In 1622 the Honywood Trust was created to provide homes for local people in Lenham and was united with the Douglas Charity in 1996, to provide homes for residents from Boughton Malherbe.

The latest expansion project of the Honywood and Douglas Almshouse Charity of Lenham and Boughton Malherbe in Kent has involved building work at 23 High Street over the past year. The existing property was bought by the Honywood and Douglas Charity in 2021 to convert into three new almshouses, which would make the total owned by the Charity in Lenham, twenty-nine.

Each of the new homes has been allocated to new residents, who should be moving in soon. They have an open-plan kitchen/living room and a single bedroom and wet-room. They share a garden in front.

On the 6th of October the church bells rang out and the Town Crier announced the arrival of Mr. Julian Marczak of The Almshouse Association, who came to officially ‘open’ the first two dwellings, Honywood Cottage and Douglas Cottage. The third is Flint Cottage, which is nearly finished.

As with all the Charity’s properties the new ones are for residents who are over 60 and who have lived in Lenham or Boughton Malherbe for at least two years. Following the official opening, the Charity Trustees and colleagues, together with 100 residents and special guests, held a tea-party at the Lenham Community Centre to celebrate the 400th Anniversary.

While enjoying a delicious afternoon tea, the Party was entertained with music from a Lenham Primary School choir, also pieces played by our Lenham harpist, Claire Houston. Guests could enjoy an historic exhibition of some of the Charity’s archives and records, and old deeds and maps of the original estate and land owned by the Charity. An enormous amount of research by dedicated historians went into the production of this remarkable display.

This very special occasion was marked by the publication of the new ‘400 years’ leaflet outlining the background and achievements of the Charity and its hopes for the future. Copies were given to all the guests.

The Chairman and Trustees and officers of the Honywood and Douglas Charity gave their sincere thanks to the many volunteers who had helped to make this a great occasion of celebration and they look forward to welcoming their new residents very soon.

Posted 1 November 2022