Jane Leeson
(c1560 – 1648)
A remarkable woman and her lasting legacy
Jane Leeson was an exceptional woman who achieved remarkable things in a period when women were rarely permitted such independence or influence. Through determination, financial skill and philanthropy, she created opportunities for generations of children who would otherwise have gone without education. Her life and legacy stand as an enduring example of vision, courage and generosity.
Blue Plaque in Jane Leeson's honour awarded by Histories of Northamptonshire Blue Plaques. Funded by Arts Council England. March 2026
(c1560 – 1648)
A remarkable woman and her lasting legacy
Jane Leeson was an exceptional woman who achieved remarkable things in a period when women were rarely permitted such independence or influence. Through determination, financial skill and philanthropy, she created opportunities for generations of children who would otherwise have gone without education. Her life and legacy stand as an enduring example of vision, courage and generosity.
Blue Plaque in Jane Leeson's honour awarded by Histories of Northamptonshire Blue Plaques. Funded by Arts Council England. March 2026
Jane’s Independence
Jane was born at Frankton near Coventry probably around 1560 which was early in the reign of Elizabeth 1, and she died in 1648 during the English Civil War. In his will, her father Antony had left Leeson House, his property in Abthorpe, to her mother and £100 to Jane, which was an unusual legacy for an unmarried daughter. It is believed that Jane used the money to buy the house at Abthorpe from her mother. We do know that she had two brothers who were left land at Frankton and that one of the brothers tried to take Leeson House from her mother but Jane’s purchase of the house thwarted his plan. She was therefore able to provide both herself and her mother with a permanent long-term home. Later she also purchased further land which she rented to local farmers. She was therefore a financially independent spinster – rare in a period when women had no rights and were controlled either by their father or their husband.
Jane’s Philanthropy
Jane was deeply concerned with the plight of the Poor, particularly poor children. Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries earlier in the century, many traditional sources of food, shelter and education for those in poverty had disappeared and Jane sought to redress the wrongs inflicted upon them. Believing strongly in the value of education to improve life chances, Jane started a school for the poor children from Abthorpe initially in her own home. In 1642, she took the extraordinary step of building a purpose-built school on land adjacent to Leeson House. If we have the date of her birth correctly then she would have been in her 80s when she built the school – remarkable for both the energy it must have taken but also because 80 was a great age in those days. At a time when most such buildings were made of timber, Jane chose stone, reflecting her intention that the school should endure and remain a free school for the poor “for ever.” She personally paid the salary of the schoolmaster during her lifetime, with the earliest recorded master being Henry Bendbow. The annual salary was £8 per year.
'And that my ffeoffees and trustees aforenamed their heires and assigness shall pay unto a School master to teach the poor children of the said towne gratis the sume of eight pounds per annum for ever...'
From the will of Jane Leeson 1648
Jane was born at Frankton near Coventry probably around 1560 which was early in the reign of Elizabeth 1, and she died in 1648 during the English Civil War. In his will, her father Antony had left Leeson House, his property in Abthorpe, to her mother and £100 to Jane, which was an unusual legacy for an unmarried daughter. It is believed that Jane used the money to buy the house at Abthorpe from her mother. We do know that she had two brothers who were left land at Frankton and that one of the brothers tried to take Leeson House from her mother but Jane’s purchase of the house thwarted his plan. She was therefore able to provide both herself and her mother with a permanent long-term home. Later she also purchased further land which she rented to local farmers. She was therefore a financially independent spinster – rare in a period when women had no rights and were controlled either by their father or their husband.
Jane’s Philanthropy
Jane was deeply concerned with the plight of the Poor, particularly poor children. Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries earlier in the century, many traditional sources of food, shelter and education for those in poverty had disappeared and Jane sought to redress the wrongs inflicted upon them. Believing strongly in the value of education to improve life chances, Jane started a school for the poor children from Abthorpe initially in her own home. In 1642, she took the extraordinary step of building a purpose-built school on land adjacent to Leeson House. If we have the date of her birth correctly then she would have been in her 80s when she built the school – remarkable for both the energy it must have taken but also because 80 was a great age in those days. At a time when most such buildings were made of timber, Jane chose stone, reflecting her intention that the school should endure and remain a free school for the poor “for ever.” She personally paid the salary of the schoolmaster during her lifetime, with the earliest recorded master being Henry Bendbow. The annual salary was £8 per year.
'And that my ffeoffees and trustees aforenamed their heires and assigness shall pay unto a School master to teach the poor children of the said towne gratis the sume of eight pounds per annum for ever...'
