the Gerald Palmer eling Trust

The Gerald Palmer Eling Trust Company owns and manages a rural estate near Newbury in West Berkshire. Eling Estate extends to just under 5,000 acres and comprises agricultural land, woodland, residential and commercial properties. 

Gerald Palmer

Gerald Palmer was an author, book translator, Captain in the Royal Artillery, Conservative Party politician and a Commissioner for the Forestry Commission. He is well known for his work in translating the Philokalia, an Eastern Orthodox spiritual text, into English. He was Member of Parliament for Winchester from 1935 to 1945. Gerald was also the grandson of Alfred Palmer, Director of Huntley & Palmer Biscuits.

Over his lifetime, Gerald purchased farms, woodland and cottages to form what is now known as the Eling Estate. He died in February 1984 without issue, leaving the majority of his Estate in favour of the Charitable Trust.

The Charity

The Gerald Palmer Eling Trust Company is a registered charity (no. 1100869). The significant activities of the Trust remain in line with Gerald Palmer’s wishes and include:

• the commercial management of the Trust’s Estate;

• the long-term management of the woodlands for the benefit of the Estate as a whole, and, as appropriate for the general public, and;

• the distribution of grants for a broad range of charitable purposes. The charity makes grants each year, primarily to small, local charitable organisations.