Spalding Town Husbands Almshouse Charity celebrated the opening of their new almshouses in Lincolnshire last week.
Association CEO Nick Phillips was delighted to be invited to the opening day where a special tea was laid on for residents, trustees and special guests to enjoy.
“We’ve only known each other for 40 years! ” said Maxine! It is lovely that we are neighbours in these new almshouses.”
The building of the new almshouses follows in the footsteps of centuries of local trustees who have been making provision for their needy fellow citizens from bequests from the Wills of departed Spalding residents over the past 450 years, starting with a legacy of land bequeathed by John Gamlyn in 1591.
John had been given ÂŁ26 in 1588 for defending England against the Spanish Armada and he left land on the north side of Church Street to establish an almshouse.
Within twelve months the first almsperson was in residence and in 1623, the trustees of this almshouse, who were already administering funds provided by the Wills of John Harrox of Moulton in 1561 and Richard Kedby of Monks House in 1574 “for Poor Needy and Impotent Persons of Spalding and Cowbit”, built six more almshouses in Church Street which, with their successive replacements, were known as the Gamlyn Almshouses.
Celebrating a job well done!
More almshouses continued to be built by successive trustees and with the help of the Gees Foundation, the legacy of Mary Gage and local commitment, the trustees of today are building new, beautiful almshouses throughout Spalding. In fact, the number of almshouses available to local people in housing need in Spalding has doubled over the last 20 years.
The full details on the almshouse legacies in Spalding can be found here. Their story is an inspiring tribute to philanthropy, legacy and local dedication.
Posted 28 Jun 22
[Top photo: Sir John Hayes MP, Maxine and Molly (residents), Nick Phillips The Almshouse Association CEO, , Robin Hancox Chairman of Spalding Town Husbands Almshouse Charity]