A New Chapter for The Almshouse Association

Dear Members

We are excited (tinged with a little sadness) as we embark on a new chapter in the history of The Almshouse Association.

For some time, we have been searching for a new home, as our long-established offices in Billingbear no longer meet the needs of our growing team and our members. The space is too small and inefficiently designed, and its remote location has posed ongoing challenges.

Billingbear, however, has been more than just an office—it was a generous gift from the visionary almshouse champion, Leonard Hackett, and his family. In addition to our office, they entrusted us with their family home next door, which has provided a valuable source of rental income for the Association over the years. Their generosity has been a cornerstone of our journey, making our departure from Billingbear so bittersweet.

After exploring nearly 40 potential locations, we are delighted to have secured a remarkable new office in the heart of Windsor, just 200 yards from the Castle.

It comprises two 3,000 sq. ft. properties that require significant refurbishment, with one of the buildings being a detached office within the grounds of the main office, offering a significant future rental income. We were fortunate to acquire the site ahead of auction, allowing us the opportunity to reimagine the space and with some remedial work, secure a tenant for the adjoining building.

So, why the hint of sadness?

Leaving Billingbear feels like saying goodbye to a significant part of our history, particularly our connection to Leonard Hackett. However, we are proud to honour his legacy by naming our new headquarters Leonard Hackett House, with the adjacent office to be known as The Keep. The sale of the Billingbear site, including both the office and house, will help finance our move, ensuring a strong and sustainable future for the Association. 

This transition represents an incredible opportunity. The new property will allow us to increase our rental income by 400%, helping to secure the Association’s financial stability for the next 50 years. While we cannot know for certain what Leonard Hackett would have thought, we hope he would see this as a progressive and necessary step for the Association that he helped to shape.

Renovations are now underway, with completion expected by the end of September. We will keep you updated on our progress and look forward to welcoming our members to Leonard Hackett House in the near future.

Warmest regards

Nick Phillips
CEO of The Almshouse Association

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