A Victorian trust fund set up to give palliative care to Perthshire residents with incurable diseases has resulted in a £450,000 windfall for a national charity.
Perth and Kinross Council administered the Fraser Mortification Fund but in recent years the use of the cash has been restricted as the original purpose can no longer be fulfilled.
It has decided to make the donation to MacMillan Cancer Support as the charity matched the ideals of the original bequest.
The Fraser Trust Fund was set up in 1876 to provide relief for individuals in a Perth hospital suffering from incurable diseases.
As time progressed the income from the trust was used to provide extra comfort to residents as the hospital developed into a home for the terminally ill.
The fund is one of a number that is undergoing a reorganisation process, which much of the cash being transferred to the Perth and Kinross Welfare Trust, which continues to be administered by the council.
Ian Campbell, leader of Perth and Kinross Council, said: “I am delighted to hear that these trusts are being put to good use. I am well aware that for the many worthy and deserving charities and organisations receiving these funds every penny counts.
“I am glad the council can go some way to help ensure that the funds are used for the benefit of residents within Perth and Kinross.”
Janice Preston, Macmillan’s head of services in Scotland said: “We are really grateful to Perth and Kinross Council for choosing to support Macmillan Cancer Support and people affected by cancer locally, through the reorganisation of The Fraser Trust Fund and we are delighted that our work can support the original aims of the Trust.
“We rely on donations like this to provide the much needed practical, emotional and financial support across Scotland, and this significant amount of money will make a huge difference to the lives of people affected by cancer across Perth and Kinross.”
The Fraser Mortification for relief of Incurables in the Burgh of Perth was set up by Miss Elizabeth Fraser on March 20 1876 for “benefit of hospital for relief of incurables in Perth and Perthshire”.
Hillside Hospital was founded in 1876 for incurables and moved to a site on Dundee Road in Perth in 1883, becoming known as Hillside Home and in 1888 a building was provided for patients suffering from consumption.
In 1908 the adjacent villa was purchased and converted for the treatment of Phthisis (Pulmonary Tuberculosis). The hospital was maintained by public endowment and mainly took paying patients.
The hospital eventually closed in 1997 and was subsequently demolished in 2007.