A dole is a form of charitable distribution, usually of food or money, traditionally given at fixed times and places in England. It represents a form of almsgiving, typically with an endowment that funds the distribution in perpetuity.
Surviving doles
This is a table of traditional doles that are still distributed in England.
| Name | Location | Benefactor | Date established | Time of year | Recipients | Items given |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Maundy1 | Various (England and Wales) | English monarch | c. 13th century | Maundy Thursday | Pensioners (traditionally the poor elderly) | Maundy coins |
| Ufton Dole2 | Ufton Nervet and Padworth, Berkshire | Lady Elizabeth Marvyn | 1581 | Around the middle of Lent | Local parishioners | Bread and towels |
| Tichborne Dole3 | Tichborne, Hampshire | Lady Mabella Tichborne (traditionally) | 12th/13th century | Lady Day | Local poor | Flour |
| Biddenden Dole4 | Biddenden, Kent | The Biddenden Maids (traditional attribution) | c. 1775 (documented) | Easter Monday | Local poor and residents | Bread, cheese, cakes, biscuits |
| Andrew's Dole5 | Bideford, Devon | John Andrew | 1605 | New Year's Day | Poor residents of Bideford | Bread and money |
References
References
- "Royal Maundy Service". The Royal Family. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
- "Ufton Nervet villagers receive annual gift of bread". Ufton Nervet. 29 March 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
- "A bunch of flour". BBC. Tichborne. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
- "200-year-old Biddenden 'Dole' Biscuit Comes Home to Kent". Produced in Kent. Biddenden. 17 February 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
- "John Andrew's Dole NDJ". Bideford & River Torridge Heritage Harbour. Bideford. Jan 16, 2026. Retrieved 2 April 2026.