HRH The Princess Royal opened twelve new almshouses at the Cutbush & Corrall Charity in College Road, Maidstone. She was accompanied by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Kent, the Lady Colgrain.
HRH, escorted by the Clerk & Chief Officer of the Cutbush & Corrall Charity, Liz Abi-Aad, visited residents in their homes and met with invited guests as they enjoyed lunch including local dignitaries, residents, trustees, staff and contractors who had worked on the project.
Six existing almshouses originally built in the 1920s were converted into twelve flats when trustees realised the houses were too big, too costly to run and too difficult for individuals with reduced mobility to negotiate. The new one-bedroom flats provide compact, high-quality, affordable accommodation suitable for the Charity’s beneficiaries.
HRH unveiled a plaque to commemorate the event and presented Caroline Highwood and Sue Darbyshire, both trustees of the charity, with long service awards.
The Charity welcomes applications from local people who meet the criteria for living in an almshouse. Please contact 01622 765612 for further information.
About Cutbush & Corrall Charity
Often described as “Maidstone’s hidden gem”, the Cutbush & Corrall Charity (213463) was founded in 1865 by Thomas Cutbush. His legacy lives on with today’s trustees committed to providing “affordable housing for older people who would otherwise find it difficult to meet their housing needs”.
Over the past 157 years, the Charity has grown significantly. It is now the only almshouse charity in Maidstone and with 154 properties one of the largest almshouse charities in the country.
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posted 26 October 2023