How the Christopher & Sarah Aldam Bowly’s Almshouse Charity transformed a Cirencester property

During 2025–2026, the Christopher & Sarah Aldam Bowly’s Almshouse Charity undertook a comprehensive refurbishment of one of its two-bedroom, semi-detached listed properties in Cirencester. The project was an opportunity to bring the home up to a new standard for future residents, addressing essential repairs and creating a comfortable, safe and welcoming place to live.

The results have been rewarding for the charity and, most importantly, for its new resident, who can now settle into a home where she feels secure.

A fresh start for a much-loved home

Following the sad passing of the property’s previous resident, the trustees took the opportunity to carry out extensive improvements. Having been occupied for many years, the property needed attention across several areas, from its electrical wiring and plasterwork to the kitchen and bathroom.

Working with a local surveyor, Terrace Surveyors of Cirencester, the charity appointed Kinsman Construction of Cheltenham to lead the refurbishment. As the property is listed, the project also required listed building consent from the local council, with careful consideration given to preserving its historic character while improving its condition and usability.

living room during renovations
after

Modern comforts, thoughtful improvements

The refurbishment involved a range of trades and included:

  • A complete electrical rewire, with USB charging points incorporated into selected sockets.
  • Removal of old plaster and replastering throughout the property.
  • Installation of a new kitchen and bathroom.
  • Replacement of the rear windows.
  • Bringing access to the downstairs toilet inside the property.
  • Sandblasting the kitchen walls to prepare the surfaces for replastering and address previous damp issues.
  • Redecoration throughout, including painting the external gutters to refresh the property’s appearance.

Together, these improvements have given the home a new lease of life, combining modern conveniences with the care needed to maintain a historic building.

bathroom during renovations
after

The aim was to establish a new standard for the charity’s properties, helping to ensure future residents can enjoy a safe, comfortable and well-maintained home.

Working together to deliver the project

Close collaboration between the charity’s Clerk, Terrace Surveyors and Kinsman Construction helped the project run smoothly and to schedule. The Clerk maintained regular contact with both the surveyor and contractor throughout the works, ensuring that the different elements of the refurbishment were coordinated effectively.

The trustees and Clerk were delighted with the standard of work achieved. Their ambition is for this property to become the charity’s benchmark for future lettings, providing a clear standard to work towards as other homes require improvement.

One issue that remains under consideration is the staircase. Preliminary inspections identified that its steep, turning design could present difficulties for an older resident. The charity explored the possibility of replacing it with a straight flight of stairs, but this was not approved by the council’s conservation officer. The trustees intend to revisit the matter at a later date.

kitchen before
kitchen after

More than a refurbishment: a place to call home

The greatest measure of the project’s success is the difference it has made to the person now living there.

After years of moving between private rented homes that were sold while she was living in them, the new resident has found the stability and security she had been looking for.

“This is the first property in more than 20 years that feels like home and I cannot thank the Charity enough. I now feel safe and secure and have a place I can call Home.”

Her words capture what almshouse charities strive to provide: not simply accommodation, but a settled home where residents can feel secure and put down roots.

For the Christopher & Sarah Aldam Bowly’s Almshouse Charity, the refurbishment has delivered both an improved historic property and a meaningful outcome for its resident. The before-and-after photographs show the scale of the transformation, while the resident’s experience demonstrates the lasting value of investing in almshouse homes.

posted 13 October 2026