St Albans Times publishes a wonderful piece on almshouses

Dotted around St Albans city centre are small housing communities providing affordable accommodation to people who might otherwise have ended up homeless.

Run by an assortment of different charities, these almshouses continue a tradition which dates back more than a thousand years, but how much do you really know about them?

The history of almshouses stems from medieval times when religious orders would often care for the poor, and they were originally called hospitals (in the sense of hospitality) or bede houses.

The dissolution of the monasteries saw the decline of many of the original almshouses, with those that remained taken over by medieval craft guilds to provide care for the “elderly decayed” of their local areas.

The Victorian era saw housing becoming a huge social problem as people migrated into towns looking for work, prompting wealthy philanthropists to endow almshouses, usually laid out in the traditional three-sided square to provide a sense of security and community for their residents.

Currently, some 30,000-plus almshouses remain in existence across the UK, providing affordable homes for residents in exchange for a weekly maintenance contribution which is much less than a commercial rent rate. They are properties for life – or at least as long as residents can safely support themselves – and cannot be purchased under ‘Right to Buy’ schemes.

There are various almshouses scattered around the city centre, largely run by charities governed by locally recruited, volunteer trustees whose motives are purely altruistic.

The Duchess of Marlborough charity runs the Grade II listed Marlborough Almshouses in Hatfield Road, which were commissioned by the formidable Sarah Jennings (1660-1744), wife of General John Churchill, First Duke of Marlborough.

They were founded in 1736 for the benefit of poor people in St Albans. with their residents originally veterans of Marlborough’s battles and servants aged over 60.

The Thomas Lathberye and Richard Raynshaw charity dates back to the 1500s and has properties in Spicer Street and Lower Dagnall Street, while the Pemberton Almshouses in St Peter’s Street are now run by the district council.

Legend has it that High Sheriff of Hertfordshire Roger Pemberton founded the almshouses to atone for killing a widow with a bow and arrow. They were completed in 1629 to house six poor but respectable widows from the parishes of St Peter’s, St Stephen’s, St Michael’s and Shenley.

A more recent almshouse is Dorant House in New Greens Avenue, which was founded following the death of land and property agent Lionel Annesley Dorant (1880-1942), whose will included providing residential accommodation for ‘poor people of good character’ living within the former city of St Albans.

As most almshouses are permanently occupied, opportunities to look around them are rare, but a vacancy in the St Peter’s Almshouses, nestled away on the corner of St Peter’s Road, provided the chance to take a glimpse inside the door of one of the properties in the company of Lynn Cherrill-Teesdale, clerk to the United Almshouse Charities, who manage the properties.

This prime location in the heart of St Albans is in easy walking distance of the city centre, and would have property magnates salivating at the thought of what they could do with the site – and how much money they’d make – if it was ever available for redevelopment.

The courtyard area at the front of the homes is a riot of colour in the summer, she promised, a professional gardener having transformed the area when he lived there, with his legacy blooming every year. A central gabled porch in the centre is adorned with a crucifix, as are bricks above both bay windows, reflecting their links to St Peter’s Church.

Inside the vacant property is a large living area complete with mantlepiece and electric fire, with a kitchen and bedroom/bathroom at the rear. The conversion of the already small bedroom to accommodate a shower, sink and toilet meant it lost extra space, but it is perfectly sized for a single person regardless.

The charity fits out all its properties with white goods, but it is the responsibility of residents to source additional furniture.

The history of these particular homes dates back to the late 19th century, although the exact date they were built is not clear. What is known is that they were built by the vicar and church warden at nearby St Peter’s Church, and are thought to have originally been two joined sets of separate almshouses.

William Bennett (c1800-1862) was a St Albans councillor, Mayor and alderman who had successful businesses as a builder, lime-burner and brickmaker, and owned a number of properties in the area.

It is believed his almshouses were built in 1870, after his death, and a clause in his will stated: “I devise to the Reverend Horatio Nelson Dudding of St Albans aforesaid and his heirs the legal estate of his two Almshouses occupied by his nominees situate near the Peacock Public House at St Albans aforesaid. I devise to my wife Martha and her heirs my two almshouses situate near the said Peacock Public House.”

As church warden, he enjoyed a 20-year working relationship with Horatio Nelson Dudding (1808-1895), who spent 53 years as vicar of St Peter’s and was the longest-serving incumbent. He was also a descendent of the hero of Trafalgar, hence his name and that of his son, who went on to become a Rear-Admiral in the Royal Navy.

During his tenure he installed the brightly-coloured stained glass windows on the south side of the church, which were designed by Belgian artist JB Capronnier, and almshouses were built in his name at some point after those of Bennett.

Dunning owned the land on which the almshouses were built, and the interesting shape of the area actually developed to accommodate them on this plot, with St Peter’s Road diagonally splitting down a regularly shaped piece of land.

Financial problems in the early 1940s almost saw both almshouses sold, but fortunately this was avoided and electricity was subsequently installed as part of improvements made in the 1960s. Today the buildings offer comfortable homes with modern bathrooms and kitchens, and following the replacement of roof insulation in recent times, are so warm that none of the residents keep their heating on overnight.

Less prominent are the other almshouses built by Dunning, tucked away down a backstreet shortcut from Clifton Street to St Peter’s churchyard.

The two Churchyard Cottages were built in 1895, and feature scripture inscriptions on the outside: ‘Who enter here dwell in Christ’s love’ and ‘Then dwell with Christ in light above’.

Although there is now a large fence offering a degree of privacy, in the past the garden was open to view, and featured hanging baskets and other displays curated by resident Sheila Rodgers (1919-2011). The former outdoor toilets can still be seen on the site, now used for storage.

Obtaining residency in one of the city’s almshouses is dependent entirely on vacancies and involves a thorough interview process by representatives of the associated charity.

But once someone obtain a place then providing they don’t behave in a manner which causes disruption to other residents then there’s every likelihood that they will enjoy many years in situ, forming part of one of St Albans’ more unusual communities.

Sources: hertsmemories.org.uk, stalbans.gov.uk