A Brecon charity that financially helps young adults in the area, who are in further or higher education, is being recognised for 350 years since its inception.

350 years ago in 1674, Edmund Jones assigned a house, stable, yard and outhouse in Brecon High Street in trust for local apprentices to support them financially.

Today, his legacy lives on through the Edmund Jones Charity, which is based in Steeple House, on the corner of Steeple Lane and the High Street.

The charity raises money through letting the offices and shops within the building, and the profits are put towards making grants to young people from Brecon, who are in further or higher education, or who are embarking on an apprenticeship.

Many young people have memories of how the trust supported them when they first went to college, or how a grant enabled them to buy their first tools and equipment needed for their apprenticeship.

Veterinary student Erin said: "So far, I have utilised the financial support provided to buy six textbooks to aid studying. These have been beyond helpful during my studies and I’m sure that they will be of great use for many years.

“I have also now obtained the correct clothing and equipment for my placements so I am safe and comfortable throughout! Your generosity is allowing me to make my goals and dreams a reality."

Seren, a mature student who decidedlaterin life to embarkon a university course said, "I am a single tenant, renting a house in Brecon, and with the cost of living rising, I struggled to financially validate being a full-time student with a part-time job.

“Your help has taken so much pressure off me financially, and I now feel more confident in being able to achieve the grades I need this year to go to university."

To apply for a grant, young people need to be under 25, live in Brecon town, and be in further or higher education, or in an apprenticeship. Applicants should email[email protected]to start the application process.

The story of Edmund Jones:

Listed on the ‘Tables of Charitable Benefactions given to the town of Brecon’ which hang in St Mary’s Church, is ‘Edmund Jones Esq., who gave a house and garden of yearly rent of 6f for putting out two Apprentices yearly.’ According to Samuel Lewis’s 1849 Topographical Dictionary of Wales, ‘In 1674 he(Edmund Jones)assigned a house, stable, yard and outhouse in the High Street in trust for apprenticing poor boys, natives of the borough, within the same.’

Today, his legacy lives on through the Edmund Jones Charity, which is based in Steeple House, on the corner of Steeple Lane and the High Street. The charity raises money through letting the offices and shops within the building, and the profits are put towards making grants to young people from Brecon, who are in further or higher education, or who are embarking on an apprenticeship.

Edmund Jones was born in Llandenny, Monmouthshire in 1612 and matriculated at Oxford in 1634. After graduation he enrolled at Gray’s Inn and was called to the bar in 1641. By this time he was married to a widow of the Games family, a local gentry family of Breconshire.

A period of great political upheaval followed between 1642 and 1651 due to the English Civil Wars between Royalists and Parliamentarians, and Jones led a chequered career, aligning his views to the dominant political trends of the moment. Towards the end of this period, he married again, for the second time into the Games family of Buckland, Llansantffraed, Brecon, and through his father-in-law’s local influence acquired an interest in the borough of Brecon, and became its recorder in 1650, and subsequently Attorney General for South Wales in 1653, with a salary of £8 13s 4d.

A colourful series of events saw his expulsion from Parliament, while retaining his position of Attorney-General until 1660. However his legal expertise and history of services to the royalist cause, enabled his appointment in 1662 as solicitor to the council in the Marches of Wales, and some years later in 1674 was admitted to the deputy lieutenancy for Breconshire.

His will was written in March 1683 and he died three months later. He left bequests for the poor of Raglan and Llandenny parishes, Monmouthshire and Llansantffraed.

His widow, Gwladis Games Jones died in 1699, and they are buried in Llansantffraed, where the inscription on the grave reads:

‘To the pious memory of Edmund Jones of Buckland, in this parish, esq. who was one of the benchers of Gray’s Inn, and a grand reader of the same society, immediately after the restoration of king Charles the second, he was also recorder of Brecknock and Carmarthen, and eminent in his profession; but that which advanced him most was his true piety and virtue, who departed this life the 6th day of June, in the 71st year of his age, A.D.1683.

He married Gwladis, one of the daughters of Edward Games, late of Buckland, aforesaid, esq. by whom he had issue, five sons, Games, Edmund, Moses, Edward, (which Edward survived his brethren, and was knight of the shire for this county for several parliaments), Thomas and four daughters, Rachel, Margaret, Damaris and Catherine.’