CASE STUDY: Almshouse of St John the Baptist and St John the Evangalist, Sherborne

St Johns’ House is a historic almshouse in Sherborne, Dorset, providing affordable accommodation to people in need. Founded in 1448 and housed in a Grade I listed building, it has served its community for nearly six centuries.

Like many traditional charities, St Johns’ House faced significant challenges in the 21st century.

Until 2022, St Johns’ accommodated 19 elderly people who each had a bedroom and bathroom, with all meals taken together in the dining room, but the COVID-19 pandemic made its communal living model hard to sustain.

Resident numbers declined and staffing became increasingly difficult, forcing the trustees to temporarily close the almshouse in 2022 and relocate the residents.

If a charity does not have sufficient funds to carry out necessary works to their almshouses, part of the service The Almshouse Association offers its member charities is financial help in the form of grants and loans.

Repair and maintenance challenges

With the closure came a sharp fall in income just as urgent repairs were needed. The charity lacked the funds to carry out essential work on the leaded windows, a leaking roof and a faulty shower causing health and safety risks. Additionally, St Johns’ House aimed to convert the former matron’s flat into new accommodation but couldn’t afford a kitchen installation.

In this precarious position, the trustees approached The Almshouse Association for support.

Use of The Almshouse Association loan

The Almshouse Association awarded St Johns’ House a loan of £27,654, which enabled the charity to address crucial building works:

  • Urgent repairs to the leaded windows of the main almshouse
  • Installation of a fitted kitchen in the former matron’s flat
  • Urgent repairs to the main roof
  • Installation of a new shower in adjacent accommodation

The flexible repayment terms meant the arrangement was manageable for the charity, providing breathing space to secure its future. Thanks to the loan, St Johns’ House went into winter knowing the building was safe, weather-tight, and suitable for re-occupation.

From survival to growth

While the loan in 2024 helped stabilise the almshouse, an extraordinary development in late 2025 transformed the charity’s prospects. The trustees discovered that a 15th-century triptych held in the almshouse was an exceptionally valuable piece of Flemish art. After expert appraisal and auctioning at Sotheby’s in December 2025, the artwork sold for over £5 million, far exceeding early estimates.

These funds will be used to secure the almshouse charity’s mission for the long term, including plans to build six new self-contained homes for people in need in Sherborne, a major expansion of the charity’s capacity.

Impact

The combination of early support from The Almshouse Association and this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity has changed the trajectory of St Johns’ House:

✅ Immediate risk of decline alleviated: essential repairs completed and building secured
✅ Accommodation restored: former matron’s flat converted and more usable space refurbished
✅ Long-term future enabled: sale proceeds now funding new homes and sustainability

Next chapter

St Johns’ House was once close to being unable to repair its historic buildings and resume operations with its future uncertain when it sought support in 2024. Thanks to targeted financial help from The Almshouse Association and the exceptional later discovery and sale of a historic artwork, the charity is now positioned not just to survive, but to grow and continue serving its community for decades to come.

posted 18 December 2025