Hillier Almshouses celebrate 50 years!

Hillier Almshouse have just celebrated being in their current building for 50 years!

Val Richards, Manager/Clerk to the Trustees at the almshouses sent us in some fabulous photos of the cake and special guests as well as ashort history of the charity. She writes,

“We had a fantastic party on Saturday and our guests included Lord Onslow (our patron), Lady Onslow and Lady Onslow (dowager).  We also enjoyed the company of the major and her escort. “

A Short History of Hillier Almshouses, Farnham Road

Hillier’s Charity began on November 6th 1798 when Elizabeth Hillier gave £2500 to trustees; but she died before the purpose of her gift had been legally declared.  In her will she stated her intention of buying a piece of ground and building and endowing an almshouse for seven women.

Her brother Nathaniel, an executor of her will,  decided that Elizabeth had intended the trusts to be used for this purpose and Hilliers Charity was created on 25th November 1800.  The first almshouses, for eight women, were built in Curtain Road, Shoreditch, London.

In 1878 twelve new cottages were built in Farnham Road, Guildford, within the parish of St Nicholas, on a piece of land donated by William Hillier, Nathaniel`s heir. In 1971 the cottages were replaced with a new building containing studios for 36 residents and a warden.  Some of the structure from the original, ornate, arts and crafts building has been preserved and can be seen in the bus stop on the Farnham Road also in the summerhouse which stands in the garden of Hillier House.

In 2005 the Charity undertook major building work and converted eight of its studio flats into four spacious one bed roomed flats.  In 2010 a further four studios where converted to one bed roomed flats.  Finally, in 2014 the last four upstairs studios were converted to one-bedroom flats completing the program to convert all the upstairs studios into flats.

Trustee body
The Charity is run in accordance with the schemes prepared by the Charity Commission. The Charity is administered by voluntary trustees nominated by local churches, including St Nicholas and Guildford Borough Council.  Day-to-day administration is carried out by the warden and the clerk.
Almshouses
Almshouses are unfurnished dwellings, usually specially designed with the needs of older people in mind.  The aim is to provide convenient and comfortable accommodation in a setting which allows residents to come and go as they please.  Almshouses provide security and residents are encouraged to make friends and share a wider social life through use of the communal lounge and other facilities.  Most almshouses have a resident warden and an emergency call system in each unit.  In an emergency, such as sudden illness or after a fall, a resident can get help quickly.

posted 3 March 22