Windfall for benefactor's relatives

A former Wolverhampton school has gone up for sale with profits to be split between the descendants of a generous benefactor. An ancient law means money from the sale of St Jude's Infant School will go to 40 relatives of Mary Stokes.

She gave the land the school is built on to the church 137 years ago. The Newbridge school has gone onto the property market with a guide price of around £800,000. The revelation came to light last summer after church leaders tried to pass the Riches Street site on to Wolverhampton City Council.

This followed the relocation of the school.

But they were shocked to discover an old law under the schools act which ruled if the land was no longer used for educational purposes it must be given back to the previous owner.

Her descendants will only be entitled to the profits from the original land given to the school though, and not anything extra which may have been built at the 0.37 hectacre site in later years.

Anna Watkiss from First City Property Consultant, which is marketing the school, said: "The site is really in two parts, the old Victorian school buildings which we would envisage could be converted into homes as well as newer classrooms to the rear of the site where there is also a hall and cafeteria.

"There is not planning permission in place but the discussions we have had are that this could be removed for housing. It is quite an exciting and rare opportunity."

International genealogy and probate research firm Fraser and Fraser have traced the descendants of Mary Stokes over the last few months and today confirmed they had discovered a total of 40, tax is expected to be taken off the amount they will be due to receive.

Council bosses agreed in 2002 to merge the two separate infant and junior schools of St Jude's with a new multi-million pound school building opening on Paget Road last year.

Closing date for offers for the school site is 5pm on February 29, for more information call 01902 710 999.

l Are you a lucky descendant of Mary Stokes? If so call our rep-orters on 01902 319 421.