From the will of Jane Leeson 1648
Turbulent Times
The school was built during the English Civil War, a particularly dangerous time with nearby Towcester on the front line. Jane’s actions during this period show the political tightrope she walked. She gave money to the Parliamentarians, yet had a bold inscription carved onto the school building declaring loyalty to the King: “1642 FEARE GOD / HONOUR YE KING.” Such a public statement was unusual and particularly striking coming from a woman at that time.
The school was built during the English Civil War, a particularly dangerous time with nearby Towcester on the front line. Jane’s actions during this period show the political tightrope she walked. She gave money to the Parliamentarians, yet had a bold inscription carved onto the school building declaring loyalty to the King: “1642 FEARE GOD / HONOUR YE KING.” Such a public statement was unusual and particularly striking coming from a woman at that time.
Jane’s Death
Jane died on 1st April 1648. She is buried in St John the Baptist church in Abthorpe where a plaque was erected in her memory in 1737.
To the memory of JANE LEESON spinster who by her will dat, 27th May 1646 did Devise to her Feoffees therein named their Heirs and Assigns all her Capital Messuage & Lands in Abthorpe in trust to pay to the Poor of Abthorpe & Foxcoate 3 pounds pr ann. & to the Poor of several other neighbouring towns 27 pounds pr ann. & also 8 pounds pr ann to A School Master to teach the Poor of Abthorpe & Foxcoate gratis in the School house then lately Erected by her there.
Her will ensured that her work would continue long after her death. It established a Charitable Trust to continue to pay the schoolmaster’s salary and also to provide relief for the poor of Abthorpe and other surrounding villages and towns. Her will specified that the schoolmaster was to teach poor children free of charge and that he could live in the schoolhouse provided he had no wife or children residing with him.
... no Schoolmaster which is or shall be elected to the said schoole shall bring into inhabitt or dwell in the said School house any wife or children of his to inhabitt or dwell there but shall have it only for his own particular use and the learning of such Scholars as are sent to him to learne'
From the addendum to the Will of Jane Leeson 1648
A Legacy that lives on
Jane Leeson’s school educated local children for over 300 years, remaining largely unchanged until the nineteenth century when the new large room was added. Although it closed as a school in 1959, the building survives as Abthorpe’s village hall and continues to serve as a centre of village life. Jane’s legacy — both the building and the Trust — still benefits the people of Abthorpe and neighbouring villages more than three and a half centuries later.
Income from the land Jane owned funded her charitable purposes, and the Trust continues to operate today, supporting local schools, young people in education, and charities including the Towcester Food Bank. Over the years since 1648 the Jane Leeson Trust has benefited the Poor of the following parishes:
Abthorpe, Adstone, Alderton, Blakesley, Blisworth, Brackley, Braddon, Cold Higham, Easton, Foscot, Frankton, Greens Norton, Grimscote, Helmdon, Highfield, Hulcote, Moreton Pinkney, Pattishall, Paulespury, Plumpton, Silverstone, Slapton, Syresham, Tiffield, Towcester, Wappenham, Weedon Lois, Weston, Whitfield, Whittlebury, Wood Burcote.
... no Schoolmaster which is or shall be elected to the said schoole shall bring into inhabitt or dwell in the said School house any wife or children of his to inhabitt or dwell there but shall have it only for his own particular use and the learning of such Scholars as are sent to him to learne'
From the addendum to the Will of Jane Leeson 1648
A Legacy that lives on
Jane Leeson’s school educated local children for over 300 years, remaining largely unchanged until the nineteenth century when the new large room was added. Although it closed as a school in 1959, the building survives as Abthorpe’s village hall and continues to serve as a centre of village life. Jane’s legacy — both the building and the Trust — still benefits the people of Abthorpe and neighbouring villages more than three and a half centuries later.
Income from the land Jane owned funded her charitable purposes, and the Trust continues to operate today, supporting local schools, young people in education, and charities including the Towcester Food Bank. Over the years since 1648 the Jane Leeson Trust has benefited the Poor of the following parishes:
Abthorpe, Adstone, Alderton, Blakesley, Blisworth, Brackley, Braddon, Cold Higham, Easton, Foscot, Frankton, Greens Norton, Grimscote, Helmdon, Highfield, Hulcote, Moreton Pinkney, Pattishall, Paulespury, Plumpton, Silverstone, Slapton, Syresham, Tiffield, Towcester, Wappenham, Weedon Lois, Weston, Whitfield, Whittlebury, Wood Burcote.
