Howell's School

Thomas Howell was a Bristol-born merchant of Welsh origins, who became a Draper of the city of London and made his fortune trading with Spain and Portugal from 1507 to 1537. When he died in 1537, he bestowed in his will 12,000 golden ducats (about £2,200,000 today) to the Drapers' Company, the proceeds of which were to be given every year forever to four maiden orphans of his lineage. If such could not be found, then to other maiden orphans at the discretion of the Master and Wardens. The Drapers' Company had great difficulty in obtaining this money from Spain. Eventually, in 1541, £570 was received in cash as well as a consignment of wine and oil, which was sold to young men of the…