credit: East Lothian Council Archives)

An unusual bequest is about to be fulfilled 85 years after it was made, following a decision by East Lothian Council to fund six new homes for rent, providing an annual income for Haddington Common Good Fund.

The new homes, which are designed for an ageing population, are part of the redevelopment of the former Herdmanflat Hospital site in Haddington. Planning permission was granted in May this year for the first phase of this development, which will feature a mix of new-build homes and the refurbishment of existing buildings.

The bequest was made by Haddington-born solicitor and town clerk of Musselburgh, John Richardson, who died in 1940. His will left various trusts, one of which was for the maintenance of his stepdaughter Dora Margaret Pinhorne.



Following Mrs Pinhorne’s death in 1990 at the age of 102, Mr Richardson’s estate and bequests were finalised by the trustees. Around £267,000 was left to the then East Lothian District Council and Haddington Common Good Fund, with a direction that the money be spent on building six cottages for “deserving natives of Haddington”, which would be maintained by the council, and the residents could live there in perpetuity without paying rent or taxes.

Bequest to fund new Haddington homes fulfilled after 85 years

The back of the above photograph (Image credit: East Lothian Council Archives)

The bequest was never actioned by the District Council and has since been determined by the Courts as Common Good. East Lothian Council will now partly fulfil Mr Richardson’s wishes by allocating the six new homes for the benefit of the Haddington Common Good Fund.

Council leader Norman Hampshire said: “This was a complicated situation as, although the fund now stands at just over £3 million, it was not possible under legislation to fund the building of six new homes, allocate to deserving natives of Haddington and allow tenants to live in them rent and tax free forever. Through the redetermination of the fund through the courts, this proposal aligns with Mr Richardson’s wishes in delivering six homes whilst also benefiting the Haddington Common Good Fund in the longer term.



“Council took the decision today to use just over £1.5m of the fund for the construction of the six new homes at Herdmanflat. Full details are still being worked out, but the intention is that the properties will be leased to East Lothian Mid-Market Homes, with an annual rental income going to the Common Good Fund. I’m delighted that we have been able to resolve this bequest to the best of our ability whilst fulfilling a large part of Mr Richardson’s wishes, which will benefit the Haddington Common Good for years to come.”


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