Richard Whittington - Benefactions

Benefactions

In his lifetime Whittington donated much of his profit to the city and left further endowments by his Will. He financed:

• the rebuilding of the Guildhall
• a ward for unmarried mothers at St Thomas' Hospital
• drainage systems for areas around Billingsgate and Cripplegate
• the rebuilding of his parish church, St Michael Paternoster Royal
• a public toilet in the parish of St Martin Vintry that was cleansed by the River Thames at high tide
• most of Greyfriars library

He also provided accommodation for his apprentices in his own house. He passed a law prohibiting the washing of animal skins by apprentices in the River Thames in cold, wet weather because many young boys had died through hypothermia or in the strong river currents.