Case Study: New side porches for Dr Radcliffe’s Almshouses, Steeple Aston, Bicester, Oxfordshire
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.
The Almshouse Association provided Dr Radcliffe’s Almshouses with a ÂŁ40,000 loan to replace the porches on their two almshouse dwellings. We thank Richard Preston, Chairman of Dr Radcliffe’s Almshouse Trustees who has put together the information below for us to share with you.
Background
The two almshouses, circa 1900
Steeple Aston has two almshouses in the village, dating back to 1640 and built under the guidance of Samual Radcliffe, the rector of the village at that time and principal of Brasenose Collage, Oxford.
Originally, two single-room, one-storey properties until 1812, when a first floor was added to both. In the 20th century, a kitchen and bathroom were added, and at some stage, a porch-style structure was added to No. 1 and a lean-to attached to No.2.
Planning and repairs: navigating listed building requirements
Around the end of 2021 it was identified that some major repair work was required to No. 1’s porch so the Charity decided to apply to the local district council for work to repair the situation. It was at this stage, the Charity realised that detailed plans and designs were required to meet the listed building requirements and that both properties needed to be matched to meet planning and conservation requirements.
After some exploration, the Charity managed to find an architect to draw up a design that met the council’s specification and then submitted it to planning for approval.
Once approved, a contractor capable of completing the work was needed, so the Charity put their project out to tender. By this point, it had become clear that the work would be expensive, but fortunately, they managed to secure a local builder they were familiar with and who came in at the most competitive price.
No. 1 – timber side extension failing due to rot
No. 2 old lean-to
Successful restoration: sympathetic extensions for the almshouses
Eventually, the work commenced with no major issues other than those to be expected from a building of this age. The almshouses now feature two identical extensions, thoughtfully designed to complement the original building, replacing the poorly constructed timber side extension at No. 1 and the questionable lean-to at No. 2. The build included:
- Front elevation now in local stone
- Timber windows
- A roof and a timber door which are both aesthetically pleasing and secure.
- The flooring is now in quarry tiles and once the weather allows, the access pathway will be finished in a resin surface to make the whole area look so much better and safer to walk on.
- Bin storage has been added to both properties and
- additional electric sockets in the extension allows better use of that area.
Funding
The main challenge was to find the funding of ÂŁ65,000 as the Charity’s funds did not stretch that far.
With the help of The Almshouse Association and the local Dr Radcliffe’s School Foundation, the Charity was able to secure the funds required and work commenced during early Autumn of 2024.
Unexpected discoveries
Digging down to create footings, drains were found that no one had any knowledge of, and some modifications were required to make safe and, in some cases, make access for future maintenance should this be necessary. The weather was not always compatible with exterior building but eventually, the job was completed and the resident in No. 2 was able to supply tea and coffee when required by the builders.
Advice for charities contemplating a similar job.
New skylight
Richard Preston comments, “If I had to give any advice to anyone contemplating a similar job, I would advise them to use a contractor that is known to them and can work around issues that will crop up with a building that has been around for a few centuries. Our builder has come in on budget and has managed to solve some issues that other builders might well have struggled with. Always keep calm and remember, if a problem arises, there is always a solution!
“Many thanks to The Almshouse Association for their invaluable help and advice and I believe we are now in a much stronger and secure position that we have ever been previously.“
Did you know?…
Funds used by The Almshouse Association to make loans to charities last in perpetuity. Loans to charities are interest-free with just a small setup fee. As they pay back the loan over a 10 year period, the Association is able to re-lend out the funds over and over again, ensuring more almshouses can be built or older almshouses can be preserved with a new roof or modernised with extensions or wet rooms. So if you are thinking about contributing to our rolling charity support fund by making a donation or leaving money in your Will, you will know that your money will be helping to change people’s lives for the better for many, many generations to come.
To find out more, please click here
posted 19 March 2025